The stage play ‘Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater’, which centers on a female assassin, garnered significant recognition at the Cape Town Theatre Awards, securing victories in all seven categories for which it was nominated.
Церемония награждения и номинации
The annual ceremony took place at the Baxter Theatre on Sunday and served to honor the finest theatrical professionals across various fields for performances staged in Cape Town during the previous year. Previously, these awards were known as the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards.
‘Isidlamlilo’ was recognized as Best Production and also claimed awards for Best New South African Script, Best Performance in a Revue, Cabaret or One-Person Show, Best Lighting, Best Set Design, Original Music, Soundscape or Live Performance, and Best Director.
Успехи актрисы Мпуме Мтомбени
Actress Mpume Mthombeni, who stars in the production and co-wrote it with director Neil Coppen, received the award for Best Performance in a Revue, Cabaret or One-Person Show. She described the piece as an “electrifying one-woman show”.
Mthombeni explained that the play is based on real events from the 1980s in KwaZulu-Natal, detailing conflicts between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). She noted that the character in the play worked for the IFP and was tasked with eliminating ANC members after receiving training with other women.
Her motivation for telling this story stems from the lingering societal issues, stating that despite the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, many individuals lack closure, and it is vital to discuss the experiences of women beyond just Winnie Mandela.
Другие лауреаты и достижения
Cindy Ann Abrahams won the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical for portraying Grizabella in ‘Cats’. The musical ‘Cats’ secured three awards: Best Performance by an Ensemble, Best Costume Design, and the aforementioned Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical for Cindy Ann Abrahams’s portrayal of Grizabella.
The Best Set Design award went to Greg King, whose design for the pantomime ‘Puss In Boots’ happened to serve as the backdrop for the awards event, which is currently running on the same stage.
Adrian Kohler, a founder of the acclaimed Handspring Puppet Company, shared the Best Puppetry Design prize with South African visual artist William Kentridge for Kentridge’s show ‘Faustus in Africa!’. Lara Foot Newton, the Baxter Theatre’s chief executive officer, read Kohler’s acceptance remarks, thanking the awards for validating puppetry’s legitimate role in theatre.
Обзор церемонии и будущие планы
The awards show also featured a five-minute tribute honoring various creative professionals, including actors and journalists, who passed away in the past year, paying respects to jazz musician Abdullah Ibrahim and photojournalist Rashid Lombard.
Africa Melane, chairperson of the awards panel, mentioned the high level of competition, noting that an “incredible 65 productions were eligible for consideration in 2025”. A press release further detailed that eligible works comprised seven operas, three children’s productions, 24 student productions, and 55 other main productions, five of which were musicals.
The awards are now managed by a newly formed non-profit organization dedicated to sustaining the platform that recognizes and celebrates excellence in the performing arts. The panel plans to explore ways to implement initiatives that support theatre practitioners throughout the entire year as this new phase develops.