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Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees
The awardees for the 2024 Woordtrofees Awards were announced on the evening of 28 October 2024 at an event at Nooitgedacht Estate.
Gillian Mitchell was the convenor of the Woordtrofees panel, which consisted of Barbara Loots, Geoffrey Hyland, Ephraim Gordon, Herman van der Westhuizen, Gustav Franzen, Elsa Ward, Tersia Harley, Felicia Lesch, Bianca Flanders, Wendy Joy Crowley, Wayne Muller, Naudé van der Merwe, Lauren Dasappa, Mannie Manim, Elana-Marié Snyman, André Terblanché, Mmatumisang Motsisi, Corné Venter, Saartjie Botha, Cornelia Faasen, Astrid de Vos and Marida Swanepoel.
“The Woordfees 2024 programme,” Mitchell said, “provided a remarkable range of offerings for festival goers. From intimate performances in small spaces to crowd experiences in open-air arenas, the South African performing arts community came to play with great enthusiasm.
“On behalf of the Woordtrofees panel, thank you to everyone who contributed to the festival. It is, as always, our privilege to experience your work, and we congratulate all the nominees and awardees.”
In addition to the top-selling books at the EasyEquities Writers’ Festival in the genres fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and lifestyle, several special awards were presented, including the new Martie Retief Meiring Award, the In Solidarity Award, and the awards for WOW School of the Year and WOW Teacher of the Year.
The winners are:
THEATRE
Best Actress
Antoinette Kellermann (Die stoele)
Best Actor
Albert Pretorius (Othello)
Best Supporting Actress
Carla Smith (Speelgoed van glas)
Best Supporting Actor
Mark Elderkin (Speelgoed van glas)
Best Director
Nico Scheepers (Speelgoed van glas)
Best Original South African Text
Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater (Neil Coppen, Mpume Mthombeni)
Best Achievement: Technical & Design
Tina le Roux (Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater) – lighting
Best Achievement: Childrens’ Theatre
Pampoenpit se groen gevoel
Best Achievement: Solo
Mpume Mthombeni (Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater)
Best Achievement: Duo
Wessel Pretorius & David Viviers (’n Lewe in die dag van ’n vrugtevlieg, ensomeer: Die ongewerwelde-trilogie)
Best Ensemble
Kruispad of die legende van die goue vis
Best Theatre Production
Speelgoed van glas
DANCE
Best Achievement: Dance
Exit/Exist
UP AND COMING
Best Emerging Artist
Miché van Wyk (Theatre)
BOOK WINNERS
Top seller: Non-fiction
Hoe ek dit onthou – Francois van Coke & Annie Klopper
Top seller: Lifestyle
Skepselkos – Isabella Niehaus & Louis Jansen van Vuuren
Top seller: Poetry
Ek en jy bestaan nie – Danie Marais
Top seller: Fiction & overall
Speel – Stellenbosch Woordfees Short Story Collection
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Best Achievement: Classical Music – Vocal
Opera-gunstelinge
Best Achievement: Classical Music – Instrumental
Charl du Plessis Trio: Rhapsody in Blue
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Best Achievement: Contemporary Music – Solo/duo
Amanda Strydom (Amanda Strydom: The Incredible Journey of Tinkerbell van Tonder)
Best Achievement: Contemporary Music – Group/Ensemble
Kaapse kabaret
SPECIAL AWARDS
Martie Retief Meiring Award
Hedda Gabler
With the Martie Retief Meiring Award, the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees aims to honour the legendary journalist after whom the prize is named, for her immense contribution to the arts festival environment. The award recognizes an artist or production that embodies Martie’s values and principles.
“Martie was brave, confrontational, ambitious, innovative, challenging, and enjoyable – in short, the prize acknowledges the kind of work that the Woordfees wants to present, which excites audiences and gets them talking,” said Saartjie Botha, Woordfees director.
In Solidarity Award
Rudolf Gouws
Through the In Solidarity Award, the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees recognizes role players who work across borders, tirelessly and often for little or no compensation, to achieve greater social cohesion in the arts.
Best Achievement in Arts Journalism (INK festival paper)
Nadine Petrick
Festival Hero
Marchelle van Zyl
WOW AWARDS
The WOW Awards honour an educator and a school that make vital contributions to this empowerment initiative (Words Open Worlds) and who deliver exceptional accomplishments.
WOW Teacher of the Year
Mary Bergh (Parkdene Primary, Kraaifontein, Western Cape)
WOW School of the Year
P.C. Petersen Primary School (Kylemore, Western Cape)
The winners each received a certificate and a sum of money. Once again, congratulations to all the nominees and awardees. Thank you for great sportsmanship.