By Anne Taylor
21 August 2013
South African actors Robyn Scott, Janet Suzman and Khayalethu Anthony are among the nominees for this year’s Stage Awards, which recognise acting excellence at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The awards – now in their 19th year – are judged by The Stage’s Edinburgh review team, which sees hundreds of productions before making its choice. Four prizes are granted: best actor, best actress, best ensemble and best solo performance. Solomon and Marion is the only one production to receive a multiple nomination – for best actor and best actress.
Robyn Scott is nominated for her role in London Road, Sea Point, which tells the story of the unlikely relationship between an 80-year-old Jewish widow (Scott) and a Nigerian immigrant (Ntombi Makhutshi). In their review, The Stage says:
“While both Makhutshi and Scott initially seem to be projecting too much, you soon realise Scott’s performance is simply brilliant. Her Rosa is brash and very odd, with verbal ticks and an almost permanent shake to her body. It’s a fabulous spectacle but beneath these trappings is a performance of intense sensitivity and class. We see such characters everyday but are often afraid to put them on stage due to accusations of caricature. But here Scott shows us that it is possible to be both eccentric and heartbreakingly real.”
The winners will be announced on the evening of 25 August.
For a full list of nominees, see www.thestage.co.za
For a full list of Edinburgh Festival Fringe award winners, see www.edfringe.com
