……BILLY SUTER……
DURBAN talent features prominently in the recently announced BroadwayWorld South Africa Awards, an annual, online, public-vote awards celebrating the best in South African theatre from 2025.
Durban’s KickstArt theatre company’s inspired 2025 production of The Rocky Horror Show took six top awards – for best performance by a male in musical (Tshepo Ncokoane); director of a musical (Steven Stead); choreography (Simone Mann); costume design (Terrence Bray); sound design (Brandon Bunyan) and musical direction (Evan Roberts).
Additionally, KickstArt took the award for best production for young audiences, for its spectacular original pantomime, Puss in Boots, while Durban’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, where all KickstArt shows are staged, was voted as South Africa’s favourite theatre.
Also of note is that Durban-raised Keely Crocker was voted best supporting performer in a musical for her role as Zoe in Dear Evan Hansen, a show which also took two more awards, for Niall Griffin’s magical lighting and scenic designs.
The long-running touring production of the Joseph musical took the vote in three categories – best musical, best ensemble and best dance production.
Jonathan Roxmouth won the vote for best cabaret/solo/concert performance, for his excellent My Favourite Broadway at the Teatro at Montecasino, Johannesburg.
The award for best new play or musical went to The Cardinal, while the vote for best director of a play went to Zubayr Charles for this bra’s a psycho, staged at Cape Town’s Artscape Arena. The acclaimed this bra’s a psycho also took the award for best play of 2025.
David Viviers was named as best performer in a play for his lead role in Moffie at Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre, while Michael Mittendorf was voted as best supporting player in a play for Noises Off!, staged at Cape Town’s Theatre on the Bay.
Other Durban shows and personalities that were in contention for awards were KickstArt’s Greg King (costume design nominations for the touring My Fair Lady and KickstArt’s Cape Town production of Jack and the Beanstalk) and the company’s Steven Stead (also a contender for best director for the touring My Fair Lady).
Among Durban talent nominated in other categories were Bryan Hiles, Belinda Henwood, Neil Coppen, Leah Mari, Liesl Coppin and Tina le Roux.
The 2025 Regional Awards honoured regional productions, touring shows, and more, which had their first performance between October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.
.....SoSuterBill..... 