AT FEATURE: KKNK Kanna Winners for 2023 Announced

The return of site-specific theatre to the KKNK programme has been rewarded with three Kanna Awards at this year’s Kannas.

Theatre maker Nicola Hanekom’s Mirre en aalwyn gave festivalgoers the opportunity to experience theatre in the beautiful Klein Karoo once again. This drama received three Kanna Awards on Friday 5 May during an event at Leopard’s Leap Wines outside of Franschhoek, with Lyntjie Jaars as presenter. The Kannas give recognition to exceptional creative contributions at the KKNK annually.

Hanekom received the award for Best Literary Contribution for her original script, as well as Best Director. The production, with Amalia Uys, Daneel van der Walt, Gretha Brazelle and Alyssa van Reenen as cast, was also named Best Theatre Presentation.

David Kramer’s new musical Ver in die wêreld Kittie was awarded with the Kanna for Best Music Presentation, as well as Best Ensemble for the cast of Dean Balie, Jenny Stead, André Terblanche and Rushney Ferguson, who told the story of Josef Marais, Rosa De Miranda, Kittie Jaftha and Koos Heuningbek from the 1950s.

Neil Coppen and Craig Leo were awarded for the design and concept of the physical theatre production Droomkraan Kronieke, the second theatre production created as part of the KKNK’s Karoo Kaarte project. This production was compiled from various children’s stories and -memories that came to light during project research from participants growing up in Oudtshoorn. Local actors, dancers and musicians were included in the production (as well as the complete project that started in 2021).

Karoo Kaarte, supported by the ATKV this year, is a multi-disciplinary arts programme taking place in Oudtshoorn. The project received the Herrie Prize for Innovation or Ground-breaking work for the second year in a row. Diane de Beer said the following about this decision on behalf of the Kannapaneel: “Karoo Kaarte is centred around Oudtshoorn stories. In this way, a living archive is compiled by everyone who wants to participate in this exciting project, which has already done so much to make the KKNK one of the most inclusive festivals in the country. The success of Karoo Kaarte lies in the fact that it is run by people whose hearts and arms are open to involve everyone from the community who wants to participate. This year, the inspiring physical theatre production, Droomkraan Kronieke, stole hearts with children’s games, – memories, and – dreams. I was completely overwhelmed by the imaginative gameplay and story, which together with all the other elements of Karoo Kaarte, contributed to the well-deserved recognition.” The other elements of this project included an app, children’s storybook, art exhibitions, workshops, and Zines.

Dawid Minnaar was awarded with the Kanna for Best Interpretation for his role in Mirakel, and Liza Grobler received the Absa Kanna for Best Visual Arts Presentation for her exhibition Inkommers, laatkommers & laatlammers, as well as the Droom installation where she collaborated with the local Oudtshoorn ReWOLusie (a community of ladies that form part of a knit and crochet project).

Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck and Deon van Zyl received the Kanna for Best Children’s Theatre Presentation for the second year in a row, this time for Liewe Heksie vang vis. Gita Fourie received the Kanna for Best Emerging Artist for her script of the farce Afval, which was developed as part of the Stellenbosch University Drama Department’s Première Theatre Festival and presented as part of the KKNK’s Teksmark in 2022.

The Slurpie Prize, a special award for a young and important voice was sponsored and awarded by NATi. Cornelia Faasen, CEO of NATi announced the winner and awarded this prize to Veronique Jephtas, for the concept and her contribution as playwright and actor in My kroon se krank. Poet Lynthia Julius was co-author, and the drama was directed by Tinarie van Wyk Loots and produced by Lee-Ann van Rooi.

Alwyn van Zyl received the Kanna for Exceptional Technical Contribution, an award introduced in 2018 to give recognition to the hard work that takes place behind the scenes during the KKNK. Zonika van Zyl received the Kanna for Emerging Technical Talent.

Kannas were awarded in 13 categories, after the 27 debut works at the KKNK from 1 to 9 April were seen by the independent Kannapaneel. Productions that did not debut at the festival were also considered in the category for Best Emerging Artist. The Kannapaneel is Rafiek Mammon (convenor), Diane de Beer, Ilse Klink, Felicia Lesch and Fahiem Stellenboom.

Prize money was sponsored by Absa (main sponsored of the KKNK), ATKV, Beans about Coffee Oudtshoorn, Castle Lager, Herotel, Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, Kunste Onbeperk, NATi, Ton & Anet Vosloo and Wicus Pretorius. The winners received a trophy made by Haidee Nel or Owen Claasen.

The 28th KKNK, sponsored by Absa, takes place from 23 to 31 March 2024 in the Klein Karoo, whilst Klein Karoo Klassique takes place in Oudtshoorn from 4 to 7 August this year and Teksmark presented from 28 August until 1 September at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town. For more information, visit kknk.co.za or contact 044 203 8600, info@kknk.co.za or send a WhatsApp to 065 285 2337.

The complete list of Kanna winners is:

Kanna for Best Presentation – theatre, sponsored by the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds
Mirre en aalwyn

Kanna for Best Presentation – music, sponsored by Castle Lager
Ver in die wêreld Kittie

Kanna for Best Presentation – visual arts, sponsored by Absa
Liza Grobler – Inkommers, laatkommers & laatlammers, as well as the Droom installation

Kanna for Best Interpretation, sponsored by Wicus Pretorius
Dawid Minnaar – Mirakel

Kanna for Best Literary Contribution, sponsored by NATi
Nicola Hanekom – Mirre en aalwyn (original script)

Kanna for Best Director, sponsored by the ATKV
Nicola Hanekom – Mirre en aalwyn

Kanna for Best Ensemble, sponsored by Kunste Onbeperk
Ver in die wêreld Kittie

Kanna for Best Design and Technical Contribution, sponsored by Herotel
Craig Leo and Neil Coppen for the concept and design of Droomkraan Kronieke

Kanna for Best Presentation – children’s theatre, sponsored by Kunste Onbeperk
Liewe Heksie vang vis

Kanna for Best Emerging Artist, sponsored by Ton and Anet Vosloo
Gita Fourie – Afval (script)

Herrie Prize for innovation or ground-breaking work, sponsored by Kunste Onbeperk
Karoo Kaarte

Slurpie Prize, sponsored by NATi
Veronique Jephtas

Kanna for Exceptional Technical Contribution, sponsored by Beans about Coffee Oudtshoorn
Alwyn van Zyl

Kanna for Emerging Technical Talent, sponsored by Pieter-Jan Kapp
Zonika van Zyl

Grant Swanby, Nicola Hanekom (Mirre en aalwyn) and Henét de Villiers from the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds © Natalie Gabriels Photography

Theatre maker Nicola Hanekom’s Mirre en aalwyn gave festivalgoers the opportunity to experience theatre in the beautiful Klein Karoo once again. This drama received three Kanna Awards on Friday 5 May during an event at Leopard’s Leap Wines outside of Franschhoek, with Lyntjie Jaars as presenter. The Kannas give recognition to exceptional creative contributions at the KKNK annually.

Yolisa Mlungwana (links) en Johann Kruger (regs) van Absa, saam met Liza Grobler (middel)

www.kknk.co.za