The Market Theatre Foundation has scooped 27 nominations for the Naledi Theatre Awards.
The nominations were revealed on Sunday, April 12, under the new COVID-19 regulations.
The slate of nominations across various categories includes the Market Theatre’s mainstream productions showcased in 2019, which have been carefully curated and presented by the artistic director, James Ngcobo, productions presented by the Market Theatre Laboratory under the leadership of Clara Vaughan as well as productions from the Windybrow Arts Centre under the leadership of Keitu Gwangwa.
Among those nominated include a production called Venus vs Modernity written by an award-winning author, presenter, producer, and actress best known for her fiery poetry, Lebo Mashile, co-directed by Pamela Nomvete and Koleka Putuma.
The production was nodded for Best Breakthrough Performance, Best Director of Play, Best Original Score and Best Lead Performance.
Artistic director and renowned actor Ngcobo venture into new terrains with the launch of the African Continental Season.
The season aimed to curate African works from the diaspora.
Last year, audiences saw two diverse work The Fishermen and Frontiers, directed by Ngcobo.
Both these pioneering productions also received nominations for the Best Director of Play and Best Lead Performance respectively.
“The Market Theatre Foundation’s artistic success is testimony to our absolute commitment for artistic excellence and for promoting original South African stories that critically reflect on our past, anchor us to the present and offer us a visionary hope for the future”, said Zama Buthelezi, the Brand & Communications Manager of the Market Theatre Foundation.
The Market Theatre Foundation’s roll of honour in the Naledi Theatre Awards nominations list is as follows:
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY: The Fisherman – (Prod. The Market Theatre)
BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT: Currently (G)old – (Written/developed by the Kwasha Company) Ekasi Lam’ – (Written by Jefferson Tshabalala) Strange Land – (Written by Prof Anton Krueger) VAN WYK: The Storyteller of Riverlea (Written by Zane Meas) Venus vs Modernity – (Written by Lebo Mashile)
BEST CONTEMPORARY DANCE/BALLET PRODUCTION: Exit/Exist – (Prod. Vuyani Dance Theatre and The Market Theatre)
BEST PRODUCTION FOR INDEPENDANT/FRINGE THEATRE: No Easter Sunday for Queers – (Prod. The National Arts Festival & The Market – Theatre)
BEST PRODUCTION TERTIARY/INCUBATOR THEATRE: Eclipsed – (Prod. The Market Theatre) Frontières – (Prod. The Market Theatre & The Dept Arts and – Culture Incubation) Nailed – (Prod. The Market Theatre & The Dept Arts & Culture – Incubation) Rhinoceros – (Prod. Kwasha! Theatre Company supported by The – Market Theatre Lab. Windybrow Arts Centre, – The French Institute of SA, Mazars by arr Samuel – French)
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY: FEMALE Lebo Mashile as Saartjie – (Venus vs Modernity) BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY: MALE Siyabonga Thwala as Obembe – (The Fisherman) Warren Masemola as Ben – (The Fisherman)
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE Ann Masina as Venus – (Venus vs Modernity)
BEST ENSEMBLE Currently (G)old – (Presented by the Kwasha Company in – assoc with the Market Theatre Laboratory and – Windybrow Arts Centre)
BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE IN A PRODUCTION MALE/FEMALE Billy Langa as Narrator – (Tswalo) Renos Nicos Spanoudes as Dimitri Tsafendas – (Strange Land) Zane Meas as Chris van Wyk – (VAN WYK: The Storyteller of – Riverlea)
BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY James Ngcobo – (The Fisherman) Pamela Nomvete & Koleka Putuma – (Venus vs Modernity)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A PLAY OR A MUSICAL Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi & Aalliyah Zama Matintela – (Currently (G)old)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE/ARRANGEMENT/ADAPTATION Kholofelo Sewela & Major Mockery – (Venus vs Modernity)
BEST THEATRE SET DESIGN Nthabiseng Malaka – (Strange Land)
BEST SOUND DESIGN/SOUNDSCAPE Kholofela Sewela – (The Lion and the Lamb) Yogin Sullapen – (Strange Land)
