New chair for Fleur de Cap Theatre Awards

Africa Melane

Radio personality, Africa Melane, has been appointed chair of the panel of judges of performing arts competition, the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. He succeeds Melanie Burke. 

Established in 1965, the annual competition focuses on professional theatre productions staged in Cape Town and environs. It is sponsored by Distell Group and has served as launching pad for many of the country’s most prominent names in theatre, while honouring many of its most established talents. 

A born and bred Capetonian, Mr Melane has a long and close association with the Fleur du Cap Awards.  He has been a judge since 2011 and has also acted as MC at the gala annual awards ceremony. 

As the host of CapeTalk’s Weekend Breakfast Show, he routinely interviews entertainment figures, business and thought leaders, politicians, community activists and religious leaders from both South Africa and abroad. He also serves as the deputy chair of the Cape Town Opera Board. 

The chair does not cast a vote but has the critical function of bringing focus, context and consensus to the panel, whose members have extensive experience as theatre critics, journalists or former theatrical performers, or directors.