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Audrey draws first blood at awards
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November 24, 2009
 By Sally Scott
Two KickstArt productions, Wit and Little Shop of Horrors, cleaned up last night at the Durban Theatre Awards. These were hosted by Nothando Ngubane of Gagasi 99.5 FM, and the always loquacious, ever-opinionated and, of course, stylish Beauty Ramapelepele (aka actor/writer Ben Voss).
Despite cancer being at the core of US writer Margaret Edson's remarkable work, Wit (which picked up six awards at the function held at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre) did not plummet Durban audiences into instant depression.
In fact, many Durbanites (and indeed Grahamstown Festival and Hilton Festival audiences) flocked to see Clare Mortimer's career-defining performance, as the doomed but darkly witty academic Dr Vivian Bearing.
The awards for Wit, with Steven Stead directing, ranged from Best Drama Production to Poster Design (Shirley Berko), Lighting Design (Tina le Roux) and Supporting Actress (Oliver Borgen).
Also for Wit, the Lead Actress in a Drama gong was pretty much a shoo-in for Mortimer, as was Best Director Drama for Stead.
So, six gongs for Wit.
But it was the marvellously manic Little Shop of Horrors, starring Greg King's riotous and most remarkable prop to date, the man-eating Audrey, which topped the list on the night.
Nine!
In the category Musical Theatre & Music Revue, Little Shop of Horrors munched its way through Sound, Costume Design, New Performer Female (Londiwe Dhlomo), Choreography, Supporting Actress (Pumi Zondo), Lead Actress (Lisa Bobbert), Lead Actor (Bryan Hiles), Director (Steven Stead) and Best Musical Theatre Production.
Voted for by the KZN public, The Theatre Personality of the Year, a floating trophy, is always a big moment and this went to Liesl Coppin. A diverse all-rounder, for instance, Coppin was equally at home this year as motherly busybody Belinda Blair in the excellent farce Noises Off and, in April, in the sassy cabaret show The Bald and the Beautiful.
Also in the drama category, directed by Mortimer, Farai Qwaze's portrayal of the doomed Moor Othello, in Margie Coppen's Think Theatre production of the Shakespeare play, won him the Best New Performer (Male).
In Children's Theatre, KickstArt's Cinderella took five awards (for Bryan Hiles, Janna-Ramos Violante, Steven Stead and Shelley McLean and production, while Henry Faca Kulu picked up the gong for Musical Director (for Native Blues) in Musical Theatre.
For the first time, the Monica Fairall Memorial Award, in honour of behind-the-scenes devotion and achievement, was presented.
This is an award voted for by an independent panel appointed by the Monica Fairall Trust Fund.
The award went to Peter Taylor, who received an ovation.
A former dancer who is an extraordinary administrator, Taylor has made an immeasurable contribution to the dance world and is constantly pro-active in supporting new talent.
The Trust Fund also helps to sponsor the annual Durban Theatre Awards, for which contributions are always welcome.
The award is presented in memory of the popular Durban writer, broadcaster and stage performer Monica Fairall, who died in June after a short battle with cancer.
The Judges' Award, which recognises long service, excellence and achievement in the arts, went to popular theatrical all-rounder Themi Venturas.
He is the owner of the Catalina Theatre and chairman of the KZN branch of the Performing Arts Network of South Africa.
Venturas's production of the innovative Shear Madness, which he directed, also picked up two awards - for Best Performance in a Comedy, for actors Daisy Spencer and Marc Kay.
As usual during the ceremony, excerpts from Durban's forthcoming festive season productions were also performed.
Among the other award winners were Ewok, aka Iain Robinson, who picked up the Supporting Actor gong for his portrayal of the villainous Iago in Othello, Lauren Laing, who won Best Music Revue Performer for the Upper Deck's Sing it Sista and, for Edmund Mhlongo's Madame President, the Musical, Lucky Simavile took Best Supporting Actor.
Award winners
Poster Design
Shirley Berko: Wit
Sound Design
Megan Levy: Little Shop of Horrors
Lighting Design
Tina le Roux: Wit
Costume Design
Terrence Bray: Little Shop of Horrors
Set Design
Greg King: Little Shop of Horrors
New Performer - Female
Londiwe Dhlomo: Little Shop of Horrors
New Performer - Male
Farai Qwaze: Othello
CHILDREN'S THEATRE
Supporting Actress
Shelley McLean: Cinderella
Lead Actress
Janna Ramos-Violante: Cinderella
Lead Actor
Bryan Hiles: Cinderella
Director
Steven Stead: Cinderella
Production
Cinderella: KickstArt
MUSICAL THEATRE & MUSIC REVUE/
MUSIC COMPILATION/CABARET
Choreography
Janine Bennewith: Little Shop of Horrors
Performer: Music Revue/Music Compilation/Cabaret
Lauren Laing: Sing it Sista
Supporting Actress: Musical Theatre
Pume Zondi: Little Shop of Horrors
Supporting Actor: Musical Theatre
Lucky Simayile: Madame President, the Musical
Lead Actress
Lisa Bobbert: Little Shop of Horrors
Lead Actor
Bryan Hiles: Little Shop of Horrors
Musical Director
Henry Faca Kulu: Native Blues
Director
Steven Stead: Little Shop of Horrors
Music Revue Production
Let's Misbehave: Sue Clarence Promotions
Musical Theatre Production
Little Shop of Horrors: KickstArt
DRAMA/COMEDY
Script
Neil Coppen: Tree Boy
Supporting Actress
Olivia Borgen: Wit
Supporting Actor
Iain Robinson: Othello
Performance in a Comedy (Female)
Daisy Spencer: Shear Madness
Performance in Comedy (Male)
Marc Kay: Shear Madness
Lead Actress
Clare Mortimer: Wit
Lead Actor
Bheki Mkhwane: uThemba lethu
Director
Steven Stead: Wit
Production
Wit: KickstArt
Monica Fairall Memorial Award
Peter Taylor
Judges' Award
Themi Venturas
The Mercury Theatre Personality of the Year Award
Liesl Coppin
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