Productions supported by the Festival Enterprise Catalyst (FEC) scooped 24 nominations and seven awards at the kykNET Fiëstas 2026 this past weekend. The kykNET Fiëstas celebrate excellence in theatre, recognising outstanding achievements in performance, production and technical artistry.
The FEC’s commitment to nurturing exceptional theatre was validated with wins across diverse categories, showcasing the depth and breadth of talent the initiative supports:
- Best New Afrikaans/South African Script – Verwelkingslied by Breyten Breytenbach
- Best Director – Mari Borstlap for Verwelkingslied
- Best Actress – Antoinette Kellermann in Verwelkingslied
- Best Lighting Design – Faheem Bardien for Verwelkingslied
- Best Newcomer – Angelo Bergh in Kompoun
- Best Music Production: Classical Music/Instrumental Performance – The Scullery Quintet performing Stir-Fried Sonatas
- Best Music Production: Podium – The Scullery Quintet performing Stir-Fried Sonatas
“These awards are an endorsement of the FEC’s core mission: to invest in productions that push artistic boundaries and deliver exceptional experiences to audiences,” said FEC partner and Nasionale Afrikaanse Teater-inisiatief (NATi) CEO, Cornelia Faasen. “From supporting new talent like Angelo Bergh to championing innovative work across theatre and music, we’re committed to creating the conditions for excellence to flourish.”
The FEC’s most awarded work Verwelkingslied accounted for four of the seven awards. The work is a semi-autobiographical exploration of aging and dying through the lens of the artist and was the last play written by Breyten Breytenbach. “The FEC funding helped bring this important work to the stage and it now stands as a legacy for the life and work of one of South Africa’s important writers, painters and activists,” said Faasen,“Supporting writers and performers goes beyond celebrating individual excellence, it also contributes to a cultural archive that defines us as a nation.” The Afrikaans work was presented at Suidoosterfees and Aardklop in 2025.
The Festival Enterprise Catalyst’s support model recognises that creating quality theatre is a commitment to audiences who deserve work that challenges, moves and transforms them. Audiences are more likely to become repeat theatre consumers if the experience is satisfying. Good theatre requires exceptional talent, an investment of time and rigorous craft. The FEC’s model builds this accumulative practice and mastery through time by funding and touring the work across different theatres while also exposing works to diverse audiences.
Festival Enterprise Catalyst-funded productions also received the following kykNET Fiëstas nominations:
Best Actor
Dawid Minnaar in Verwelkingslied (Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Best Actress
Antoinette Kellermann in Verwelkingslied (Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Buhle Ngaba in Bridling (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees and National Arts Festival)
Daneel van der Walt in Die een wat bly (KKNK, Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Best Ensemble Cast
Die een wat bly (KKNK, Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
The Scullery Quintet (Momentum Aardklop)
Best Visual Performance
Lee-Ann van Rooi: Set Design for Kompoun (Suidoosterfees, Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, KKNK)
Best Performance in Lighting Design
Faheem Bardien for Verwelkingslied (Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop) WINNER
Best Achievement in Sound and Musical Design
Shaun Oelf: music design for Die een wat bly (KKNK, Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Best Translation or Adaption of an Existing Work
Jolyn Phillips for Kompoun (Suidoosterfees, Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, KKNK)
Nadia Davids for Bridling (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees and National Arts Festival)
Best Newly Created Afrikaans/South African Text
Wessel Pretorius and company for Die een wat bly (KKNK, Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Breyten Breytenback for Verwelkingslied
Best Performance in Dance
Die een wat bly (KKNK)
Grant van Ster in Die een wat bly (KKNK, Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Shaun Oelf in Die een wat bly (KKNK, Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Best Music Production: Podium
The Scullery Quintet: Stir Fried Sonatas (Momentum Aardklop)
Best Music Production in Classical Music:Instrumental Performance
The Scullery Quintet: Stir-fried Sonatas (Momentum Aardklop)
Best Newcomer
Angelo Bergh in Kompoun (Suidoosterfees, Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, KKNK)
Best Director
Marí Borstlap for Verwelkingslied (Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Wessel Pretorius for Die een wat bly (KKNK, Suidoosterfees and Momentum Aardklop)
Best Presentation
Verwelkingslied (Suidoosterfees en Momentum Beleggings Aardklop)
Production of the Year
Die een wat bly (KKNK, Suidoosterfees en Momentum Aardklop)
Verwelkingslied (Suidoosterfees en Momentum Aardklop)
