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Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees
We may have seen the last curtain call at the 2024 festival, but there’s still time left to play! The podium beckons for some of the Woordtrofees nominees for excellence in various categories at this year’s Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees.
Every year following the festival the Stellenbosch Woordfees celebrates excellence by honouring artists for their achievements in various categories.
This year is no different and the nominees have just been announced! The award ceremony to be held in Stellenbosch at the end of the month will also include a new award named in honour of the legendary journalist, Martie Meiring.
According to Gillian Mitchell, the convenor of the Woordtrofees panel of judges, the productions this year covered a range of themes and perspectives: the brave, the daring, the historic, the emotional, the joyful, the dramatic, and everything in between. She was particularly excited about the inclusion of jazz as part of this year’s Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees program. Mitchell also found it very encouraging to see how many young festival-goers, especially WOW-learners, enjoyed what the festival had to offer.
In addition to the best sellers at the EasyEquities Writers Festival in four different genres (fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and lifestyle), a number of other special prizes will also be awarded. Among these awards will be the WOW-school, as well as the teacher of the year. There are no shortlists for these categories.
The Woordtrofees panel consisted of the following judges across various categories:
Theatre: Barbara Loots. Geoffrey Hyland, Ephraim Gordon, Herman van der Westhuizen.
Contemporary Music: Gustav Franzen, Elsa Ward, Tersia Harley, Felicia Lesch, Bianca Flanders, Wendy Joy Crowley.
Classical Music: Wayne Muller, Naudé van der Merwe, Lauren Dasappa.
Tegnies en ontwerp: Mannie Manim, Elana- Marié Snyman, André Terblanché.
Dance: Mmatumisang Mostsisi, Corné Venter, Gillian Mitchell.
The nominations are as follows:
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Best achievement: Classical Music - Vocal
Les Arts Florissants
Opera-gunstelinge
Tuiskoms / Homecoming
Universiteitskoor Stellenbosch
Best Achievement: Classical Music -Instrumental
8 Cellos in Concert
Charl du Plessis-trio: Rhapsody in Blue
Narratives
¡Pulso!
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Best Achievement: Contemporary Music – Solo/Duo
Amanda Strydom (Amanda Strydom: The Incredible Journey of Tinkerbell van Tonder)
Elzabé Zietsman (Vier Panado’s en ’n Chardonnay)
Frieda van den Heever (Frieda van den Heever: Spoorsny)
Karen Petersen (’n Vrou om te onthou)
Best Achievement: Contemporary Music - Group/Ensemble
Kaapse Kabaret
Kelders se geheime
Ontban
Sun Quintet (Jazz at the Konserve: Sun Quintet)
DANCE
Best Achievement: Dance
Dans Exit/Exist
EMERGING
Best Emerging Artist
Cornèl Engelbrecht (Kontemporêre musiek)
Karen Petersen (Kontemporêre musiek)
Kerwin Albertus (Kontemporêre musiek)
Miché van Wyk (Toneel)
Mike Wang (Klassieke musiek)
THEATRE
Best Actor (Female)
Anna-Mart van der Merwe (Speelgoed van glas)
Antoinette Kellermann (Die stoele)
Cintaine Schutte (Onder ’n bloedrooi hemel)
Rolanda Marais (Hedda Gabler)
Best Actor (Male)
Albert Pretorius (Othello)
Chris van Niekerk (Die Stoele)
Eben Genis (Kruispad of die legende van die goue vis)
Ludwig Binge (Veelhoek)
Best Supporting Actor (Female)
Carla Smith (Kruispad of die legende van die goue vis)
Carla Smith (Speelgoed van glas)
Faniswa Yisa (Othello)
Best Supporting Actor (Male)
Brendon Daniels (Onder ’n bloedrooi hemel)
Carlo Daniels (Othello)
Deon Lotz (Onder ’n bloedrooi hemel)
Mark Elderkin (Speelgoed van glas)
Best Director
Marthinus Basson (Veelhoek)
Neil Coppen (Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater)
Nico Scheepers (Speelgoed van glas)
Best Original South-African Text
Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater (Neil Coppen, Mpume Mthombeni)
’n Lewe in die dag van ’n vrugtevlieg, ensomeer: Die ongewerwelde-trilogie (Wessel Pretorius)
Stinkhout (Philip Rademeyer)
Best Achievement: Technical and Design
Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (Hedda Gabler) – music, sound
Nicolaas de Jongh (Kruispad of die legende van die goue vis) – set
Tina le Roux (Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater) – lighting
Wolf Britz (Hedda Gabler) – lighting
Best Achievement: Children’s Theatre
Die keiser se nuwe klere
Liewe Heksie en die rolskaatse
Pampoenpit se groen gevoel
Best Achievement: Solo
Ashley Dodds (The Return of Elvis du Pisanie)
Mpume Mthombeni (Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater)
Sue Pam-Grant (Why do Moths Fly Like Crazy Kcufs in the Night?)
Best Achievement: Duo
Antoinette Kellermann en Chris van Niekerk (Die stoele)
Jana Cilliers en Ludwig Binge (Veelhoek)
Wessel Pretorius en David Viviers (’n Lewe in die dag van ’n vrugtevlieg, ensomeer: Die ongewerwelde-trilogie)
Best Ensemble
Hedda Gabler
Kruispad of die legende van die goue vis Pampoenpit se groen gevoel
Speelgoed van glas
Best Production
Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater
’n Lewe in die dag van ’n vrugtevlieg, ensomeer: Die ongewerwelde-trilogie
Speelgoed van glas
The winners will be announced at an award ceremony in Stellenbosch on 28 October 2024. Next year’s Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees will take place from 11 tot 19 Oktober 2025.