Fringe Fresh Awards winners announced

The Awards were introduced this year to reward the performers and productions that stood out in a programme filled with new and edgy work. Fringe Fresh Awards convenor, Tracey Saunders, worked with a panel of theatre critics to select works that were felt to be worthy of special recognition.

Says Saunders,“There has been a wealth of talent, but it's the creative efforts that have been fresh and exciting that have really given the Festival a distinctive characteristic. It is my hope that the Fresh Fringe awards becomes as intertwined with the spirit of Cape Town as the pink duck of the Amsterdam Fringe. The Fabulous Fringe Roll of Honour in particular acknowledges the work that is done on the fringes, not only at the time of the Festival but throughout the year. The Fringe is a place of daring and adventure, an opportunity to take a chance and show your creative wild card. The past 17 days have done exactly that and more."

The 2016 Fringe Fresh Award winners are:

Based on audience feedback, tickets sold and social media mentions:

International - Police Cops
Local - Dangled

Thando Doni - Director - Ubuze Bam
Silver - Alan Parker - Choreographer - Sacre for One
Bronze - Jason Jacobs - Director - Stof Rooi

Gold - Fabric of the Universe
Silver - #Ballet Must Fall
Bronze - You Suck and Other Inescapable Truths

David Viviers - The Finkelsteins are Coming to Dinner

Recognising producers and production companies putting on exciting and engaging work:
Theatre in the Backyard
Theatre Arts Admin Collective
Makukhanye Arts Room
Ubuntu Arts Academy
Zabalaza

Gold - Msaki and the Golden Circle
Silver - Fish Wives
Bronze – Nombasa

After the winners were announced, Fringe CEO Tony Lankester thanked the panel of volunteer judges for their commitment, saying: “We greatly appreciate the time, passion and energy being a panelist requires. We would like to acknowledge all the judges for their contribution to The Fringe Fresh Awards 2016 and we would like to thank Tracey Saunders in particular for her tireless dedication to theatre and the coordination of these awards.”

The panel of judges were:

Tracey Saunders (journalist and awards convenor)
Motlatji Ditodi (performer and director)
Gabriella Pinto (journalist)
Jonathan Swart (talent manager)
Faye Kabali-Kagwa (ASSITEJ director)
Atiyyah Khan (journalist and National Arts Festival Artistic Advisory Committee Member)
Paul Griffiths (producer and director)
Wendyl Martin (journalist)
Shihaam Domingo (publicist and producer)
Steve Kretzmann (journalist)
Sarah Roberson (journalist)

For the full list of Fringe Fresh Award nominees visit capetownfringe.co.za
The Cape Town Buskers Festival, a part of the Cape Town Fringe, wraps up on Sunday, 9 October.