The 44th annual Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards
Audience members sipped fine Fleur du Cap wines and bubbly, and mingled with stars, celebrities, nominees and winners, all looking très chic in glamourous gowns and designer outfits, reminiscent of the recent Oscars in LA and the Tony Awards in New York City. Geoffrey Hyland directed the stellar entertainment line-up that included Laurika Rauch, Dizu Plaatjies, Zanne Stapelberg, Loukmaan Adams and La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre. Thoko Ntshinga handed over the prizes and Nik Rabinowitz as MC kept the mood light and the crowd in stitches .The 2009 event theme was ‘Inspired By Nature', made evident by the innovative green carpet and the natural elements used in the decor.
The coveted Fleur du Cap medallion carries a generous cash prize of R15,000. The awards, established 43 years ago, are an initiative of the Distell Foundation that forms part of Distell's CSI programme. This year, in addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Peoples Choice Award and the newly created Innovation in Theatre award, there were 60 outstanding nominees in fifteen categories.
The winners are as follows:
1. Most Promising Student
Christiaan Olwagen- Stellenbosch University
2. Rosalie van der Gucht Prize for New Directors
Michael Inglis for Venom
3. Best New South African Play
Mike van Graan for Die Generaal
4. Best Prop Design
Nicholas & Luke Ellenbogen for Raiders, Rasputin's Rectangle
5. Best Costume Design
John Caviggia for The Merchant of Venice
6. Best Lighting Design
Jaco Bouwer, Albert Snyman and Rudolph van Jaarsveld for Smag
7. Best Set Design
Fred Abrahamse for Assassins
8. Best Performance in a Revue or Cabaret
The Cast of Not the Midnight Mass : Graham Weir, Christine Weir, Jason Ralph, Pierre van Heerden and Amanda Tiffin.
9. Best Performance in a Musical
André Jacobs for Samuel Byck in Assassins
10. Best Performance in a One Person Show
Shaleen Surtee-Richards for Shirley Valentyn in Shirley Valentyn
11. Award for Innovation in Theatre
Megan Choritz - TheatreSports
12. Lifetime Achievement Award
Lynette Marais (Former Grahamstown Festival Director)
13. The People's Choice Award
TheatreSports
14. Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Quanita Adams for multiple roles in Cissie
15. Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Guy de Lancey for Shelley Levine in Glengarry Glen Ross
16. Best Actor in a Leading Role
Jeremy Crutchley for Shylock in The Merchant of Venice
17. Best Actress in a Leading Role
Mwenya Kabwe for Alma in Yellowman
18. Best Director
Jaco Bouwer for Smag
Distell Arts & Culture manages and works with a panel of judges chaired by a non-voting chairman, Mr. Conrad Sidego, a former ambassador and journalist. The Panel itself is made up largely of local critics, journalists, writers and drama educators, namely Marianne Thamm, Mariana Malan, Robert Greig, Marina Griebenow, Dr. Beverley Brommert, Len Ashton, Wilhelm Snyman, Brent Meersman, Denise Bester, Herman van der Westhuizen and Peter Tromp. Distell is represented by Irma Albers, Arts & Culture Controller and organizer of the Fleur du Cap awards. Says Ms. Albers, "Cape Town is increasingly on the cutting edge of innovative theatre and the City continues to witness the emergence of exciting new talent both on the acting and directorial fronts".
As always, the proceeds from the evening go towards the development of theatre in the Western Cape. The next Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards event will be held at Baxter Theatre in March 2010. For more details on the awards and the theatre scene in Cape Town visit www.capetheatre.co.za