CAPE TOWN – Sunday 5 July marked a landmark evening at the Baxter Theatre in Rondebosch, as Cape Town’s theatrical community gathered for the 61st Cape Town Theatre Awards – a refined celebration powered by CapeTalk that honoured the city’s finest performing arts talent.

The awards carry a storied legacy spanning more than 60 years, having previously operated under the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards banner. Stepping into a new chapter, the renamed Cape Town Theatre Awards now stand backed by a newly formed non-profit company that will oversee future editions of the ceremony.

Africa Melane, chairperson of the Awards Panel, reflected on the transition with gratitude: “Distell and Heineken Beverages made it possible for us to champion Cape Town’s creative community across six decades, and we are deeply thankful for that.”

He went on to acknowledge the incoming support structure: “CapeTalk and Primedia Broadcasting share our conviction that a world-class city like Cape Town depends on a flourishing performing arts scene. Their backing gives us the foundation to carry these awards confidently into the future.”

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Fierce competition

On the strength of the talent on show, Melane was equally effusive. An impressive 65 productions qualified for consideration in 2025, spanning seven operas, three children’s productions, 24 student productions and 55 mainstage works – five of them musicals.

“The competition was fierce, and rightly so. We salute every theatre maker who pushed through challenges to bring their vision to life, and we congratulate every nominee and winner.”

Melane also welcomed Boschendal as a new partner for this year’s ceremony.

The judging panel comprise Africa Melane (chair), Dr Beverley Brommert, Hadley Titus, Naude van der Merwe, Nkgopoleng Moloi, Roxy Marosa, Sive Gubangxa, Thabo K Makgolo, Tracey Saunders and Dr Wayne Muller.

Among the evening’s most distinguished honours, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Nigel Vermaas – actor, director, writer, documentary maker and radio host – whose broad, instinctive artistry has left a lasting imprint on both the performing arts and broadcasting worlds.

The Innovation in Theatre Award was claimed by the Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa, now in its 16th year of operation.

The organisation has become an essential force in making Shakespeare approachable for young people, condensing full-length plays into vibrant short productions with which learners can genuinely own and connect.

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One person, seven awards

The night’s dominant force was the solo show Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater, which swept all seven categories for which it was nominated: Best Production, Best Director, Best New South African Script, Best Performance in a Revue, Cabaret or One-Person Show, Best Lighting and Set Design, and Best Sound Design, Original Music, Soundscape or Live Performance.

Cats delivered three wins of its own, claiming Best Ensemble Performance, Best Actress in a Musical, and Best Costume Design. Chicago added two more musical honours to the evening’s tally, taking Best Supporting Actress in a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical.

Cape Town Opera’s Bluebeard’s Castle triumphed in both the male and female opera performance categories, while Speelgoed van Glas / The Glass Menagerie rounded off the awards with wins for Best Supporting Actress in a Play and Best Lead Actor in a Play.

The full list of award winners are:

• Most Promising Student: Scarlett Pay, LAMTA
• Best New South African Script: Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater, Neil Coppen and Mpume Mthombeni
• Best New Director: Samuel Jumat, ’n Pandok se Liefde
• Best Theatre Production for Children and Young People: Moana Jr, Sonwa Sakuba Institute for the Performing Arts (SSIPA)
• Best Performance by an Ensemble: Cats – Austin Tshikosi, Brittane van Loggerenberg, Cassiel Eatock-Winnik, Cleto van Rooi, 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 and Zoë Mclaughlin.
• Best Performance in a Revue, Cabaret or One-Person Show: Mpume Mthombeni, Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater
• Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical or Music Theatre Show: Carlo Daniels as Randall Simons in Colleen The Musical
• Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical or Music Theatre Show: Tankiso Mamabolo as Matron Mama Morton in Chicago
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical or Music Theatre Show: Jonathan Roxmouth as Billy Flynn in Chicago
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Music Theatre Show: Cindy Ann Abrahams as Grizabella in Cats
• Best Puppetry Design: Adrian Kohler and William Kentridge for Faustus in Africa!
• Best Lighting Design: Tina le Roux for Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater
• Best Set Design: Greg King for Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater
• Best Costume Design: John Napier for Cats
• Best Sound Design, Original Music, Soundscape or Live Performance: Tristan Horton for Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater
• Best Male Performance in an Opera: William Berger as Bluebeard in Bluebeard’s Castle
• Best Female Performance in an Opera: Siphamandla Moyake as Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle
• Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play: Albert Pretorius as Caliban in The Tempest
• Best Performance by Supporting Actress in a Play: Carla Smith as Laura in Speelgoed van Glas / The Glass Menagerie
• Best Performance by Lead Actress in a Play: Rolanda Marais as Hedda in Hedda Gabler
• Best Performance by Lead Actor in a Play: Ben Albertyn as Tom in Speelgoed van Glas / The Glass Menagerie
• Best Director: Neil Coppen for Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater
• Best Production: Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater by Empatheatre, The Baxter Theatre Centre and the National Arts Festival
• Innovation in Theatre: Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Nigel Vermaas