As a newbie in the world of musical theatre, winning a coveted Fleur du Cap theatre award for best lead actor in a musical thrilled East London actor Ryan de Villiers.
He has also been nominated for a Naledi theatre award.
Stirling High School and Rhodes University drama graduate De Villiers, 26, won the award – and R15,000 for his spirited, hilarious performance as bully principal Miss Trunchbull in the Pieter Toerien production of Matilda the Musical.
The hit show was staged in Johannesburg’s Montecasino in 2018 and at Cape Town’s Artscape this year and is currently on tour in Singapore.
“From doubting my capabilities of just performing in a musical to winning best lead actor in a musical at arguably the most prestigious theatre awards in South Africa, I am just so proud of myself.
“I am hoping this award will help me with future auditions for other exciting roles and opportunities in the industry as well,” said De Villiers, who is reprising his award-winning role at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Theatre until the end of this week before taking Miss Trunchbull to China from July until the beginning of 2020.
While he was sad to miss attending the 54th Fleur du Cap awards which were held at the Artscape on Sunday evening, he was able to watch it via online streaming with fellow Matilda cast members.
“My mother [Annette de Villiers] called from East London almost before they announced my name to tell me I’d won – she was so excited!”
As Miss Trunchbull, a larger than life character originally penned by Roald Dahl, the tall, slim actor dons a hunch-backed, sweat-inducing fat suit as well as a wig and make-up, rendering him unrecognisable.
Despite notching up 120 performances as the tyrannical teacher, he still gets butterflies ahead of each performance.
Hot on the heels of his Fleur du Cap triumph, De Villiers has also just been nominated in two categories – best breakthrough performance and best male lead in a musical in the Naledi Theatre Awards which will take place at the Joburg Theatre on May 20. “I’m also so ecstatic about that.”..