Naledi Awards: Annie skips away with four awards

Three other highly-acclaimed productions, Scorched, Suddenly the Storm and the musical TAU won three awards each at a glittering event at Gold Reef City on Monday night.

South African theatre was celebrated in all its glory with entertainment, heartfelt speeches and some surprise winners. Afrikaans production Altyd in My Drome walked off with two awards, including Best Director for its creator Neels Claasen. 

Two international musicals, Shrek The Musical and the every-abiding classic Singin' in the Rain, were also honoured with two awards each. In addition to this, Afrikaans play AS won recognition for the Best Cutting Edge production. Musical wunderkind Bryan Schimmel, who has received no fewer than nine nominations in his career, won the Best Musical Director award for his work on Annie.

For the first time two nominees in the Best Lighting Design category shared an award. They were Hlomohang Mothetho (TAU) and Wesley France (Suddenly the Storm). Greg King was honoured for his work (with Shanti Naidoo) on Shrek the Musical in Best Costume Design and again for Best Set Design for Suddenly the Storm.

Here are all the winners:

Best Supporting Actress:

Ameera Patel - Scorched

Best Supporting Actor:

Tiaan Slabbert - Porselein

Best Production For Children:

Khokho's Treasure

Best Production For Young Audiences:

Just Antigone

Best Performance In A Childrens' Theatre Production:

Jòvan Muthray - Just Antigone

Best Newcomer/Breakthrough:

Daniel Richards - Pay Back The Curry!

Best Costume Design:

Greg King & Shanti Naidoo - Shrek The Musical

Best Lighting Design:                                 

Hlomohang Mothetho - TAU

Best Lighting Design:

Wesley France - Suddenly the Storm

Best Set Design:

Greg King - Suddenly the Storm

Best Sound Design:

Mark Malherbe - Annie

Best Score / Arrangement / Adaptation:

Dawid Boverhoff - Altyd In My Drome

Best Musical Director:

Bryan Schimmel - Annie

Best Production: Cutting Edge:

AS - Prod. by Jannes Erasmus & the SA State Theatre. Written & Dir. by Jannes Erasmus.

Best Ensemble:

TAU - Prod. by the Market Theatre & the Windybrow Theatre.  Written & Dir. by Thabiso T. Rammala.

Best Orginal Choreography:

Nhlanhla Mahlangu - TAU

Best Director Of A Musical / Revue:

Neels Clasen - Altyd In My Drome

Best Director Of A Play:

Jade Bowers - Scorched

Best Supporting/Featured Performance In A Musical/Revue:  Female:

Taryn-Lee Hudson - Singin' In The Rain

Best Supporting/Featured Performance In A Musical/Revue: Male:

Rory Booth - Shrek The Musical

Best Performance In A Musical (Female)

Charon Williams-Ros - Annie

Best Performance In A Musical (Male)

Grant Almirall - Singin' In The Rain

Best Lead Performance In A Play (Female)

Ilse Klink - Scorched

Best Lead Performance In A Play (Male)

Desmond Dube - I See You

Best New SA Script:

Suddenly the Storm

Best Production Of A Play:

I See You

Best Production Of A Musical:

Annie

The Lesedi Spirit Of Courage Award:

Erik Holm

Executive Director's Award:

Popart: Hayleigh Evans

Executive Director's Award:

Popart: Orly Shapiro

Life Time Achievement Award:

Haccious Mokopakgosi

World Impact Award:

Johnny Clegg