2023 was a remarkable year for theatre practitioners and audiences in the country, reflected in the sheer number of performances and attendance. 
A rise in quality productions dominated the theatre space such as Khweva’s Kiri and many more, these productions, over 22 to be precise, shared the honors across 35 competitive categories at the 3rd Edition of the Kenya Theatre Awards.
One other thing that stood out last year, practitioners attracted more corporations as sponsors for their shows. A good example is Captain Otoyo’s XX. This move strongly backs up the proposal in April by the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Creative Arts, Ababu Namwamba that the government would consider tax incentives for corporates that sponsor the arts.
The year saw original plays and works by Kenyan artists, touching on various themes that easily resonate with both Kenyan and global audiences. A commendable substratum of this trend was the growth in indigenous plays. Other than Kiswahili and English, at some point we had an almost weekly performance by different groups of plays in Kisii, Luo, Luhya KiMeru, Kikuyu, and Kamba amongst others.
The ink is running out, so let’s jump into the winners list, shall we?
- Best Adaptation: Sirano wa Begeraki
- Best Breakthrough Female Performer: Marya Okoth
- Best Breakthrough Male Performer: Arnold Saviour
- Best Children’s Play: The Good, The Bad, and The Wolf
- Best Costumes Design: Brian Emry (Graveyard Queens)
- Best Director: Martin Kigondu
- Best Female Actor in A Supporting Role (Musicals): Kendi Waimiri
- Best Female Actor in A Supporting Role: Joyce Musoke
- Best Female Performance in A Solo Production: Julisa Rowe
- Best Female Performer in A Lead Role: Wanjiku Mwawuganga
- Best Kikwetu Production: Maitu Mukabete
- Best Learning Institution: Braeburn School
- Best Lighting Design: Mike Ndeda & Faiz (Jaboya)
- Best Male Actor in A Supporting Role (Musicals): John Sibi-Okumu
- Best Male Actor in A Supporting Role: Justin Miriichi
- Best Male Performance in A Solo Production: Mugambi Nthiga
- Best Male Performer in A Lead Role (Musicals): Abdoulaye Diabate
- Best Male Performer in A Lead Role (Musicals): Emma Withill
- Best Male Performer in A Lead Role: Yafesi Musoke
- Best Musical Score Arrangement or Adaptation: Brian Aseli (Jaboya)
- Best Musical Theatre: Rokk Of Ages
- Best Original Choreography: Rainbow Fields (Rokk Of Ages)
- Best Original Playwright: Dr Fred Mbogo
- Best Performance in A Monologue: Julisa Rowe
- Best Performance in A Monologue: Thuita Mwangi
- Best Producer: Martin Kigondu
- Best Production: Play That Goes Wrong
- Best Set Design: Amar Desai And Chandni Vaya (The Play That Goes Wrong)
- Best Sound Design: Christopher Ngare (Bigger Boys of Shibale)
- Best Spoken Word Production: Give the Woman Her Flowers
- Best Stage-Managed Production: Chirag And Kavit Shah (The Play That Goes Wrong)
- Best Stand-Up Comedy Production: A Thousand Cuts for A Million Laughs
- Best Story-Telling Production: Every Brilliant Thing
- Best Two-Hander: Echoes
- Theatre Company of The Year: Aperture Africa
- Jury Special Award: Tash Mitambo
- World Impact Award: Cooper Rust
- Posthumous Honour: Dr Wasambo Were
- Living Legend Award; Mumbi Kaigwa
- Ushirika Award: Goethe Institut
Congratulations to the winners.
Brace yourselves, 2024 looks promising.
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Article by @derrick
Photos by Short Wave (Head of Media, Sanaa Post)
