A New Chapter Begins for Cape Town’s Long-Running Theatre Awards

One of South Africa’s oldest and most respected theatre honours is entering a new era, with the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards officially rebranded as the Cape Town Theatre Awards as organisers unveil the nominees for the 61st annual awards. The change marks a significant transition for the institution, which has recognised excellence in theatre since 1965.

The awards were originally founded by the United Tobacco Company before being renamed the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards in 1978 under the sponsorship of the Oude Meester Foundation for the Performing Arts. Following several decades of support from Distell Arts and Culture and, more recently, Heineken after its acquisition of Distell, the awards are now moving forward under a newly established non-profit organisation designed to ensure their long-term sustainability. The new name reflects a stronger connection to Cape Town as the city’s theatre community takes ownership of its future.

This year’s nominations highlight the depth and diversity of theatre in the city. The musical Cats leads the field with 11 nominations, including Best Director and Best Production. Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat follow with seven nominations each. A total of 65 productions were considered across 23 competitive categories, while 139 students from institutions including AFDA, Stellenbosch University, LAMTA, the Waterfront Theatre School and CTDPS were eligible in the student category.

The nominations also reflect the strength of South African storytelling, with 32 new local scripts considered by the judging panel. Productions such as Moffie, Undermined, The Grab After a Doll’s House, Beggared in South Africa and Cotton Wool Kid explored themes ranging from personal identity and social history to contemporary life. Musicals remained popular with audiences, while children’s theatre, opera and bilingual productions continued to contribute to Cape Town’s vibrant performing arts landscape.

Among the nominees for Best Production are Cats, Hedda Gabler, Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Moffie. Winners of the Lifetime Achievement and Innovation in Theatre Awards will also be announced at the ceremony. The date and venue for the 2025 Cape Town Theatre Awards ceremony have yet to be confirmed as the awards begin their next chapter under a new identity and structure.

The nominees for the 61^st Cape Town Theatre Awards are, in alphabetical order:

1. AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING STUDENT

• Asanda Mngadi | Waterfront Theatre School
• Britney Mackenzie Baker | AFDA
• Heinrich Wentzel | Stellenbosch University
• Katlego Thikithana Phetla | CTDPS
• Kimi Mia de Beer | Stellenbosch University
• Konstandinos Vavatzanidis | CTDPS
• Michelle Juncker | LAMTA
• Scarlett Pay | LAMTA
• Shannon Hendry | Stellenbosch University
• Tumelo Gwanzura | AFDA

• BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT

Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Neil Coppen & Mpume Mthombeni

Moffie | written and adapted by Philip Rademeyer (based on the Novel by André Carl van der Merwe)

Mrs. Mitchell Comes to Town | Louis Viljoen

Undermined | Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Nzama, Luke Brown, Stefan Erasmus, Tara Louise Notcutt 

The Grab After a Doll’s House | Morapeleng Molekoa

• BEST NEW DIRECTOR

David Muller | A South African adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman

Henu Baden | Lemons,Lemons,Lemons

Larica Schnell | Spin Cycles

Samuel Jumat | ’n Pandok se Liefde

Zubayr Charles | this bra’s a psycho

• BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Kipper and the Toy Box / Vlooi en die Speelgoedkis –  Krazy Katz Produksiehuis

Moana Jr – Sonwa Sakuba Institute for the Performing Arts (SSIPA)

The Magic Flute – Cape Town Opera

• BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE

Cats | Austin Tshikosi, Brittane van Loggerenberg, Cassiel Eatock-Winnik, Cleto van Rooi, Darren Rockman, Hannah Marshall, Harry Smallman, Jackie Lulu, Marco Titus, Michael Fullard, Morgan Marshall, Noa Duckitt, Phoebe Charles, Ryan Flynn, Scarlett Pay, Sibusiso Mxosana, Sipesihle Ngamlana, Stephan Van Der Walt, Tania Mteto, Tannah Levick, Tatum Coleman, Zoë Mclaughlin

Faustus In Africa! | Asanda Rilityana; Atandwa Kani, Buhle Themisile, Eben Genis,

Jennifer Steyn, Mongi Mthombeni, Wessel Pretorius

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Anna Olivier, Bradley Smith, Braeden Buys, Danie Conradie, Dylan Du Plessis, Gemma Bisseker, Gianluca Gironi, Jasmine Minter, Jayden Dickson, Justin Swartz, Léa Blerk, Logan Cornelius, Manyano Ngoma, Michael Stray, Michiel Bester, Miguel De Sampaio, Stuart Brown, Yethu Kibi

La Ronde | Aidan Scott, Awethu Hleli, Berenice Barbier, Carlo Daniels, Lyle October, Nolufefe Ntshuntshe, Tamzin Daniels

The Cry of Winnie Mandela | Ayanda Sibisi, Les Nkosi, Pulane Rampoana, Rami Chuene, Siyasinga Papu, Thembisa Mdoda-Nxumalo  

• BEST PERFORMANCE IN A REVUE, CABARET OR ONE-PERSON SHOW

David Viviers | Moffie

Mpume Mthombeni | Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater

Tony Bonani Miyambo | Kafka’s Ape

• BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Carlo Daniels | Randall Simons | Colleen The Musical

Dean de Klerk | Amos | Chicago

Jordan Roelfze | Mr Mistoffelees | Cats

Tshepo Ncokoane | Bustopher Jones and Gus (Asparagus) | Cats

• BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Edith Plaatjies | Widow Mustapha | Aladdin

Jill Levenberg | Bronwynn Jeffries | Colleen The Musical

Samantha Peo | Velma Kelly | Chicago

Sharon Spiegel Wagner | Cynthia Murphy | Dear Evan Hansen

Tankiso Mamabolo | Matron Mama Morton | Chicago

• BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Dylan Janse van Rensburg | Joseph | Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Jonathan Roxmouth | Billy Flynn | Chicago

King B | Old Deuteronomy | Cats

Marc Lottering | Colleen | Colleen The Musical

Stuart Brown | Evan Hansen | Dear Evan Hansen

1. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Cindy Ann Abrahams | Grizabella | Cats

Kate Normington | Tracey Boonzaaier | Colleen The Musical

Kiruna-Lind Devar | Roxie Hart | Chicago

Lelo Ramasimong | Narrator | Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Lucy Tops | Heidi Hansen | Dear Evan Hansen

1. BEST PUPPETRY DESIGN

Adrian Kohler and William Kentridge | Faustus In Africa!

Greg King | Jack and the Beanstalk

1. BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

Cats | Howard Eaton

Faustus In Africa! | Wesley France

Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Tina Le Roux

Moffie | Niall Griffin

Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie | Nico Scheepers

1. BEST SET DESIGN

Aladdin | Fred Abrahamse

Cats | John Napier

Faustus In Africa! | Adrian Kohler

Hedda Gabler | Rocco Pool

Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Greg King

1. BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Aladdin | Marcel Meyer

Cats | John Napier

Chicago | William Ivey Long

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Niall Griffin

Julius Caesar | Marcel Meyer and Fred Abrahamse

1. BEST SOUND DESIGN, ORIGINAL MUSIC, SOUNDSCAPE OR LIVE PERFORMANCE

Cats | Louis Zurnamer, Kurt Haupt, Jess West, Jack Griessel, Jarryd West, Nick Pitman, Nick Ford, Carl Ashford, Carla Ferreira

Hedda Gabler | Charl-Johan Lingenfelder

Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Tristan Horton

Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | David Classen

Moffie | Charl-Johan Lingenfelder

1. BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – MALE

Innocent Masuku | Count Almaviva | The Barber of Seville

Lukhanyo Moyake | Radames | Aida

Thando Zwane | Figaro | The Barber of Seville

William Berger | Bluebeard | Bluebeard’s Castle

William Berger | Figaro | The Barber of Seville

1. BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – FEMALE

Brittany Smith | Rosina | The Barber of Seville

Nobulumko Mgnxekeza | Aida | Aida

Nonhlanhla Yende | Amneris | Aida

Setsoane Ntseki | Rosalinde | Die Fledermaus

Siphamandla Moyake | Judith | Bluebeard’s Castle

1. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Albert Pretorius | Caliban | The Tempest

Anzio September | this bra’s a psycho

David Viviers | Antonio/Stephano | The Tempest

Ludwig Binge | Løvburg | Hedda Gabler

Mark Elderkin | Jim | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie

1. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Ashley de Lange | Thea | Hedda Gabler

Carla Smith | Laura | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie

Jane de Wet | Miranda | The Tempest

Tankiso Mamabolo | Sebastian/Trinculo | The Tempest

Thea Martelize Kolver | Julia (Juliana) | Hedda Gabler

• BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Anna-Mart van der Merwe | Amanda | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie

Emily Child | Florence | The Vulgarians

Fiona Ramsay | Elizabeth I/Julius Caesar | Julius Caesar

Jenny Stead | Elsa | Mrs. Mitchell Comes to Town

Rolanda Marais | Hedda | Hedda Gabler

• BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY

Aidan Scott | Marcus | Mrs. Mitchell Comes to Town

Alan Committie | Hercule Poirot | Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee

Albert Pretorius | George/Jurg | Hedda Gabler |

Ben Albertyn | Tom | Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie

Billy Langa | Guru | Poet-O-Type

• BEST DIRECTOR

Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander | Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Chrissie Cartwright | Cats

Christiaan Olwagen | Hedda Gabler

Greg Karvellas | Moffie

Neil Coppen | Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater

• BEST PRODUCTION

Cats | Pieter Toerien, GWB Entertainment and Cape Town Opera, in association with LW Entertainment

Hedda Gabler | Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees and The Baxter

Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Empatheatre in association with the Baxter Theatre and the National Arts Festival

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Pieter Toerien Productions and Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA)

Moffie | The Common Humanity Arts Trust in association With The Baxter Theatre Centre