The awardees for the 2022 Toyota SU Woordfees Woordtrofees Awards were announced on 10 November at an event at Johannesdal 1207. The winners received a certificate and a financial prize.
Gillian Mitchell was the convenor of the Woordtrofees panel of judges which consisted of: Conroy Cupido, Jefferson Dirks-Korkee, Gustav Franzsen, Geoff Hyland, Athina Jansen, Rafiek Mammon, Jill Markram, Gary Naidoo, Jennie Reznek, Francois Tredoux, Naudé van der Merwe, Robin van Wyk and Maria Vos.
“The first in-person Woordfees since 2020,” according to Mitchell, “had big and intimate works; work that moved you to tears and work that made you laugh out loud – an unforgettable expression of the unbreakable bond between the performing arts and our lived experiences. Although the festival was smaller this year, it was no less of a challenge for panel members to agree on the nominations in the various categories. Production standards were high and the competition stiff between works that tackled a variety of subjects and issues with great sensitivity and exciting creativity.”
The wenners are:
THE BOOK PRIZES FOR BEST SALES IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES:
Top seller: Non-fiction
TJ Strydom – Koos Bekker’s Billions
Top seller: Lifestyle
Louis Jansen van Vuuren & Isabella Niehaus – Daar’s ’n vegan op my verandah
Top seller: Poetry
Antjie Krog – Plunder
Top seller: Fiction
Irma Venter – Die verkeerde vrou
WOW teacher of the year
Jeremy Claassen
WOW school of the year
Wesbank Secondary
Best achievement in arts journalism (INK festival paper)
Willem Bester
Best achievement: Technical
Die moeder
Best Upcoming Artist
Jacobus de Jager – Bach (to a) Blast! (conductor)
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Best Achievement: Classical Music – Vocal
Handel at Home
Best Achievement: Classical Music – Instrumental
Late (and Last) Works of Schubert, Brahms and Debussy
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Best Achievement: Contemporary Music (Podium) – Solo/Duo
Skoonveld
Best Performance: Contemporary Music (Podium) – Ensemble
Kitaarkonings
Best achievement: Contemporary Music – Open-air
Francois van Coke
DANCE
Best Achievement: Dance
Manacan & Jazzart Dance Theatre– Survive
SPECIAL AWARDS
In Solidarity Award
Lee-Ann van Rooi
Through the In Solidarity award, the Toyota SU Woordfees recognizes role players who work across borders, tirelessly and often for little or no compensation, to achieve greater social cohesion in the arts. The In Solidarity Award is made possible with the support of Distell.
Former recipients:
2017: Simon Witbooi (HemelBesem)
2018: Janine Neethling
2019: Felicia Lesch
2020: Amelda Brand
2021: No award
Festival Hero
Marlise Serfontein
THEATRE
Best Debut Text
Jason Jacobs – Kraal
Best Supporting Actor (Male)
Dawid Minnaar – Die moeder
Best Supporting Actor (Female)
Ashley de Lange – Die moeder
Best Actor (Male)
Marlo Minnaar – Die halwe huis
Best Actor (Female)
Sandra Prinsloo – Die moeder
Best Ensemble
Die sewe doodsondes – The cast
Best Director
Matthew Wild – Die sewe doodsondes
Beste Theatre Production
Die moeder
