The ceremony was directed by Thando Doni. The on-stage entertainment included: the Ama Africa Marimba Band, Alan Parker, sitar player Naresh Chauhan, the Lingua Franca Spoken Word Movement, Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers, Music van de Caab with Zenobia Kloppers and Tribal Echo, the Bovim Ballet, the Sibonelo Dance Company, young violinist Anele Mhlahlo, saxophonist Heinrich Isaacs and an Afrikaans medley by Pedro Kruger. The evening concluded with jazzy and contemporary vibes by Breakfast Included.
The event was hosted by Africa Melane together with Lynelle Kenned, who won the award in the category Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Maria in the Fugard Theatre’s production of West Side Story. The audience was made up of the who’s who of the South African theatre scene, dignitaries, and members of the public.
Category winners each received R15,000 and a newly designed silver medallion.
A total of 86 productions were eligible in 2015. In addition, 66 student performances were considered for The Most Promising Student Award. Nominees in the Student category were judged on their body of work throughout 2015.
Awards were presented in 18 different categories with two special awards being presented on the night. Dr John Kani was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for his vast contribution to theatre over a long and successful career. The Zabalaza Theatre Festival received the Award for Innovation in Theatre for their phenomenal contribution to the development of new South African work by providing a platform for artists who want to venture into acting, stage management, writing and directing.
The judges for the 2015 productions were Africa Melane, Dr Beverley Brommert, Christine Moritz, Eugene Yiga, Gillian Mitchell, Herman van der Westhuizen, Johan van Lill, Marina Griebenow, Peter Tromp, Steyn du Toit, and Tracey Saunders. The panel, made up largely of local critics, journalists, writers and drama educators was chaired by non-voting Melanie Burke. Voting is by secret ballot and all processes are strictly overseen and audited by the legal firm Cluver Markotter Inc.
Best performance by a lead actor in a play: Gerben Kamper for Samsa-masjien as Gregor Samsa
Best performance by a lead actress in a play: Sandra Prinsloo for Die Seemeeu as Irina Nikolajewna Arkadina
Best performance by a supporting actor in a play: Sven Ruygrok for Epstein: The Man Who Made the Beatles as This Boy
Best performance by a supporting actress in a play: Cintaine Schutte for Die Seemeeu as Masja
Best performance in a revue, cabaret or one-person show: Graham Weir for Dead Yellow Sands as various characters
Best performance by a lead actor in a musical or music theatre show: Aubrey Poo for Orpheus in Africa as Orpheus McAdoo
Best performance by a lead actress in a musical or music theatre show: Lynelle Kenned for West Side Story as Maria
Best performance by a supporting actor in a musical or music theatre show: Sne Dladla for Orpheus in Africa as various characters
Best performance by a supporting actress in a musical or music theatre show: Jill Levenberg for Orpheus in Africa as Lucy Moten
Award for most promising student: Kiroshan Naidoo from UCT
Best director: Jaco Bouwer for Samsa-masjien
Best lighting design: Guy de Lancey for Dead Yellow Sands
Best set design: Jaco Bouwer for Samsa-masjien
Best costume design: Birrie le Roux for Orpheus in Africa
Best sound design, original music composition or original score: Pierre-Henri Wicomb for Samsa-masjien - Soundscape and original score
Best puppetry design: No award
Best new South African script: Samsa-masjien by Willem Anker
Rosalie van der Gucht prize for new directors: Mdu Kweyama for Missing
