Fugard Theatre Productions KING KONG And WEST SIDE STORY Win Ten Naledi Theatre Awards

Two productions presented by Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre have scooped an incredible ten Naledi Theatre Awards. The winners were announced at a glittering event last night (Monday 18 June) in Johannesburg.

The Fugard Theatre's historic production of South African musical King Kong won five awards, including the prestigious Best Production of a Musical, while their grand-scale production of West Side Story took home another five.

"We congratulate all the winners and nominees and are honoured to have been recognised across the categories in such respected company," says Daniel Galloway, Executive Director of the Fugard Theatre. "These awards are a tribute to our founding producer Eric Abraham, whose commitment to presenting original, world-class South African theatre is unwavering. We thank and salute him especially for his vision and twenty year journey of bringing King Kong back to the stage."

The winners for the Fugard Theatre productions are:

BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL - King Kong

BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL/REVUE - Jonathan Munby and & Mdu Kweyama for King Kong

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL OR REVUE/ FEMALE - Lynelle Kenned as Maria in West Side Story

BEST SUPPORTING/FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/REVUE: MALE - Sanda Shandu as Lucky in King Kong

BEST SUPPORTING/FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/REVUE: FEMALE - Ntambo Rapatla as Miriam in King Kong

BEST THEATRE SET DESIGN - Conor Murphy for West Side Story

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN - Joshua Cutts for West Side Story

BEST ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY FOR A PLAY, MUSICAL/REVUE - Louisa Talbot for West Side Story

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE / ARRANGEMENT /MUSICAL ADAPTATION - Todd Matshikiza & Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (Additional music & arrangement) for King Kong

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Charl-Johan Lingenfelder for West Side Story

The South African premiere production of Joshua Harmon's Broadway hit, Significant Other is currently playing at the Fugard Theatre and must close 7 July. For further information and bookings, contact the Fugard Theatre Box office on 021 461 4554 or visit www.the fugard.com