The winners are selected from productions performed at professional theatre venues in and around Cape Town. The awards recognise theatre practitioners for their acting, directing, staging and technical abilities.
A total of 115 productions from the year under review are eligible for consideration. The awards, considered in 26 different categories, include special awards for Lifetime Achievement which went to Alvon Collison, and the Award for Innovation in Theatre was shared by Imbewu Trust and Kunste Onbeperk.
The event was hosted by Africa Melane who was supported by a variety of leading ladies who have previously received the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award, including Lara Foot, Janice Honeyman, Liz Mills, Quanita Adams, Jill Levenberg, Susan Danford, Jennifer Steyn, Celeste Matthews, Sive Gubangxa, Penny Youngleson, Ntomboxolo Makhutshi, Emily Child, Tara-Louise Notcutt, and Daneel van der Walt. The audience included theatre-makers, producers, actors, past award recipients, dignitaries, and Fleur du Cap wine brand ambassadors.
The award ceremony was directed by Alistair Izobell and audiences enjoyed performances by female artists Elwira Standili, Salomé Damon, Sasha-Lee Davids, Lucy Tops, Andrea Anthony, Tye Platinum, and the band Sweet Chilli. Assistant director and choreographer Grant van Ster provided the accompanying performances by dancers Luke de Kock, Craig Pedro, Elvis Sibeko, Buyile Narwele, Mikayla Isaacs, Simoné Welgemoed, Gabrielle Botha, and Caitlin Smith.
Five MakuAsh Residency students from Makukhanye Art Room supported the backstage team, as part of their training.
The judges for the 2017 productions were Africa Melane, Dr Beverley Brommert, Eugene Yiga, Johan van Lill, Marina Griebenow, Maurice Carpede, Niel Roux, Tracey Saunders and Wayne Muller. The panel, made up largely of local critics, journalists, writers and drama educators, was chaired by non-voting Melanie Burke. Voting is done by secret ballot, and all processes are strictly overseen and audited by Distell Internal Audit and the legal firm Cluver Markotter Inc.
Award for most promising student
Luntu Masiza, AFDA
Best new South African script
What Remains by Nadia Davids
Best new director
Nico Scheepers
Best theatre production for children and young people
Jon Keevy for The Underground Library
Best performance by an ensemble
The cast of What Remains
Best performance in a revue, cabaret or one-person show
Gideon Lombard as Marnus in Die Reuk van Appels
Best performance by a supporting actor in a musical or music theatre show
Sanda Shandu as Lucky in King Kong
Best performance by a supporting actress in a musical or music theatre show
Isabella Jane as The Mistress in Evita
Best performance by a lead actor in a musical or music theatre show
David Dennis as Bernadette in Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Best performance by a lead actress in a musical or music theatre show
Edith Plaatjies as Joyce in King Kong
Best lighting design
Wilhelm Disbergen for What Remains
Best set design
Greg King for Suddenly the Storm
Best costume design
Leigh Bishop and Lieze van Tonder for Twelfth Night
Best sound design, original music composition or original score
Charl-Johan Lingenfelder for Original Music Composition (additional) for King Kong
Best performance in an opera – male
Lukhanyo Moyake as The Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto
Best performance in an opera – female
Johanni van Oostrum as Senta in Der Fliegende Holländer
Award for innovation in theatre
Imbewu Trust and Kunste Onbeperk
Lifetime achievement award
Alvon Collison
Best performance by a supporting actor in a play
Mark Elderkin as Malvolio in Twelfth Night
Best performance by a supporting actress in a play
Robyn Scott as Elizabeth I, Ensemble in Shakespeare in Love
Best performance by a lead actress in a play
Faniswa Yisa as The Archeologist in What Remains
Best performance by a lead actor in a play
Craig Morris as Tartuffe/Madame Pernelle in Tartuffe
Best director
Jay Pather for What Remains
Best production
Marat/Sade - The Baxter Theatre (Nicolette Moses)
