By Dixon Bond Okello
Creative Theatre Awards is a product of Afrique Events, aimed at recognizing and appreciating special achievement in the field of mainstream theatre and comedy.
Theatre has since time immemorial been one of the major avenues of informing, educating and entertaining society. In recent years, comedy has also come on board as a major brand of theatre. It is against that backdrop that the organizers felt it important to give creative theatre a boost through awards.
Also aware that awards in Uganda have been soiled with irregularities over the years, the organizers have come up with a methodology that will minimize irregularities and ensure credible, free and fair awarding.It includes:
1. Assembling the Creative Theatre Awards Academy. Membership to the Academy will include:
a) Leadership of the Performing Arts Association of Uganda.
b) Leadership of mainstream theatre groups.
c) Leadership of Comedy groups.
d) Entertainment writers.
e) Actors and Comedians who formally express interest through writing.
The Academy will from time to time come up with suggestions for improvement as well as constructive criticism.
2. Pre-nomination Conference.
The Academy will then sit and agree on the mode of operation, including the mode of voting and nomination.
3. Nomination.
The academy and members of the public will then nominate Individuals and Acts in the following categories:
1-BEST DIRECTOR: MAINSTREAM
2-BEST DIRECTOR: COMEDY
3-BEST GROUP: MAINSTREAM
4-BEST GROUP: COMEDY
5-BEST PRODUCTION: DRAMA
6-BEST PRODUCTION: COMEDY
7-BEST PRODUCTION: MUSICAL
8-BEST PRODUCTION: CHOREOGRAPHY
9-BEST PRODUCTION: STAGE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
10-BEST PRODUCTION: COSTUMING AND MAKE UP
11-BEST PRODUCTION: STAGE LIGHTING AND EFFECTS
12-BEST ACTOR: MAINSTREAM
13-BEST ACTRESS: MAINSTREAM
14-BEST ACTOR: COMEDY
15-BEST ACTRESS: COMEDY
16-RISING ACTOR: MAINSTREAM
17-RISING ACTOR: COMEDY
18-RISING ACTRESS: MAINSTREAM
19-RISING ACTRESS: COMEDY
20-BEST ACTOR: SUPPORTING ROLE
21-BEST ACTRESS: SUPPORTING ROLE
22-MOST EDUCATIVE PRODUCTION
23-LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT
24-HONORARY AWARDS
25-BEST SUPPORTING TV STATION
26-BEST SUPPORTING BRAND
4. VOTING.
This will be transparent and both nominees and voters will be able to keep track of the number of votes for each nominee over time.