The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards ceremony, Cape Town, South Africa
The awards announcement was made on May 18, 2020. This is how it panned out. Interview with chair, Africa Melane follows. Nominees and winners below.
✅ Date: Monday, May 18, 2020
✅ Time: 6pm
✅ Ticket price: No ticket required. No booking required. Click to connect.
✅ Duration: Twenty minutes
✅ Format: Pre-recorded film announcement with clips and voice over by chair Africa Melane
✅ Interaction: Comments enabled. Viewers are invited to comment. Please use hashtags #fdctheatreawards2020 #distell
✅ Live feed:
Distell Group Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DistellGroup/
Distell Group twitter https://twitter.com/distellgroup/
✅ Archived: The announcement recording will be archived on the FDC Facebook page.
Every year, The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards ceremony alternates between Artscape Theatre and The Baxter Theatre, The 55th edition of the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards was scheduled to take place on March 21, 2020 at the Baxter but the ceremony was called off because in the time of Covid-19, theatres are closed. Tickets to the awards event is usually on an invite only basis. It is a red carpet affair and a celebration of live performance.
The 2020 digital ceremony provided global access to experience the thrill and the excitement of the FDC Theatre Awards.
Africa Melane is the chair and he spoke to TheCapeRobyn about the challenges of presenting the awards on digital platforms.
With the vagaries of technology and the mishaps of some other award ceremonies during the pandemic, it was decided to go with a twenty minute pre-recorded film announcement.
Melane recorded a voice-over at his place of work, at http://Cape Talk in Cape Town. As part of the essential workforce, he was able to make the recording in the studio. That voice-over was then taken by Helmuth Kisting of the production company, 4Ever Productions and combined with footage and stills. During the filmed awards ceremony, when each nominee is announced, footage will appear, followed by image/s when the winner is announced.
Hours went into editing and refining the recording. When there was consensus that all was in order, the announcement was made that the awards would go live tonight- Monday May 18 at 6pm.
It was decided to keep the awards ceremony short and sweet. It is 6pm Monday evening and people have things to do. This an abbreviated version of what was planned for the live show (directed by Mandla Mbothwe) but the aim is to conjure up a sense of the anticipation and excitement – hanging on there –waiting for the name to be called.
Winners have not been notified beforehand which has heightened the sense of excitement leading up to the ceremony. [By the way, payment has been made to the artists who were involved in performing at the scheduled show. They put time into their work and have been compensated. Bravo to Distell.]
The pandemic has shattered the live performance industry. The awards come at a time when the industry has no answers. It is likely to be a long time before we see theatres opening again. Some say that mainstream theatre complexes will not be operational before January 2021.
It is particularly heart-breaking in Cape Town as the theatre year of 2020 kicked off with gusto with sold-out houses of Cape Town Opera’s La Boheme; excellent houses for Master Harold… And The Boys at http://The Fugard Theatre, The Producers at Theatre on the Bay, full houses at the Baxter Theatre. That was a promising start-up for the industry which was reeling from a year of disappointments in 2019. Melane said that around 59 productions have been considered for judging for the 2020 awards. The usual number of productions under consideration, is around 80. Arts funding was thin on the ground in 2019. Disposable income was not always there for the arts. We thought it was tough but it was going to get a lot worse.
Going forward, one wonders what will augur for the 2021 FDC Theatre Awards. Will it be possible to have an awards ceremony? No one can answer that question. Melane: “The year [2020] started brilliantly. We had two months and a week of productions.” Then came the soft lockdown with theatres shuttered from March 15, followed by the hard lockdown from midnight on March 26.
Going forward, if performances can kick off again, with social distancing, the FDC committee may need to revise the rules. In the past, certain conditions had to be met in order to qualify for consideration by the judges. If performances are staged for instance, in living rooms, in private spaces, will those venues be deemed as acceptable for consideration or will the year 2020 be scrapped? Would it be possible to consider performance which is going out on digital channels? http://The National Arts Festival will be staged digitally. Artists are embracing digital media platforms. Is it possible to incorporate that in a FDC Theatre Awards for 2021? We wait and see.
Winners of the FDC Theatre Awards 2020, receive R15 000 and a silver medallion.
Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards 2020 nominees– updated with names of winners – indicated by ✅ and bold
BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT
- The Cenotaph of Dan wa Moriri | Gerard Bester, William Harding and Tony B. Miyambo
- The Hucksters | Louis Viljoen
- The Room | Brent Palmer
- G7: Okwe Bokhwe (Like/Of a goat) | Mandla Mbothwe and original company of 2017-18 Magnet Theatre trainees
- Scott | Morapeleng Molekoa ✅
BEST NEW DIRECTOR
- Emily Child
- FaniswaYisa
- Iman Isaacs and Raezeen Wentworth
- Morapeleng Molekoa ✅
- Tyron Zoutman
BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
- Florence and Watson: The Great Pangolin Mystery
- Jakkalsen Wolf Onbeperk
- Lumka ✅
- Titum-titum
- Vlooien die Storieboek
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE
- Abigail Mei, Carlo Daniels, Luxolo Mboso, Siyavuya Gqumehlo, Sivenathi Macibela, Sizwe Lubengu, Sityhilelo Makupula and Yvonne Msebenzi | G7: OkweBokhwe (Like/Of a goat) | Various roles ✅
- Carlo Daniels, Motlatji Mjamba, Sive Gubanxa, Siyavuya Gqumehlo, Jason Jacobs, Balindileka Ngcobo, Sizwe Lubengu, Sivenathi Macibela, Sityhilelo Makupula, Luxolo Mboso, Abigail Mei, Yvonne Msebenzi and Kanya Viljoen | Antigone (not quite/quiet) | Various roles
- James Cairns, Taryn Bennett and Jaques de Silva | The Old Man and the Sea | Various roles
- Jennie Reznek and Faniswa Yisa | Every Year, Every Day, I’m Walking | Various roles
- Lizz Meiring, Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck and Nicole Holm | 3 Susters | Christine, Anel and Bianca
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A REVUE, CABARET OR ONE-PERSON SHOW
- Carlo Daniels | Klippies van die grond | Various roles
- Sandra Prinsloo | Kamphoer | Susan Nell
- Tafara Nyatsanza | Scott | Various roles ✅
- Taryn Bennett | Silkworm | Georgina
- Tony B. Miyambo | The Cenotaph of Dan wa Moriri | Various roles
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
- Craig Urbani | Chicago the Musical | Billy Flynn
- Eldon van der Merwe | Danger in the Dark | Chicco
- Tashreeq de Villiers | Aunty Merle: It’s a Girl! | Glen Davids/Pastor Jansen
- Tashreeq de Villiers | Danger in the Dark | Lucky
- Tshepo Ncokoane | Kinky Boots | Angel ✅
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
- Carmen Maarman | Aunty Merle: It’s a Girl! | Soraya Samsodien
- Ilse Klink | Chicago the Musical | Mama Morton
- Jennifer Steyn | Aunty Merle: It’s a Girl! | Claire White
- Kate Normington | The Rocky Horror Show | Narrator
- Namisa Mdlalose | Kinky Boots | Lauren ✅
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
- Craig Urbani | The Rocky Horror Show | Frank N Furter
- Earl Gregory | Into the Woods | The Baker
- Earl Gregory | Kinky Boots | Lola ✅
- Elton Landrew | Danger in the Dark | Poison
- Marc Lottering | Aunty Merle: It’s a Girl! | Aunty Merle
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW
- Bianca Flanders | Krotoa: Eva van de Kaap | Krotoa/Sam
- Didintle Khunou | The Rocky Horror Show | Janet Weiss
- Kate Normington | Into the Woods | The Witch
- Rushney Ferguson | Danger in the Dark | Juanita
- Zolani Mahola | The One Who Sings | Herself ✅
BEST PUPPETRY DESIGN
- Alida van Deventer | The Old Man and the Sea | Old man puppet
- Fred Abrahamse and Marcel Meyer | Macbeth | Fleance
- Jenine Collocott | The Old Man and the Sea | Masks ✅
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
- Fred Abrahamse | Equus ✅
- Faheem Bardien | The Glass Menagerie
- Ken Billington | Chicago the Musical
- Tim Mitchell | Kinky Boots
- Wolf Britz | Statements After an Arrest under the Immorality Act
BEST SET DESIGN
- Greg King | Into the Woods
- Marcel Meyer | Equus
- Patrick Curtis | The Goat, or Who is Sylvia
- Paul Wills | Kinky Boots ✅
- Wolf Britz | Statements After an Arrest under the Immorality Act
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
- Birrie le Roux | Kinky Boots ✅
- Fred Abrahamse and Marcel Meyer | Macbeth
- Graça Brandão Oliveira | Aunty Merle: It’s a Girl!
- Illka Louw and Alicia Wallace | Richard III
- Marcel Meyer | Equus
BEST SOUND DESIGN, ORIGINAL MUSIC, SOUNDSCAPE OR LIVE PERFORMANCE
- Babalwa Makwetu | G7: Okwe Bokhwe (Like/Of a goat) ✅
- Charl-Johan Lingenfelder | Statements After an Arrest under the Immorality Act
- Godfrey Johnson | Vaslav
- Neo Muyanga | Antigone (not quite/quiet)
- Neo Muyanga | Every Year, Every Day, I’m Walking
BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – MALE
- Bongani Kubheka | La Serva Padrona | Uberto ✅
- Makudupanyane Senaoana | I Capuleti e I Montecchi | Tebaldo
- Thando Zwane | I Capuleti e I Montecchi | Capellio
BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – FEMALE
- Ané Pretorius | I Capuleti e I Montecchi | Romeo
- Brittany Smith | I Capuleti e I Montecchi | Giulietta
- Fleur Barron | Orphée et Eurydice | Orphée
- Nombulelo Yende | I Capuleti e I Montecchi | Giulietta
- Siphokazi Molteno | I Capuleti e I Montecchi | Romeo ✅
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
- David Viviers | Cellist with Rabies | Rabies Virus ✅
- Edwin van der Walt | Koningin Lear | Corné/Junkie
- Marcel Meyer | The Glass Menagerie | Jim
- Marty Kintu | Florence| Porter
- Sanda Shandu | Richard III | Earl of Richmond/Dorset
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
- Anna-Mart van der Merwe | Koningin Lear | Sumien
- Cassandra-Tendai Mpanda | Richard III | Queen Elizabeth
- Indalo Benett | Florence | Marge
- Jenny Stead | The Glass Menagerie | Laura Wingfield ✅
- Maggie Gericke | Equus | Dora Strang
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY
- Antoinette Kellerman | Koningin Lear | Elisabeth Lear
- Dorothy-Ann Gould | Family Secrets | Grazia
- Fiona Ramsay | The Glass Menagerie | Amanda Wingfield ✅
- Indalo Benett | Wine in the Wilderness | Tommy
- Jennifer Steyn | The Goat, or Who is Sylvia | Stevie
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
- Alan Committie | Richard III | Richard III ✅
- Brent Palmer | The Room | Mike
- David Viviers | Macbeth | Lady Macbeth
- Graham Hopkins | Equus | Martin Dysart
- Nicholas Pauling | The Hucksters | Fred
BEST DIRECTOR
- Fred Abrahamse | The Glass Menagerie
- Mandla Mbothwe | G7: OkweBokhwe (Like/Of a goat) ✅
- Maropeleng Molekoa | Scott
- Matthew Wild | Kinky Boots
- Mdu Kweyama | The Goat, or Who is Sylvia
BEST PRODUCTION
- Baxter Theatre Centre | The Goat, or Who is Sylvia
- Eric Abraham and The Fugard Theatre | Kinky Boots ✅
- Magnet Theatre | G7: Okwe Bokhwe (Like/Of a goat)
- Morapeleng Molekoa | Scott
- Pieter Toerien | Equus
AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING STUDENT
- Basetsana Molepo | Afda
- Cantona James | University of Stellenbosch ✅
- Chad Baai | Waterfront Theatre School
- Devonecia Swartz | University of Stellenbosch
- Ntlanhla Kutu | Afda
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2020
Fatima Dike ✅
THE INNOVATION AWARD 2020
Junkets Publishers – Robin Malan and Andi Mgibantaka ✅
SPECIAL AWARD 2020
The late Taliep Petersen recived a FDC award in 1999, for Kat and the Kings (best contribution to a musical or revue. The medallion was stolen and the FDC Awards have replaced that award and will deliver it to his family.✅
