With a total of 443 shows staged last year by 131 production companies, the Kenya Theatre Awards Nominees have finally been unveiled today by Hon. CS Ababu Namwamba at Talanta Plaza under the Talanta Hela flagship.
Here is the nominees list;
Best Spoken Word Production
- Give The Woman Her Flowers (Sitawa Namwalie)
- Mwariama (Dennis Mutuma Mutua)
- Matarania (Timothy Gathoni)
- Pillow Talk (Kevin Maina)
- 2 Boys 1 man (Oyamo Richard and Fredrick Santana)
Best Stand Up Comedy Production
- A Thousand Cuts For A Million Laughs (Generali)
- Finally a Graduate (Ebuka Henry)
- Because You Said So (1980s) (Mugambi Nthiga)
- Will you Still Love me in the Morning (Captain Otoyo)
Best Story-telling Production
- Every Brilliant Thing Martina Kitavi
- Story Sosa AJ Musira
- Maitu Mukabete Maryanne Nyambura
- Carnival Girl Sakina Mirichii
- For Coloured Girls Michael Omoke
Best Male Performance in a Solo Production
- Mugambi Nthiga Every Brilliant Thing
- Ngatia Bryan Risto za Histo
- Thuita Mwangi Story za Thuita
- Joseph Obel My Body Betrays Me
- Timo GK Matarania
Best Female Performance in a Solo Production
- Julisa Rowe Carnival Girl
- Mercy Wangari Auntie Jemima Maitu Mukabete
- Zippy Okoth Mama’s Mirror
- Esther Kahuha Man Made Woman (Chronicles of a Mother)
- Sitawa Namwalie Stories and Poetry (I am Having a Moment)
Best Breakthrough Male Performer
- Arnold Saviour Deny Deny Deny
- Marichu Muturi Prince of Hera
- Jerry Mokua Who was Here?
- Abdoulaye Diabate Oliver
- Barrack Mbachi Amahl & The Night Visitors
Best Breakthrough Female Performer
- Ella Zhao 1984
- Kendi Waimiri Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
- Marya Okoth Husband Home And Away
- Anne Kiveli Ghosts of The Lake
- Edna Kariuki Till Something Do Us Part
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Play)
- Joyce Musoke Pilate
- Nixsha Shah The Play That Goes Wrong
- Marrianne Nungo Meetings
- Ileen Anyona Don’t Dress For Dinner
- Lisa Odhiambo 12 Angry Jurors
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Play)
- Justine Mirichii They That Have Missing Marks
- Bilal Wanjau The Play That Goes Wrong
- Gadwill Odhiambo Sirano wa Begeraki
- Johnson Fish Chege Betrayal In The City
- Mwaura Bilal They That Have Missing Marks
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (Play)
- Yafesi Musoke The Play That Goes Wrong
- Benson Ochungo Sirano wa Begeraki
- Emmanuel Mulili Matchstick Men
- Andrew Tumbo The Good, The Bad, and the Wolf
- Justin Karunguru They That Have Missing Marks
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Play)
- Wanjiku Mwawuganga Echoes
- Wakio Mzenge Ujumbe
- Falky Agnes Jaboya
- Carol Odongo Graveyard Queens
- Zainabu Zeddy She World 2
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Monologue
- Julisa Rowe Carnival Girl
- Aleya Kassam Story sosa
- Mercy Wangari Maitu Mukabete
- Esther Kahuha Man Made Woman
- Zippy Okoth Zanzi Madness
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Monologue
- Thuita Mwangi Story za Thuita
- Paul Otieno Story Sosa
- Ngatia Bryan Risto za Histo
- Ken Kibet Nairobi Dating Scene
Best Musical score, Arrangement or Adaptation
- Brian Aseli Jaboya
- Christopher Ngare The Bigger Boys of Shibale
- Carnival Girl Carnival Girl
- Emma Withill Rokk of Ages
- Amahl and the Night Visitors Rhoda Ondeng Wilhelmsen
Best Original Choreography in a Musical/Play
- Rainbow Field Rokk of Ages
- Dance Centre Kenya Shujaa Stories
- Wayne Mbudi Ghosts of The Lake
- Mimmzy Maina Matumaini
- Jazz Moll & Michelle Monks In the Heights
Best Performance by A Female Actor in A Supporting Role In a Musical
- Kendi Waimiri Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
- Lizzie Grounds Rokk of Ages
- Chandni Vaya The Good, The bad & the wolf
- Harlene Singh In The Heights
- Chantal ‘Cai’ Lems FELA
Best Performance by A Male Actor In A Supporting Role In a Musical
- Andrew Tumbo Leo’s Search For a New Home
- John Sibi-Okumu Oliver Dance Center Kenya
- Bilal Wanjau The Good, the Bad & the Wolf
- Allan Kariuki Kiri
- Seungwon Jeon Tuck Everlasting
Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Lead Role In a Musical
- Emma Withill Rokk of Ages
- Doanna Owano The Good, the Bad & the Wolf
- Amie Katta Matumaini
- Rainbow Field Rokk of Ages
- Dexia Ontiria Tuck Everlasting
Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Lead Role In a Musical
- Abdoulaye Diabate Oliver
- Andrew Tumbo The Good, the bad & the wolf
- Marichu Muturi Prince of Hera
- Tirath Padam Leo’s Search For a New Home
- Barrack Mbachi l Amahl & The Night Visitors
Best Set Design
- Amar Desai & Chandni Vaya The Play That Goes Wrong
- Stuart Nash Sirano wa Begeraki
- Stuart Nash Betrayal In The City
- Allan Otieno Jaboya
- Lavinda Temko Graveyard Queens
Best Lighting Design
- Stuart Nash Sirano wa Begeraki
- Mike Ndeda & Faiz Ouma Jaboya
- Amar Desai The Play That Goes Wrong
- Benson Kiende Rokk of Ages
- Charles Stephen Nairobi Dating Stories
Best Sound Design
- The Bigger Boys of Shibale
- Rokk of Ages
- Amahl and the Night Visitors
- Merchants Of The Iron Snake
- Carnival Girl
Best Costumes Design
- Brian Emry Graveyard Queens
- Ekta Varia The Play That Goes Wrong
- Kasia Mészéros The Good, the Bad and the Wolf
- Stacy Fuller & Katrina Siegrist Tuck Everlasting
- Juliet Duckworth Sleeping Beauty Ballet
Best Stage Managed Production
- Chirag Shah & Kavit Shah The Play That Goes Wrong
- Rita Gitau Sirano wa Begeraki
- Chirag shah & Kavit Shah The Good, the Bad and the Wolf
- Kate Gardiner Rokk of Ages
- Mercy Wangui Betrayal In The City
Best Musical Theatre Production
- Rokk of Ages
- The Good, the Bad and the Wolf
- Oliver
- Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
- Tuck Everlasting
Best Kikwetu Production
- Siekenye
- Maitu Mukabete
- Una Ritho
- Mwariama
- Shemeji Rau
Best Children’s Play
- The Good, the Bad and the Wolf
- Carnival Girl
- Tuck Everlasting
- Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat
- Oliver
Best Two-hander Production
- Echoes
- Matchstick Men
- Ujumbe
- The Cost of My Identity
Theatre Company of the Year
- Aperture Africa
- Renegade Ventures
- Prevail Presents
- Heartstrings Entertainment
- Millaz Production Kenya
Best Production
- The Play That Goes Wrong
- They That Have Missing Marks
- Sirano wa Begeraki
- Jaboya
- Rokk of Ages
Best Producer
- Martin Kigondu Prevail
- Amar Desai & Jinita Desai
- Wreiner Mandu Igiza Arts Production
- Stuart Nash Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
- Cooper Rust Dance Centre Kenya
Best Director
- Martin Kigondu They That Have Missing Marks
- Amar Desai The Play That Goes Wrong
- Stuart Nash Sirano wa Begeraki
- Julisa Rowe Pilate
- Mike Ndeda Jaboya
Best Adaptation
- Sirano wa Begeraki Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
- Graveyard Queens Nyokabi Macharia & Nice Githinji
- Echoes Joseph Obel, Martin Kigondu, Wanjiku Mwawuganga
- The Good, the Bad & the Wolf Amar Desai & Jinita Desai
- Oliver Dance Centre Kenya
Best Playwright – Original Script
- Dr. Fred Mbogo They That Have Missing Marks
- Martin Kigondu Matchstick Men
- Emmanuel Chindia Jaboya
- John Jumbi Prince of Hera
- Marvin Kibicho Drums of War
Best Learning Institution
- Braeburn Academy – Gitanga Road
- Kenyatta University
- KCA University
- Brookhouse
- NIMPA
In addition, the Cabinet Secretary further emphasized on the government’s efforts to partner with cooperates to invest in theatre.
The winners of this year’s Kenya Theatre Awards are assured a much bigger cash prize compared to last year’s under the Talanta Hela flagship which is also overseeing the renovation of the Kenya National Theatre that is currently ongoing with 170 allocated to the project.
20% of the winner results depends on you voting for your favorite theatre personality, so fanya hima and vote via the Link below https://voting.kenyatheatreawards.com/
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