The Kenya Theatre Awards (KTA) is set to announce the nominees for the 2nd edition of the Kenya Theatre Awards on  Monday, January 23 at 11:00 am at The Kenya Cultural Centre, Kenya National Theatre (KCC-NT) at Ukumbi Mdogo. 

KTA hosted its inaugural ceremony in 2022 and has since continued to engage with Kenyan theatre professionals in a bid to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations. 

The nominees were picked by a 5-person jury with representatives and practitioners from academics, theatre, media and the government who attended and watched all theatre shows submitted for award consideration. 

The 2nd Kenya Theatre Awards' nominees were selected from 100 theatre companies and 170  productions that took place in 2022. Most of them were staged more than once,  making up a performances total of 503 shows as recorded by the Kenya Theatre Awards  Secretariat. 

Speaking about the awards, Fedari Oyagi, Chairperson, of the Kenya Theatre Awards Secretariat said, "The Kenya Theatre Awards is proud to be a driving force in the recognition and celebration of the outstanding talents and contributions of individuals and organisations in the Kenyan theatre industry. We are thrilled to see the growth and depth of the awards continue to increase in the past year, and we are excited for the positive impact that the awards will have on the industry in the coming years.”

He further added that 2023 would be a promising year for Kenyan Theatre if the trend of high-quality creation continued.

“2023 promises to be an even bigger and better year for Kenyan Theatre,  as we continue to showcase, promote and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of those who make it all possible. Let's keep creating together." 

Speaking as a member of the jury, the Kenya Awards Jury Chirperson Benson Ngobia added that the selection process was difficult as all productions presented displayed creativity and skill.

"As a member of the jury, I can say that this year's nominees were held to an incredibly high standard. The quality of work produced in the Kenyan theatre industry in 2022 was truly outstanding, making the selection process incredibly difficult. We were impressed by the level of creativity and skill displayed by all nominees and it is clear that the industry is thriving. We are excited to see the impact that these talented individuals and organisations will have in the coming years and I am honoured to have been a part of the process of recognising their achievements through the Kenya Theatre Awards."

The nominees will be announced on January 23.