The Kanna Awards for this year’s KKNK, sponsored by Absa, were announced on Thursday, May 15.
The Kannas took the form of a glamorous ceremony at NASDAK in Cape Town. Lee-Ann van Rooi, one of the KKNK’s honourees in 2025 (Kunste Onbeperk Kruispunt Prize), was the host.
‘KUNS’ , from the pen of celebrated French writer Yasmina Reza, received five Kannas. This debut comedy was awarded as Best Debut Production, Best Theatre Production, and Best Ensemble. Naòmi Morgan’s translation of the script from French to Afrikaans received the Kanna for Exceptional Literary Contribution and Wilhelm van die Walt was awarded with the Kanna for Best Male Performer in a Leading Role for his performance in both ‘KUNS’ and the drama Stinkhout.
Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater received three Kannas: Neil Coppen as Best Director, Mpume Mthombeni as Best Female Performer in a Leading Role and Tina le Roux for Best Design and/or Technical Contribution for her lighting design of this drama.
Annie+Helen received two Kannas. Bianca Flanders was awarded as Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role and Judi Hattingh as Best Emerging Artist or Newcomer for her performance in this drama about Helen Keller.
Henk Serfontein, the KKNK’s Festival Artist for 2025, also received two Kannas. His exhibition, Die stomme aarde, received the Kanna for Best Visual Arts Exhibition, whilst Aardmoeder: ’n Uitvoerende tekening in collaboration with dancer Hannah Loewenthal, received the Herrie Prize for Innovation.
The Charl du Plessis Trio was awarded as Best Contemporary Music Production for Bach & Beatles, and Vincent: His Quest to Love and Be Loved with Daniel Anderson and Paul Ferreira on piano was awarded as Best Musical Theatre Production.
Blitsteater was a new addition to the programme of the KKNK, with short performances of 20 minutes each, and Sandi Dlangalala and Ilana Cilliers were awarded as Best Blitsteater Production for their performance, Smak. Marc Lottering’s stand-up performance Marc Eugene Lottering was awarded with the Kanna for Best Comedy Production. Brendon Daniels received the Kanna for Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role for his performance in Moedswil en muitery.
Grommels with Angelique Filter and Robert Hindley received the Kanna for Best Children’s Theatre Production. This category was judged by a panel of 20 primary school learners between the ages of 6 and 13 years old from the broader Oudtshoorn community, under the guidance of the Kannapaneel members.
Two special Kannas were awarded. The Kannapaneel awarded a Special Prize for the KKNK’s Karoo Kaarte project for the surprising, resilient and relevant way they told Oudtshoorn stories this year, through theatre productions, art exhibitions, publications and the archive they are creating.
The project commenced in 2021 and this year, it was made possible with support from the Jannie Mouton Foundation, the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds and the Western Cape Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. Technician Vaughn Walberer received the Special Kanna for Technical Contribution to the KKNK. He has been involved as sound engineer at the KKNK for the past 12 years and before that he was part of the team at a festival stage for seven years.
Each winner received a special artwork from the KKNK’s award-winning Karoo Kaarte project. These artworks were created by Oudtshoorn artists, compiled from Oudtshoorn stories not previously documented. It now forms part of a living archive, created by the project since 2021.
Kanna Awards were sponsored by Absa, the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, NATi, Checkers, ATKV, Castle Lager, Exclusive Books, Glenwood Travel, Rauten Trust, Ton & Anet Vosloo, Franklin & Joan Sonn, Crispin & Lisa Sonn, as well as Wicus Pretorius. The wine for the function was sponsored by Checkers and Cape Fynbos Wines & Spirits.
This year’s independent Kanna judging panel were Felicia Lesch (convenor), Nolan Africa, Amelda Brand, Schalk Joubert, Wayne Muller, Tracey Saunders and Fahiem Stellenboom. 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 29th KKNK, sponsored by Absa, was presented in Oudtshoorn from April 1 to 6, with a special Opening Concert on March 31. KKNK 2025 was presented with the support of the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, NATi, Checkers, Netwerk24, kykNET, ATKV, Oudtshoorn Municipality and the Western Cape Government.
In 2026 the 30th KKNK takes place in Oudtshoorn from Saturday, March 28 to Saturday, April 4. Programme applications for this festival can be submitted online from Friday 23 May at kknk.co.za.
Complete list of Kanna winners:
Best Visual Arts Presentation, sponsored by Absa
Die stomme aarde – Henk Serfontein (artist)
Best Debut Production, sponsored by the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds
‘KUNS’
Best Production: Theatre, sponsored by NATi
‘KUNS’
Best Production: Comedy, sponsored by Checkers
Marc Eugene Lottering
Best Production: Contemporary Music, sponsored by Castle Lager
Bach & Beatles
Best Production: Musical Theatre
Vincent: His Quest to Love and Be Loved
Best Production: Blitsteater, sponsored by Glenwood Travel
Smak
Best Production: Children’s Theatre, sponsored by the ATKV
Grommels
Beste Ensemble, sponsored by Wicus Pretorius
‘KUNS’
Best Design and/or Technical Contribution, sponsored by Rauten Trust
Tina le Roux for lighting design of Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater
Exceptional Literary Contribution, sponsored by Exclusive Books
Naòmi Morgan – ‘KUNS’ (translation)
Best Director
Neil Coppen – Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater
Best Male Performer in a Leading Role, sponsored by Franklin and Joan Sonn
Wilhelm van der Walt – Stinkhout and ‘KUNS’
Best Female Performer in a Leading Role, sponsored by Franklin and Joan Sonn
Mpume Mthombeni – Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater
Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role, sponsored by Crispin and Lisa Sonn
Brendon Daniels – Moedswil en muitery
Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role, sponsored by Crispin and Lisa Sonn
Bianca Flanders – Annie+Helen
Best Emerging Artist or Newcomer, sponsored by Ton and Anet Vosloo
Judi Hattingh (performance in Annie+Helen)
Herrie Prize for Innovation
Henk Serfontein and Hannah Loewenthal for Aardmoeder: ’n Uitvoerende tekening
Special Kannapaneel Prize
Karoo Kaarte
Special Kanna for Technical Contribution to the KKNK
Vaughn Walberer
Photos attached
• The KKNK’s Kanna Winners were announced at NASDAK in Cape Town on 15 May. © Natalie Gabriels Photography
