The glittering Mercury Durban Theatre Awards, hosted by Jailoshini Naidoo, featured excerpts from Durban’s festive season shows, in between acknowledging some of the achievers in theatre between October 1, 2009, and September 30, 2010.
Peter Pan, The Guitar That Rocked the World, My Fair Lady and Duet For One dominated the awards.
Rory Booth (pictured left) walked away with the award for Mercury Durban Theatre Personality of the Year. Booth has had a high profile in children’s theatre of late and is currently heading the cast of Carnival Time!, at Amanzimtoti’s new House of Theatre. This is the only award on the night where the public has their say and vote in their favourite.
Booth was presented with a floating trophy and a year’s free subscription to The Mercury.
THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
Poster design:
Shirley Berko for Peter Pan.
Sound design:
Jackie Cunniffe for The Guitar That Rocked the World.
Lighting design:
Mark Kleinert for The Guitar That Rocked the World.
Costume design:
Peter Court, Steven Stead and Neil Stuart-Harris for Peter Pan.
Set Design:
Greg King for Peter Pan.
New Performer – Female:
Khanyisile Jwah for The Dictionary.
New Performer – Male:
Senzo Mthethwa for The Boolulu Uncle.
CHILDREN’S THEATRE
Lead Actress:
Daisy Spencer for Marvellous Mixtures.
Lead Actor:
Peter Court for A Mariner’s Tale and Bryan Hiles for A Mariner’s Tale.
Director:
Peter Court and Bryan Hiles for A Mariner’s Tale.
Production:
A Mariner’s Tale (Creative Madness).
Musical theatre and music revue/music compilation/cabaret
Choreography:
Mark Hawkins for My Fair Lady.
Performer: Music Revue/Music Compilation/Cabaret:
Andrew Webster for You’re So Vain.
Supporting Actress: Musical Theatre:
Shelley McLean for Peter Pan.
Supporting Actor: Musical Theatre:
Cobus Venter for My Fair Lady.
Lead Actress: Musical Theatre:
Lisa Bobbert for My Fair Lady.
Lead Actor: Musical Theatre:
Bryan Hiles for Peter Pan.
Musical Director:
Shelley McLean, Evan Roberts and Justin Southey for Peter Pan.
Director:
Steven Stead for Peter Pan.
Music Revue Production:
Brutal Tunes (Sue Clarence Promotions).
Musical Theatre Production:
Peter Pan (KickstArt).
DRAMA/COMEDY
New South African Script:
Ben Voss for Bend It Like Beauty.
Supporting Actor:
Michael Gritten for Miracle.
Performance in a Comedy by a Male:
Ben Voss for Bend It Like Beauty.
Solo Performance:
Senzo Mthethwa for The Boolulu Uncle.
Lead Actress:
Clare Mortimer for Duet For One.
Lead Actor:
Michael Richard for Duet For One.
Director:
Steven Stead for Duet For One.
Production:
Duet For One (KicksArt and Daphne Kuhn).
Monica Fairall Memorial Award:
Peter Rorvik.
Judges’ Award:
Bongumusa Mtshali.
Theatre Personality of the Year Award:
Rory Booth.