The 4th Kenya Theatre Awards Nominees Revealed!

The Kenya Theatre Awards (KTA), a flagship initiative of the Kenya International Theatre Festival Trust, unveiled the nominees for the 2024 theatrical year. The announcement, made on January 23, 2025, at the Kenya National Theatre, sets the stage for the 4th edition of the Kenya Theatre Awards ceremony.

The Awards honour outstanding productions, artists, and practitioners while promoting innovation and excellence in theatrical productions. By documenting live stage performances, the awards provide vital statistics, including venue details, audience numbers, and, where possible, revenue data.

Founded in 2022, the Kenya Theatre Awards held its inaugural ceremony on February 17, 2022, at the Kenya National Theatre. Subsequent editions took place on February 23, 2023, and February 22, 2024, further cementing its role as a prestigious platform for celebrating theatrical excellence in Kenya.

A five-member jury, guided by the KTA secretariat, underwent a thorough review process, which included attending performances held between January and December 2024, followed by in-depth discussions and evaluations. The 2024/2025 jury members, led by chairperson Suki Wanza (Actress & Lecturer), consist of Steenie Njoroge (Actor), Ian Mbugua (Actor, Director & Teacher), Dr. Emmanuel Shikuku (Lecturer, Producer & Performer), and Sitawa Namwalie (Playwright, Poet & Performer).

Voting will officially begin on Monday, January 27, 2025, and run until Monday, February 17, 2025, exclusively online via the KTA Voting Platform.

Full KTA 2024 Nominees List:

Best Adaptation

• Mgonjwa Mwitu – Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• In Other Words – Chemichemi Players
• Sanctuary – Prevail Presents
• 1984 – Under Debate
• Lwanda Otero – Chatterbox

Best Breakthrough Female Performer

• Cynthia Nzuki – Prophetess Gladys | Legacy, International Christian centre Nairobi
• Elsie Mumbua – Mkumbu | The Bride, Kenyatta University
• Precious Apidi – Rose | Guns & Roses, Son of man productions
• Mary Favour – Scent | Know Your Scent, Martina Ayoro
• Seben Wainaina – Sho | Daiverse, Irooto Productions

Best Breakthrough Male Performer

• Cosmas Kirui – Guard 1 | Antigone, Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Samuel Tirop – Mzee Kigen | Oret (Nandi version), Prevail presents
• Hawi Ondego – Obam | Repeat After Me, Khalaha
• Sam Juma – The Miser | The Miser, Igiza Arts Production
• Elvis Kiarie – Thomas Dafrosi | Mzigo Wa Moto, Chisaina Arts

Best Children’s Play

• Coppellia – Dance Centre Kenya
• Alladin – Braeburn Players
• Lion King – The Banda school
• Matilda – Aga Khan Academy Nairobi senior school
• The Little Mermaid – The Academy of Dance and Art

Best Costume Design

• Amy Ni Riada – Shrek, The Musical | Kenya Amatteur Dramatics
• Mitch Bushry – Albatross Wings of Freedom | Youth Theatre Kenya
• Kevo Abbra – Lwanda Otero | Chatterbox
• Heidi Wright & Ansley Garner – Sound of Music | Rosslyn Academy
• Veronica Kitaka – The Little Mermaid | The Academy of Dance and Art

Best Dance Theatre

• Messiah is Coming – Nairobi Lighthouse Church
• Coppellia – Dance Centre Kenya
• The Little Mermaid – The Academy of Dance and Art
• Ma’adha – Jackson Atulo

Best Director

• Stuart Nash – Scrooge, Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Mugambi Nthiga – Tom Mboya, Too Early for Birds
• Jazz Moll – Albatross Wings of Freedom, Youth Theatre Kenya
• Nyokabi Macharia – Daiverse, Irooto Productions
• Santa Mukabanah – Sanctuary, Prevail Presents

Best Kikwetu Production

• Oret (Nandi Version) – 64 Theatre
• Theca Nja – Andu A Mumbi Production
• Nengera Indo – Master Cut Entertainment
• Naku Amba Eka – Heartstrings Entertainment
• Hutia Kahaco – Andu A Mumbi Production

Best Learning Institution (Schools)

• Braeburn School, Gitanga Road
• Woodcreek School
• The Banda School
• Aga Khan Academy
• Rosslyn Academy

Best Learning Institution (Universities)

• KCA University
• Kenyatta University
• University of Nairobi

Best Lighting Design

• Jasper Miedema – Shrek, The Musical | Kenya Amateur Dramatics
• Alacoque Ntome & Charles Stephen – Dedan Kimathi | Woodcreek School
• Joanna Garner & Wilfred Onyango – Alladin | Braeburn Players
• Jazz Moll & Wilfred Onyango – Albatross Wings of Freedom | Youth Theatre Kenya
• Juliet Duckworth – The Little Mermaid | The Academy of Dance and Art

Best Musical Score, Arrangement or Adaptation

• Legacy – International Christian Centre Nairobi | International Christian Centre
• Know Your Scent – Martin Ayoro | Mary Favour
• Lwanda Otero – Alice Kimanzi & Niqq Kerah | Chatterbox
• Whispers of Power – Liboi | Liboi
• Daiverse – Irooto Productions | Daiverse

Best Musical Theatre Production

• Shrek The Musical – Kenya Amateur Dramatics
• Scrooge – Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Lwanda Otero – Chatterbox
• Matilda – Aga Khan Academy Nairobi Senior School
• Legacy – International Christian Centre Nairobi

Best Original Choreography in a Musical/Play

• Jonah Kamau – Legacy | International Christian Centre Nairobi
• Rainbow Field – Shrek, The Musical | Kenya Amateur Dramatics
• Bosco Boro – Scrooge | Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Seth Guya – Lwanda Otero | Chatterbox
• Cooper Rust & Caroline Slot – Cats | Dance Centre Kenya

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Lead Role in a Musical

• Amy Muthoni – Ray Baby, Legacy | International Christian Centre Nairobi
• Alison Nyawira – Chichi, Lwanda Otero | Chatterbox
• Lorna Lemi – Sarafina, Sarafina | Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Emma Withill – Donkey, Shrek, The Musical | Kenya Amateur Dramatics

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Play)

• Ednah Kariuki – Mrs. Manda, An Ideal Husband | Igiza Arts Production
• Julisa Rowe – Jane, In Other Words | Chemichemi Players
• Martina Ayoro – Martina, Know Your Scent | Martin Ayoro
• Chadota Idda – Zuweni, Repeat After Me | Khalaha
• Pris Laura Achieng – Nyambu, Noise Makers | Round Wide K

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Monologue

• Chadota Idda – Agnes Tirop, When They First Found Me | 6G’s Production
• Hellen Keli – Dana, Elements | Beyond The Mainstream Storytellers
• Muthoni Gatheca – Mama Maurice, Blooms in The Dark | Creative Garage
• Nyokabi Macharia – Tom Mboya | Too Early for Birds
• Njeri Wagakuo – Butch 1, Susan, Blooms in The Dark | Creative Garage

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Play)

• Rotem Yaniv-Cohen – Julia, 1984 | Under Debate
• Joyce Mathenge – Ng’endo, Hutia Kahaco | Andu A Mumbi Production
• Muthoni Gathecha – Mama Maurice, Blooms In The Dark | Creative Garage
• Edna Kariuki – Nia, Severed Justice | Igiza Arts Production
• Wakio Mzenge – Oneta, Mgonjwa Mwitu | Nairobi Performing Arts Studio

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical

• Hellen Mtawali – Sarafina’s mother, Sarafina | Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Kerry Kagiri – Faya mama, Legacy | International Christian Centre Nairobi
• Wakio Mzenge – Ghost of christmas past, Scrooge | Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Auudi Rowa – Peng Zee, Lwanda Otero | Chatterbox

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Lead Role in a Musical

• Samson Omondi – Simon, The Sanhedrin | Nairobi Chapel
• Peter Wood – Shrek, Shrek, The Musical | Kenya Amateur Dramatics
• Agengo Ogone – Lwanda Magere, Lwanda Otero | Chatterbox
• Gadwill Odhiambo -Crocodile, Sarafina | Nairobi Performing Arts Studio

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (Play)

• Sam Psenjen – Scrooge, Scrooge | Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Bilal Wanjau – Adani, Mgonjwa Mwitu | Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Charles Gachanja – Father of Michael, Shadow of The Cloth | Chisaina Arts
• Humphrey Maina -Father, Theci Noore | Andu A Mumbi Production
• Daniel Hird – Winston Smith, 1984 | Under Debate

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Monologue

• Ngartia Bryan – Daiverse | Irooto Productions
• Elsaphan Njora – Tom Mboya | Too Early for Birds
• Abu Sense – Tom Mboya | Too Early for Birds
• Josiah Kiprop Kiptoo – Mukabira | 64 Theatre

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Play)

• Cosmas Kirui – Guard 1, Antigone | Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Benson Ochungo – Ghost of christmas past, Scrooge | Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Eric Chege – Dedan, Theci Noore | Andu A Mumbi Production
• Rexie Ndoria – Zuzu, Mpaka Khweva
• Baraza Major – Father, Backstreet 2 | Millaz Productions Kenya

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical

• Benson Ochungo – Ghost of christmas past, Scrooge | Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Nyakundi Isaboke – Guard 1, Lwanda Otero | Chatterbox
• Martin Kigondu – Commander, Lwanda Otero | Chatterbox
• Ephraim Kimani – Rum Tug Tugger, Cats | Dance Centre Kenya

Best Performance by a Young Female Actor

• Arriana Kagotho – Muthoni, Dedan Kimathi | Woodcreek School
• Anvi Singh – Ms. Honey, Matilda | Aga Khan Academy Nairobi Senior School
• Martina Haugland – Maria Rainer, Sound of Music | Rosslyn Academy
• Leandra Wachai – The Shrew, The Taming of The Shrew | Brookhouse School
• Ava Stow – Scar, The Lion King | The Banda School

Best Performance by a Young Male Actor

• Namiri Chiroma – Dedan Kimathi, Dedan Kimathi | Woodcreek School
• Timothy Childs – Max Detweiller, Sound of Music | Rosslyn Academy
• Danny Kathungu – Captain George Von Trapp, Sound of Music | Rosslyn Academy
• Benjamin Telani – Petruchio, The Taming of The Shrew | Brookhouse School

Best Playwright – Original Script

• Victor Muyekwe – Mzigo wa Moto, Chisaina Arts
• Mavin Kibicho – In Sickness and In Health, Son of Man Theatre Production
• Martin Abuya – Flight 1963, Igiza Arts Productions
• Michael Mwangi – Repeat After Me, Khalaha
• Saumu Kombo – Backstreet 2, Millaz Productions Kenya

Best Producer

• Cosmas Bii – 64 Theatre
• Shiko Ngure & Ciru Njoroge – Irooto Productions
• Gathoni Kimuyu – Too Early for Birds
• Hawi Oguna – Chatterbox
• Wangui wa Ngina – Andu A Mumbi Production
• Wreiner Mandu – Igiza Arts Production

Best Production

• Shrek The Musical – Kenya Amateur Dramatics
• Lwanda Otero – Chatterbox
• Tom Mboya – Too Early for Birds
• Daiverse – Irooto Productions

Best Set Design

• Joep Van Binsbergen – Coppellia, Dance Centre Kenya
• Kate Gardiner & Lee Crew – Shrek The Musical, Kenya Amateur Dramatics
• Nancy Aluoch – Dedan Kimathi, Woodcreek School
• Joanna Garner & Taryn Bebbington – Alladin, Braeburn Players
• Arnold Osano – The Little Mermaid, The Academy of Dance and Art

Best Sound Design

• Joanna Garner – Alladin, Braeburn Players
• Mike Mbugua – Lwanda Otero, Chatterbox
• Abu Sense – Sanctuary, Prevail Presents
• Charles Stephen – The Love Bomb Edition, Maina Mind Productions
• Herman Tosh Gitonga – Daiverse, Irooto Productions

Best Spoken Word Production

• Daiverse – Irooto Productions
• The Love Bomb Edition – Maina Mind Productions
• You Remind Me of Someone – Mufasa & Gufy
• The Womine Experience – Revolutionary Spitter

Best Stage Managed Production

• Kate Gardiner – Shrek The Musical, Kenya Amateur Dramatics
• Mitchell Mulari – Coppellia, Dance Centre Kenya
• Mercy Wangui – Scrooge, Nairobi Performing Arts Studio
• Harlene Singh – Alice by Heart, Braeburn School
• Chanel McKenzie – The Lion King, Banda School

Best Story-telling Production

• When They First Found Me! – 6G’s Production
• Tom Mboya – Too Early for Birds
• First Draft – Eric Wainana

Best Two-hander Production

• Sanctuary – Prevail Presents
• In Other Words – Chemichemi Players
• Shadows of the Cloth – Chisaina Arts
• Numbers – Joseph Obel & Esther Kamba
• Loose Ends – Son of Man Productions

Theatre Company of the Year

• Heartstring Entertainment
• Son of Man Theatre Productions
• Igiza Arts
• Andu A Mumbi
• Nairobi Performing Arts Studio

The 4th Kenya Theatre Awards ceremony will take place on February 20, 2025, at the Kenya National Theatre.