An impressive number of Grahamstonians and artists based in the city received awards or were involved in Ovation award-winning productions in this year’s National Arts Festival.
An impressive number of Grahamstonians and artists based in the city received awards or were involved in Ovation award-winning productions in this year’s National Arts Festival.
Rhodes University's current drama department head Andrew Buckland received one of two Standing Ovation Awards for decades of contributing to the industry as a performer and educator.
The other recipient was Port Elizabeth-based actress/director Nomhle Nkonyeni. Both have made invaluable contributions to theatre internationally, nationally and though reinvestment in the Eastern Cape.
Buckland was also one of the Grahamstown-based cast members of award-winning Crazy in Love, a new piece that was well received at the Festival.
Crazy in Love is one of a handful of productions selected to participate in the Brighton, Prague, and Amsterdam Fringe Festivals, through the World Fringe Alliance network.
A Special Silver Ovation Award was presented to Steven van Wyk and Thalia Laric (a choreography Masters student at Rhodes) for dance piece Skoonveld in the production Plastic.
Another local drama Masters student, Jess Harrison, received a Merit Ovation Award, recognising her potential in directorial conceptualisation and design.
Rhodes choreography Masters graduate Nadine Joseph's for.GIVEn also won an Ovation Award.
Other institutions that impressed the panel of judges for the Student Theatre Awards were the University of Cape Town and The Market Theatre Lab in Johannesburg.
Winners of the Student Theatre Awards receive various levels of support to present productions at next year’s Festival.
Also representing the best of Grahamstown were two first-time stage actresses, Lisa Maholo and Caroline King, who were part of the UK-South African collaboration Mamela.
Announced on the final day of the Festival, Standard Bank Ovation Awards panel convenor Adrienne Sichel described the work presented on the Fringe this year as “courageous and inventive”.
Themes of renegotiating history and heritage, and remapping identity featured as a strong thread through this year’s productions, Sichel explained.
The Standard Bank Ovation Awards are decided by a panel after nominations are received by visiting critics and the media.
