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The winners with their awards after the ceremony held at the Kenya National Theatre on February 17, 2022. [Standard]
As the country cowered under uncertainty caused by Covid-19 in 2021, the musical theatre saw a resurgence as seen in this years Kenya Theatre Awards.
The Awards held on Thursday saw KCA University’s Simba Bazenga emerge as the Best Production, fighting for honours with another musical, Subira.
Simba Bazenga bagged three awards, including Best Musical Theatre Production and Best Musical Score, with the latter award going to the show’s Rodgers Ng’ing’a.
Subira also bagged three awards, producing the Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Lead Role (Musical) In Zimbabwean Mundawara Shaun, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Lead Role (Musical) in Nice Githinji and Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Musical) in Gilbert Lukalia.
The biggest winning single production of the night was, however, a play, Blackout, that in five categories; with Best Producer (Clare Wahome), Best Kenyan Playwright (Xavier Nato), Best Set Design (Brian Irungu), Best Breakthrough Male Performer (Ted Munene) and Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Supporting Role (Play) won by Mike Ndeda.
Waking Mzenge won the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Lead Role (Play) for her role in Breathe III.
The inaugural Kenya Theatre Awards saw veteran theatre guru and author David Mulwa presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
A frail Mulwa was lost for words. He was joined on stage by some of the students he has taught over the years who were present, which turned out to be nearly half the people present, a testament to the effect he has had on the theatre industry since he began his acting career in 1967.
He was recognised for his role as actor, director, lecturer, mentor, adjudicator and accomplished author, with more than 18 highly acclaimed publications. They include Buriani, Redemption and Inheritance which have been read as school set books.
He has also been on the organising committee of the Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama Festival.
Another veteran Actor John Sibi-Okumu was honoured with Global Impact Award. In his speech he remembered the journey he has walked and sharing the stage with greats like David Mulwa.
In a 1975 production of Muntu, for instance, Sibi-Okumu said they shared a stage with Mulwa and Francis Imbuga, among other theatre pioneers. Sibi-Okumu made his Kenya National Theatre debut in 1973 at the age of 19 as Romeo.
He has acted in, directed and written notable plays, and won numerous local and international awards for his work in theatre and the media field.
The Kenya Theatre Awards are the second such award in the country after Sanaa Theatre Awards.
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