The exceptional quality of theatre productions presented at this year’s Absa KKNK was highlighted during the announcement of the Kanna nominations. The announcement was made at Club Al Capone on Wednesday, 7 April. The début productions Afrikaaps and Betésda were both nominated in three categories and The Famished Road and As Die Broek Pas in two categories respectively.

Nataniël was also nominated in two categories. The winners of the Kanna Awards will be announced on Sunday, 9 May in Cape Town.

Every year the Absa KKNK rewards the best work at the festival in a variety of categories, with cash prizes and specially designed trophies for the winners. The trophies are also known as the Klein Karoo Oscars. The Kanna Awards evening will be filmed and broadcast on kykNET.

The nominations for the Kanna Awards in their respective categories are:
1. Kanna nominations for Best Male Artist
- James Grace for Around the World in 60 Minutes
- Nataniël for Nataniël – Die een konsert
- Chris van Niekerk for Dinsdae by Morrie.

2. Kanna nominations for Best Female Artist
- Antoinette Kellermann (As die broek pas)
- Ilse Oppelt (Die proponentjie)
- Karen Zoid (Karen Zoid Live)

These Kanna Awards include the following genres: drama; musical theatre; children’s theatre; spoken word; dance; visual arts; classical music; contemporary music; as well as all technical categories (sound; décor; make-up; set design; lighting).

3. Kanna nominations for Best Director
- Marthinus Basson for As die broek pas
- Nicola Hanekom for Betésda
- Helen Iskander for The Famished Road

4. The Kanna Slurpie nominations for Best Upcoming Professional Artist
These nominations include all genres.
- Moenier Adams for Afrikaaps
- Theodore Jantjies for Vaselinetjie
- Themba Ntuli for The Famished Road

5. Kanna nominations for Best Absa KKNK-Début production
The aim of this award is to recognise work that has been specially created for the Absa KKNK. This includes: new stage text; musical composition; choreography; and visual art work.
- The production Afrikaaps
- The production Betésda
- Nataniël for the text in Swanemeer – Die ware verhaal

6. Kanna nominations for Best Production
The emphasis falls on how the different theatrical elements were combined – acting; production; technical components; and choreography. In other words the integration of the above to form a production of a high quality.
- Afrikaaps
- Bach Goldberg
- Betésda

7. The Herrie Kanna Popularity prize
The Herrie Kanna popularity prize has no nominations as of yet, but nominations will be announced during the Kanna Awards function.

The following special Kannas will also be awarded:

8. The Afrikaans Onbeperk prize for life time achievement will be awarded to drama playwright, Pieter Fourie this year. Fourie celebrated his 70th birthday during this year’s festival.

9. The Special Kanna for performance will be awarded to actor, Cobus Rossouw.

This year’s Kanna panel is lead by Herman van der Westhuizen and consisted of Ivor Price; Woutrine Theron; Diane de Beer; Ronnie Samaai; Denise Bester; Hilde Roos; John Theodore; Eduard Greyling; Wayne Muller; Christiaan de Swardt; Wim Vorster; Erns Grundling; and Zuanda Badenhorst. Congratulations to all those who have been nominated, and also to all the artists that made this year’s festival such a roaring success.