Published 24 March 2026 in Press
Die Burger
Danie's rock theater tops with 6 Fiëstas
By Laetitia Pople
Die Burger - Current (Page 3)
Published 23 March 2026
(Translated from Afrikaans to English using Google Translate)
Yesterday at the presentation of the annual Fiësta awards at The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay. Back from left are Trude Gunther, Calla Olivier, Maia Nel, Haidee Nel, Kabous Hanslam and Jeff Line Ndavala. In front is Gert van Tonder crouching. Photo: Theo Jeptha
"The rock theatre play Ek is nie Danie, based on the four poetry collections of award-winning poet Danie Marais, won six Fiësta awards at a gala event at The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay.
It not only won best music-driven production, but also best presentation and production of the year. Albert Pretorius was honoured for his acting, Schalk Joubert for his live soundtrack and Marais for his adaptation of the text.
In the play, Marias contemplates middle-class South Africa, ordinary life, a failed marriage - all surrounded by music that lifts the spirits.
Breyten Breytenbach, who died in 2025, his last play, Verwelkingslied, won four Fiësta awards, including best new South African play. Marῖ Borstlap was also honoured for her rights, Antionette Kellermannn for her acting and Faheem Bardien for his lighting.
In the play, Breytenbach reflects on his impending death, the role of an artist and transience. He wrote the play for Kellermann. In addition, Breytenbach's first play, Boklied, was also performed - under the direction of Marthinus Basson - and won three Fiëstas.
The kykNET Fiësta Awards annually honour the outstanding achievement of productions that debuted at the KKNK, the Suid-oosterfees, Toyota Innibos, the Vrystaat Kunstefees, Momentum Aardklop and the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees.
It is presented under the Tribuo banner, but is still sponsored by kykNET.
Albert Pretorius was honored for his performance in Ek is nie Danie. The rock theatre piece won six Fiëstas. Photo: Jaco Marais
The winners are as follows:
Best contemporary music performance: Duif (KKNK & Suidoosterfees)
Best music production (Podium): The Scullery Quintet: Stir-Fried Sonatas (Momentum Aardklop)
Best music-driven theatre: Ek is nie Danie (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees)
Best performance in classical music (Instrumental): The Scullery Quintet: Stir-Fried Sonatas (Momentum Aardklop)
Best achievement in dance/movement: Die een wat bly (KKNK, Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Best performance in a solo performance: Wian Taljaard in Ont- (KKNK)
Best performance in children's and youth theatre: Grommels (Vrystaat Kunstefees)
Best translation or adaptation of an existing work: Danie Marais for Ek is nie Danie (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees)
Best newly created Afrikaans/South African text: Breyten Breytenbach for Verwelkingslied (Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Best performance in a comedy: Chris Vorster in Gebou soos Steffi Graf (Free State Arts Festival)
Best Comedy: Moedswil en muitery (KKNK)
Best Achievement in Visual Arts: Die stomme aarde by Henk Serfontein (KKNK)
Best Visual Achievement: Marthinus Basson for the visual design for Boklied (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees)
Best Achievement in Lighting Design: Faheem Bardien for Verwelkingslied (Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Best Achievement in Sound and Music Design: Schalk Joubert for the music design for Ek is nie Danie (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees)
Best Junior Newcomer: Judi Hattingh for Annie+Helen
Best Newcomer: Angelo Bergh in Kompoun (Suidoosterfees, Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, KKNK) and Vannie Wal, af (Suidoosterfees)
Best male supporting actor: Jefferson J. Dirks-Korkee in Huis van Sand (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees)
Best female supporting actor: René Cloete in Huis van sand (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees)
Best actor: Albert Pretorius in Ek is nie Danie (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees)
Best actress: Antoinette Kellermann in Verwelkingslied (Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Best ensemble: Boklied (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees)
Best direction: Marῖ Borstlap for Verwelkingslied (Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Best presentation (Here we looked at the entire production, which includes acting, direction, technical aspects and design.): Ek is nie Danie (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees)
Production of the year (The standout production that had everyone talking.): Ek is nie Danie (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees)
The theatre director Juanita Swanepoel, who was involved with the Klein Libertas theatre for a long time in Stellenbosch, the pianist and performer John Theodore and the musician Anton Goosen, who just celebrated his 80th birthday, was honored for his lifetime contribution.
Two Blue Fiëstas were presented for exceptional work.
One went to the KKNK's Karoo Cards project and the other to the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees' exceptional Veldhospitaal, which was part of the festival's visual arts offering.
A new Prize, the Ton and Anet Vosloo Fiësta, is part of the Fiëstas from this year.
The Vosloos have been generous supporters of the arts for years and decided to establish this prize for the production that did not hesitate to push boundaries, a production that is truly South African and in this case has also stood the test of time.
The first Ton and Anet Vosloo Fiësta went to Boklied.
The presenters of the evening were De Klerk Oelofse and Dean John Smith. The music director was Janine Neethling.
Goosen performed at the event.
The 'festival year' begins on March 28 with the 30th KKNK and concludes in October when the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees is held from October 3 to 11.
The Fiësta panel for 2026 has already been announced and is ready for another year of exceptional debut works."
To read the original article please navigate to the Netwerk 24 website here