The 1999 FNB Vita Durban Theatre awards were announced at a gala evening held at the Kwasuka Theatre on July 18. Die Laaste Strooi swept the boards with awards for best production, best director (Ilse van Hemert), best actress (Anna-Mart van der Merwe) and best supporting actor (Richard van der Westhuizen).

The award for best lead actor went to Nathi Kunene for Master Harold and the Boys, a production which also won the award for best supporting actor for Dominic Fundam. There was no winner in the best supporting actress category although nominees were Suhana Gorham, Subashnee Naidoo and Priya Reddy for Women in Brown, as well as Krijay Govender and Welile Tembe for Hooters.

In the category of best script of a new South African play the winner was Paul Slabolepszy for Life’s a Pitch which also won a joint Vita for best performance in a comedy role for James Borthwick and Graham Hopkins. Robin’s a Cruise Ou won awards for best set design (Anthony Farmer), best costume design (Frances Michaelatos) and best lighting design (Joe Freedman). Rory Rootenberg won the award for most outstanding performance in musical theatre for Cadenza. The production itself, which was written and directed by Ian von Memerty and presented by The Playhouse Cellar, scooped the best musical theatre production award.

Three special award/bursaries in memory of David Coleman were made to Wiaan De Beer, Lulama Mabovana and Pertulia Ramaphala. Other productions strongly in the running for awards were Indian Wants the Bronx, Holy Moses, Squawk!, Back to The Faith, The South African Collector , Beyond Cavalry, Backside and The Final Cut.