Die Swartmerrie, a site-specific drama by the KKNK’s Karoo Kaarte team, is nominated for three kykNET Fiësta Prizes.
This Oudtshoorn production is nominated as Best Festival Production, Theo Witbooi as Best Actor and Neil Coppen & Tiffany Saterdaght for Best Newly Written Script. The evocative backdrop of Oudtshoorn’s corroding train tracks and abandoned platform, create the backdrop for the stage, with Witbooi, Chantell Phillipus and Jermaine Bruintjies who tell the poignant story of Simon “Tjoekepaf” Baadjies.
Hugo Theart, CEO and Artistic Director of the KKNK, says both the KKNK and Oudtshoorn are incredibly proud that stories from this Klein Karoo town are once again receiving recognition on a national stage at the kykNET Fiëstas. “Karoo Kaarte also received various nominations for kykNET Fiëstas in 2024 and we are proud that this groundbreaking multidisciplinary arts programme of the KKNK, taking place in Oudtshoorn since 2021, is still receiving national recognition. We are also excited for the return of Die Swartmerrie to the KKNK this year, to provide an opportunity to more festivalgoers to see this production.”
The 29th KKNK, sponsored by Absa, takes place in Oudtshoorn from 1 to 6 April, with a special Opening concert on 31 March.
Various other nominees for 2025 kykNET Fiëstas, honouring exceptional achievements in the performing arts since 2011 through recognition to productions showcased at Afrikaans arts festival in the preceding year, are also on their way to the KKNK in 2025.
Speelgoed van glas, the translated drama of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, with Anna-Mart van der Merwe, Carla Smith, Ben Albertyn and Mark Elderkin, is nominated for four Fiëstas: Best Ensemble, Best Festival Production, Nico Scheepers for best Direction and Van der Merwe for Best Actress.
Stinkhout, with script, direction and set design by Philip Rademeyer, is also nominated for four Fiëstas. Frank Opperman and Wilhelm van der Walt share the stage in this drama, nominated for Best Festival Production, Rademeyer for Best Achievement in Design, as well as Best New Script and Opperman as Best Actor.
Acclaimed theatre maker Christo Davids’s Laaitie mettie biscuits with Wayne van Rooyen, Stephanie Baartman, Carla Classen and Joshwin Dyson is nominated for three Fiëstas. Davids is nominated for best New Script and Dyson in both the categories for Best Actor and Best Emerging Artist.
Kruispad, of die legende van die goue vis with Edwin van der Walt, Carla Smith, Eben Genis and Beer Adriaanse is nominated for Best Ensemble and director Marthinus Basson for Best Director.
Nico Scheepers is nominated for Best Adaptation or Translation of a Script for ’n Begin, a drama with Cintaine Schutte and Carel Nel sharing the stage.
Amongst the music productions, -LOOS, with Joanie Combrink and Laurinda Hofmeyr, is nominated in the category for Best Music-driven Theatre. Frieda van den Heever’s Spoorsny is nominated for Best Contemporary Music Production. For KKNK, she shares the stage with guitar maestro Mauritz Lotz.
In addition to Die Swartmerrie, various productions that debuted in 2024 at the KKNK, are also nominated. Die stoele, Eugène Ionesco’s tragic farce, received two nominations: Nerina Ferreira (posthumously) for Best Adaptation or Translation of a Script and Chris van Niekerk as Best Actor. Johann Slabbert is nominated for Best New Script for Vier Panado’s en ’n Chardonnay and this production, with Elzabé Zietsman and Tony Bentel on stage, is also nominated as Best Music-Driven Theatre. The exhibition by Colbert Mashile, Festival Artist of KKNK 2024, titled The Dreams of Yonder, Untethered, is nominated for Best Achievement in Visual Arts.
Carmen Botma, convenor of the panel, says 2024 was a remarkable year of storytelling and stirring emotions. “Whether an attendee found themselves in the audience of an open-air concert, standing before an artwork, experiencing hidden emotions during a theatrical production, participating in a panel discussion, or closing their eyes during a musical performance – thanks to artists, festivalgoers had access to another world, could escape reality, or identify with the creative art before them. For that, we on the panel are deeply grateful.”
This year’s Fiëstas Awards Ceremony takes place on 27 February at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town.
KKNK 2025 is sponsored by Absa, with the support of the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, NATi, Checkers, Netwerk24, kykNET, ATKV, Oudtshoorn Municipality and the Western Cape Government.
The complete programme for the 29th KKNK, sponsored by Absa, is available online at kknk.co.za. Tickets are available at Webtickets or the KKNK office. For more information, visit kknk.co.za or contact 044 203 8600, info@kknk.co.za or send a WhatsApp to 065 285 2337.
