The Kanna Awards annually recognise outstanding artistic contributions at the KKNK and the Kanna nominations following the 29th KKNK, sponsored by Absa, have been announced.
This year, the independent Kanna judging panel saw more than 100 productions, which included debuts of more than 50 productions during the festival in the Klein Karoo.
Annie+Helen, a drama about Helen Keller that debuted at the KKNK in Oudtshoorn this year, is nominated for ten Kanna Awards. This production is the first production by Wordsmith’s Theatre Factory (Hennie van Greunen and Pedro Kruger’s production company) at the KKNK since 2017 and is nominated for amongst others Best Debut Production and Best Theatre Production. The 13-year-old Judi Hattingh is nominated for both Best Female Performer in a Leading Role and Best Emerging Artist or Newcomer, with various performers (Cintaine Schutte, Stian Bam and Bianca Flanders), the Set Design (Rocco Pool), Exceptional Literary Contribution for the Newly Created Script and Director (Van Greunen) receiving nominations.
The debut comedy ‘KUNS’ is nominated for nine Kanna Awards, including Best Debut Production, Best Theatre Production and Best Ensemble. The script by the celebrated French writer Yasmina Reza was translated from French to Afrikaans by Naòmi Morgan, who is nominated for Exceptional Literary Contribution. Marthinus Basson is nominated for Best Director, as well as Best Design and/or Technical Contribution for his Set Design and the actors Ludwig Binge, Wessel Pretorius and Wilhelm van der Walt are each nominated for Best Male Actor in a Leading Role.
Moedswil en muitery, a debut satire by award-winning writer Ingrid Winterbach, is also nominated for nine Kannas, including Best Debut Production, Best Theatre Production and Best Ensemble. Winterbach is nominated for Best Literary Contribution for her Newly Written Script, Tinarie van Wyk Loots for Best Director and performers (Albert Pretorius, Brendon Daniels, Dean John Smith and Nicole Holm) each nominated for performances awards in the performer’s categories.
The Figure of 8 Dance Collective and Wessel Pretorius’s interdisciplinary debut dance drama Die een wat bly, with Grant van Ster, Shaun Oelf & Daneel van der Walt, is nominated for six Kannas. Neil Coppen and Mpume Mthombeni’s Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater, Wessel Pretorius’s Ont- with Wian Taljaard and [INDISTINCT CHATTER], one of the top productions from the Stellenbosch University’s Première Theatre Festival with Angelique Filter, Merwe van Gent, Zara West, Vihann van Rooyen, Jurie Boshoff, Kym Mahundi, Khaya Manare & Frances van Rooyen all received four Kanna nominations.
According to Felicia Lesch, convenor of the Kannapaneel, packed theatres, enthusiastic audiences and exceptional productions were abundant. “Festivalgoers could experience a variety of productions and happenings in all disciplines. Karoo Kaarte once again surprised with a production centred around stories of, and conflicts amongst, ‘queens’ young and old.
“A young panel of school learners made a comeback and adjudicated the children’s theatre, under the supervision of two Kannapaneel members. Their enthusiasm for the task was infectious and refreshing. The Kanna judging panel gained valuable insight from the diversity of productions and the children’s panel,” Lesch says.
A new addition to the offering this year was Blitsteater, a combination of Lucky Pakkie and Uitkampteater of old, and Lesch comments: “Blitsteater produced many surprises of talent and stories, which were well packaged in short performances of 20 minutes each.”
“There was a record number of comedy offerings, which included stand-up by well-known comedians who had the audience in stitches. The visual arts offering was diverse, and the programme included cross-genre performances. The vibe of the KKNK was evident in the streets, there were conversations to fill the spirit and plenty of food to nourish the soul,” Lesch concludes.
This year’s independent Kanna judging panel were Lesch (convenor), Nolan Africa, Amelda Brand, Schalk Joubert, Wayne Muller, Tracey Saunders and Fahiem Stellenboom. A total of 20 children between the ages of 6 and 13 years from the broader Oudtshoorn community served on the Children’s Panel. The Kanna judging panel was supported by Laetitia Pople, Marguerite Robinson and Diane de Beer, who adjudicated the Best Contribution to Visual Arts and the Herrie Prize.
The winners will be announced on Thursday 15 May during a glamorous event at Nasdak in Cape Town. A special panel prize, a special Kanna Award for Service to the KKNK and a Kanna for Exceptional Technical Service to the KKNK are also awarded during the event.
This year’s KKNK, sponsored by Absa, was presented in Oudtshoorn from 1 to 6 April, with a special Opening Concert and Night Market on 31 March. KKNK 2025 was supported by the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, NATi, Checkers, Netwerk24, kykNET, ATKV, Oudtshoorn Municipality and the Western Cape Government.
The 30th KKNK takes place in Oudtshoorn from Saturday 28 March to Saturday 4 April 2026. 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 nomination is:
Best Emerging Artist or Newcomer
- Joshwin Dyson (performance in Laaitie mettie biscuits)
- Judi Hattingh (performance in Annie+Helen)
- Merwe van Gent (performance in [INDISTINCT CHATTER] and SMIEG)
- Rylan Lemmetuis (performance in beHOORNlik)
- Shannon Hendry (performance in Öh)
- Vihann van Rooyen (performance in and script of [INDISTINCT CHATTER])
Best Visual Arts Presentation
- Attakwaland – Liza Grobler (curator)
- Die stomme aarde – Henk Serfontein (artist)
- LANDscape[s]: Kunswerke van die MAPSA-versameling van kontemporêre kuns – Miné Kleinhans (curator)
- Red Stone Hills – ReWOLusie and Liza Grobler
Herrie Prize for Innovation
- Henk Serfontein and Hannah Loewenthal for Aardmoeder: ’n Uitvoerende tekening
- Diek Grobler for animation art of the production, Die gevlerktes
- Toor l Bos – UJ Arts (curator: Dineke Orton)
Best Ensemble
- Die een wat bly
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- ‘KUNS’
- Moedswil en muitery
- SALT
Best Design and/or Technical Contribution
- Floris Louw for costume design of
- Gideon Lombard for set design of Die een wat bly
- Marthinus Basson for set design of ‘KUNS’
- Nicolaas de Jongh for set design of Kruispad, of die legende van die goue vis
- Rocco Pool for set design of Annie+Helen
- Tina le Roux for lighting design of Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater
Exceptional Literary Contribution
- Hennie van Greunen – Annie+Helen (Newly Created Script)
- Ingrid Winterbach – Moedswil en muitery (Newly Written Script)
- Naòmi Morgan – ‘KUNS’ (Translation)
- Wessel Pretorius and company – Die een wat bly (Newly Written Script)
Best Production: Contemporary Music
- 88
- Bach & Beatles
- Frieda van den Heever: Spoorsny
Best Production: Music Theatre
- Amanda Strydom: The Incredible Journey of Tinkerbell van Tonder
- André Schwartz: Merry Krismis, Elvis
- Danie Reënwolf du Toit en Johan du Toit: Songs, stories en gedigte
- -LOOS
- Vincent: His Quest to Love and Be Loved
Best Production: Theatre
- Annie+Helen
- Die een wat bly
- Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater
- ‘KUNS’
- Moedswil en muitery
- Ont-
Best Production: Blitsteater
- Beste van alle tye
- Smak
- SMIEG
Best Production: Children’s Theatre
- Grommels
- Liewe Heksie en die wals
- Middel/Middle
- Pampoenpit se groen gevoel
Best Production: Comedy
- Beste van alle tye
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- Joe Barber 25
- Magda Louw: ’n Les in kletterkunde
- Marc Eugene Lottering
- KG Mokgadi: Weighing In – The Aftermath
Best Debut Production
- Annie+Helen
- Die een wat bly
- ‘KUNS’
- Moedswil en muitery
- Ont-
Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role
- Albert Pretorius – Moedswil en muitery
- Ben Albertyn – Speelgoed van Glas
- Brendon Daniels – Moedswil en muitery
- Dean John Smith – Moedswil en muitery
- Stian Bam – Annie+Helen
Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role
- Bianca Flanders – Annie+Helen
- Nicole Holm – Moedswil en muitery
- Stephanie Baartman – Laaitie mettie biscuits
- Veronique Jephtas – Sonde met die spoke
Best Male Performer in a Leading Role
- Eben Genis – Kruispad, of die legende van die goue vis
- Frank Opperman – Stinkhout
- Ludwig Binge – ‘KUNS’
- Wessel Pretorius – ‘KUNS’
- Wian Taljaard – Ont-
- Wilhelm van der Walt – Stinkhout
- Wilhelm van der Walt – ‘KUNS’
Best Female Performer in a Leading Role
- Anna-Mart van der Merwe – Speelgoed van glas
- Cintaine Schutte – Annie+Helen
- Judi Hattingh – Annie+Helen
- Mpume Mthombeni – Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater
- René Cloete – Wag!
Best Director
- Hennie van Greunen – Annie+Helen
- Marthinus Basson – ‘KUNS’
- Neil Coppen – Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater
- Tinarie van Wyk Loots – Moedswil en muitery
- Wessel Pretorius – Ont-
- Wessel Pretorius en geselskap – Die een wat bly
