The awardees for the 2023 Toyota SU Woordtrofees Awards were announced on 13 November at an event at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre. The winners received a certificate and a financial prize.
Gillian Mitchell was the convenor of the Woordtrofees Panel, which consisted of Christiaan Boonzaier, Wendy Crowley, Gustav Franzsen, Kobus Hanekom, Robert Hindley, Suzaan Keyter, Barbara Loots, Mannie Manim, Jackie Manyaapelo, Jill Markram, Wayne Muller, Royston Stoffels, Tsholo Tshilwane, Naudé van der Merwe, Herman van der Westhuizen, Brechmari van Wyk and Ina Wichterich.
“The Woordfees programme,” Mitchell said, “was exceptionally strong and varied this year – a source of both delight and intense contemplation for panel members. The nominations are an exciting reflection of the talent, diversity and creativity that infuses the performing arts in South Africa.
“On behalf of the Woordtrofees Panel we congratulate all nominees and awardees.”
Along with awards for the top book sellers at the EasyEquities Writers’ Festival in four genres (fiction, lifestyle, poetry and non-fiction), a few special prizes were handed out. This included awards for WOW School of the Year and WOW Teacher of the Year.
The winners are:
BOOK WINNERS
Top seller: Non-fiction
I Am Ella – Joanne Jowell
Top seller: Lifestyle
Coloured: How Classification Became Culture – Tessa Dooms & Lynsey Chutel
Top seller: Poetry and overall
Soekenjin – Bibi Slippers
Top seller: Fiction
Laaste kans – Marita van der Vyver
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Best Achievement: Classical Music – Vocal
As ek…
Best Achievement: Classical Music – Instrumental
Variations on Virtuosity
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Best Achievement: Contemporary Music Production – Solo/duo
Amber/Ombré (Amanda Strydom)
Best Achievement: Contemporary Music Production – Group/ensemble
Effervescence: Xamisa, iKapa, Kaapstad
DANCE
Best Achievement: Dance
Karatara – Production
Best Emerging Artist
David Cyster – Beethoven Triple Concerto (Classical Music)
Melisizwe Plaatjie – Effervescence: Xamisa, iKapa, Kaapstad (Contemporary Music)
SPECIAL AWARDS
In Solidarity Award
Frazer Barry
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 Heineken Beverages.
Former recipients:
2017: Simon Witbooi (HemelBesem)
2018: Janine Neethling
2019: Felicia Lesch
2020: Amelda Brand
2021: Geen toekenning
2022: Lee-Ann van Rooi
WOW Teacher of the Year
Alicetine Fredericks (Kroneberg Primary, Eastern Cape)
WOW School of the Year
Bastiaanse Secondary (Beaufort West, Western Cape)
Best Achievement in Arts Journalism (INK festival paper)
Marchelle van Zyl
Festival heroes
Retha Bornmann and Monique Bowes
THEATRE
Best achievement: Technical
Die vegetariër – Set, Lighting, and Design
Best Achievement: Fringe
Byster
Best Achievement: Children’s Theatre
The King of Broken Things
Best Supporting Actor (Male)
Eben Genis – Mirakel
Best Supporting Actor (Female)
Jill Levenberg – Droomwerk
Best Actor (Male)
Mark Elderkin – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Best Actor (Female)
Sandra Prinsloo – Master Class
Best Achievement: Solo
Kim Blanche Adonis – My Fellow South Africans
Best Ensemble
Droomkraan-kronieke – Cast
Best Director
Geoffrey Hyland – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Beste Theatre Production
Die vegetariër
