Cape Town Theatre Awards: Nominees Unveiled for 61st Ceremony

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The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards rebrands under a newly established NPO after six decades of celebrating excellence.

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A new era for the Cape Town theatre awards has been announced, alongside the nominees for the 61st Awards. Building the scaffolding which has supported a 60-yearlong institution is no mean feat. In recent months that is what has been required to maintain the oldest theatre awards in the country. The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards enter a new era this year with a renaming to the Cape Town Theatre Awards. A newly established NPO will ensure their continued longevity and stability.

Founded by the United Tobacco Company in 1965, who sponsored the awards until 1977, the awards have always celebrated excellence. When the Oude Meester Foundation for the Performing Arts took over the sponsorship in 1978, the awards were renamed the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. Since the merger of the Distillers Corporation in 2000, the foundation was renamed and Distell Arts and Culture continued sponsoring the awards and several other creative organisations. After Heineken's acquisition of Distell in 2023, that support continued until last year.

“We are indebted to Distell and Heineken for their investment over many years, elevating these Awards to what they have become,” he says. “As we embark on a journey of transition, our awards event will be more intimate, but with the same heart of placing artistic excellence centre stage and in the spotlight,” says Panel Chair, Africa Melane.

“It is vital to recognise South African artists, encouraging them to continue sharing stories on stage and uniting us in an enriching experience that helps us to understand one another. We honour the astounding talent that exists here in Cape Town,” says Melane.

As this new chapter evolves, Melane says the panel will be exploring how the awards can implement initiatives that support theatre practitioners throughout the year.

The musical Cats earned 11 nominations, including Best Director and Best Production. Garnering seven nominations each were the one-woman show Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater and the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

An impressive 65 productions were eligible for consideration in 2025. Nominations were made by the panel of judges across 23 competitive categories. Some plays have enjoyed critical acclaim elsewhere but are only eligible this time for the CTTA, despite being staged previously.

In the student category, there were 139 students that were eligible for consideration. The institutions represented were Act (Cape Town), AFDA, CTDPS, LAMTA, University of Stellenbosch and the Waterfront Theatre School.

“The panel of judges was especially impressed by the quality of the new South African scripts which showcased the wealth of stories that are uniquely ours, adding to the vibrant tapestry of theatre. Audiences were invited on compelling journeys through history, emotion, sacrifice, and celebration,” says Melane.

Among the contenders, there were no less than 32 new South African scripts, sharing the lives, hopes dreams and despairs of the country. From very personal and intimate revelations in Beggared in South Africa, Cotton Wool Kid, earthside, Messy and Spin Cycles to the visceral excavation of South Africa's violent history in Moffie, Undermined and Isidlamilo/The Fire Eater and the Grab After a Doll's House.

Musicals continue to resonate with local audiences and old favourites including Chicago, Cats and Joseph and the Technicolour Dream Coat returned to the stage while Dear Evan Hansen was staged in South Africa for the first time. Local musicals Alice in the Cape Flats and Colleen the Musical had audiences out of their seats as they embraced very relatable and recognisable characters. While musicals provided escapism, they still explored heartfelt and often deeply moving themes. Children were also treated with their very own musical, Moana Jr. and were able to relate to the majority of the cast, who were children themselves.

Recent years have seen the addition of some of the highlights from the Afrikaans Festival circuit adapted to English and staged in both languages. This allowed audiences to experience Hedda Gabler and Glass Menagerie / Speelgoed van Glas in either one or both English and Afrikaans.

The recipients of the Lifetime Achievement and Innovation in Theatre Awards will also be announced at the ceremony.

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 Junker | LAMTA Scarlett Pay | LAMTA Shannon Hendry | Stellenbosch University Tumelo Gwanzura | AFDA

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

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

Kipper and the Toy Box / Vlooi en die Speelgoedkis Moana Jr The Magic Flute

Cats | Austin Tshikosi, Brittane van Loggerenberg, Cassiel Eatock-Winnik, 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 (Delisiwe), Les Nkosi (Prof Ndebele), Pulane Rampoana (Mamello); Rami Chuene (Manette), Siyasinga Papu (Marara), Thembisa Mdoda-Nxumalo (Winnie Mandela)

David Viviers | Moffie Mpume Mthombeni | Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater Tony Bonani Miyambo | Kafka's Ape

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

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

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

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

Adrian Kohler and William Kentridge | FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! Greg King | Jack and the Beanstalk

Cats | Russell Thompson FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! | Wesley France Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Tina Le Roux Moffie | Niall Griffin Speelgoed van glas | The Glass Menagerie | Nico Scheepers

Aladdin | Fred Abrahamse Cats | John Napier FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! | Adrian Kohler Hedda Gabler | Rocco Pool Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater | Dylan McGarry, Greg King, Neil Coppen, Steven Woodroffe Wendy Henstock

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/south-africa/article/Nominees-Revealed-For-61st-Cape-Town-Theatre-Awards-20260521)._