Stage: Winners announced, Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival 2026

The winners of the 2026 Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival have been announced. It was the 16^th iteration of the festival. The Best Production winners will be staged for a full run at The Baxter. The productions are: Kinnes van Somers directed by Tamsyn Alexander and Hanro Cloete and Until I Arrive by Lindokuhle Melaphi. Read on for more. Info as supplied:

Winners announced of the 16th annual Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival

The winners of the 16th Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival Awards were announced at a vibrant Awards ceremony this weekend (March 21, 2026).

The annual Festival is committed to having a tangible impact on the development of artists, audiences, theatre-makers and communities. It took place from March 13 to 21 featuring productions from various South African theatre makers, who worked with mentors to bring their stories to life in full force.

As usual, the awards ceremony offered roof-raising entertainment as the event celebrated the immense talent of all its participants.

The winners of the Best Production/Finest of the Fest Award will have their productions further developed and presented for a full run at The Baxter. Two productions were announced as recipients for this award: Kinnes van Somers directed by Tamsyn Alexander and Hanro Cloete and  Until I Arrive by Lindokuhle Melaphi.

The Zoleka Helesi Award has beenpresented since 2021, in memory of Zabalaza’s dynamic co-founder Zoleka Helesi who passed away in 2020. Helesi was a visionary force in the industry, who reminded us about the sacrifices people make and challenges they overcome to send their children on an outing to Zabalaza.

The Zoleka Helesi Award is presented to a young talented woman who isclearly going to make a significant impact on the industry. This year it was awarded to Andiswa Anthony.

“We were delighted to see an increase in attendance at evening shows this year, illustrating that people understand experiencing a fresh, South African story makes a compelling evening out,”says Zabalaza Artistic Director and Curator, Mdu Kweyama.

Zabalaza is committed to the growth and development of theatre-makers, with a key focus on promoting upcoming voices. For the past 16 years, the Festival has nurtured numerous artists and writers, making a significant contribution to the theatre landscape. Simultaneously, new audience members have had the chance to experience theatre for the first time.  The Festival is a celebration of identity, community, creativity and resilience through inspiring theatre and dynamic storytelling.

The door takings from each show also go straight back to the groups or artists, investing in the future of the arts sector.

Zabalaza is made possible by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports, the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Fund, the Makwande Empowerment Trust, the City of Cape Town and the HCI Foundation.

The full list of 2026 Zabalaza Festival Award Recipients are:

·       Most Promising Actor Winner: Khulekani Kheswa for When Black Men Disappear

·       Most Promising Actress Winner: Alinda Qhama for Incindi Yedlaka

·       Best Supporting Actor Winner: Siphesihle Nkantini for When Black Men Disappear

·       Best Supporting Actress Winner: Palesa Raba for How To Train Your Thoughts

·       Best Ensemble Winner: Kinnes van Somers by Tamsyn Alexander and Hanro Cloete

·       Best Script Winner: Until I Arrive by Lindokuhle Melaphi

·       Best Actress Winner: Yolanda Ntanyana for Bring Light

·       Best Actor Winner: Mnqobi Molefe for When Black Men Disappear

·       Best Director Winner: Tamsyn Alexander and Hanro Cloete 

·       Innovation Award: Mthuthuzeli Zimba for When Black Men Disappear

·       Zoleka Helesi Award for Female Artist of Outstanding Talent

·       Winner: Andiswa Anthony 

·       Finest of the Festival Winner: Kinnes van Somers & Until I Arrive 

The theatre mentors for 2026 are:  Jayne Batzofin, Tiisetso Mashifane, Jacqueline Dommisse, Mandla Mbothwe, Qondiswa James and Carlo Daniels.

Zabalaza

Zabalaza Outreach and Development Programmes is a Baxter Theatre Centre Development Programme that develops theatre practitioners from in and around the Western Cape, in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports, by providing them with performance platforms so that they can realise their creative concepts. This has been achieved through mini-festivals in target communities, script readings, showcases and a theatre festival held at the Baxter Theatre Centre annually in March.

The Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival forms a fundamental part of The Baxter’s broader vision to be a vibrant and integrated cultural hub, reflecting the diversity of the country’s demographics for all its patrons, communities, artists and visitors.South African and African themes are given voice and visibility through the Zabalaza activities. 

Zabalaza process and programmes aim to:

●      Identify and nurture talent

●      Build theatre audiences

●      Create performance platforms through the following activities

●      Present skills development workshops

●      Present mentorship/Internship programmes:

●      Present Community mini-festivals that take place in various communities in and around the Western Cape. Mini festivals have been hosted in the communities of Robertson, Kraaifontein, Stellenbosch, Khayelitsha, Langa, Delft, Nyanga East and Athlone to name a few.

The Baxter Zabalaza Main Festival

The Zabalaza Theatre Festival takes over the Baxter Theatre Centre every March, invading all the Baxter’s spaces to create a festive atmosphere. Community theatre groups are given the opportunity to present their plays on a professional performance platform. Approximately 50 new theatre works, many of them in indigenous languages, are created annually.

Golden Arrow Bus Services provides transport for audiences to attend the festival at a very low cost.

Every year one or more production is awarded the winner of Zabalaza Finest of the Fest. The winning production goes through a mentorship process to raise the standard of the work before it is mounted for a two week season at the Baxter. This provides the company with another opportunity to stage their work in a professional theatre with full logistical support.

For the past four years we have partnered with City Varsity and ACT Cape Town for the bursary program that takes one participant for a degree, diploma, or certificate in creative arts courses.

Programmes in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports

The Western Cape consists of six districts: City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands, Eden, Overberg, West Coast and Central Karoo. The Western Cape Department of Arts and Culture, together with Zabalaza, aims to create drama festivals in all of the districts. To date we have managed to create festivals in the following districts: Cape Winelands, Eden, Overberg and the West Coast.

Every June we host a 3-day script-writing workshop, in which writers are invited to develop their skills. These writers are asked to go back to their communities and create productions to be staged in a showcase in August. Selected productions from the showcase are invited to attend another 3-day workshop in September, where the focus is on acting, directing and the development of their scripts.

The best productions from these showcases are awarded a place in the Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival programme. These productions also participate in the annual Suidoostefees at Artscape, and a select few are also granted the opportunity to participate in either the ABSA KKNK in Oudtshoorn or the Best of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.

❇ Sponsored content. Image of the 2026 winners at the Baxter Zabalaza Festival – supplied.