# Wellington Theatre Awards

The Ngā Whakarākei O Whātaitai / Wellington Theatre Awards are the main theatre awards in New Zealand's capital city, Wellington established in 2015 after the previous awards sponsor ended their support. They are awarded annually.
The previous awards were called the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards, established in 1992 and sponsored by law firm Chapman Tripp.

## 2023 awards

The 32nd Annual Wellington Theatre Awards of 2023 were presented at the Hannah Playhouse on Sunday 10th December. Funded by Wellington City Council, BATS Theatre, Taki Rua Productions, Circa Theatre and Playmarket.
| Award | Winner | Notes |
| Mayoral Significant Contribution to Theatre | Professor David O’Donnell | |
| The Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer Award | Finley Hughes | The Haka Party Incident |
| The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer | Tessa Redman | LOVE/LOVE/LOVE/LOVE/LOVE |
| Lighting Designer of the Year | Isadora Lao | The Coven on Grey Street, O Le Pepelo, Le Gaio Ma Le Pala’ai, ARAWHATA |
| Sound Designer of the Year | Oliver Devlin | Whole New Woman |
| Outstanding Composer of Music | Freya Daly Sadgrove, Oliver Devlin, Samuel Austin, Ingrid Saker and Thomas Friggens | Whole New Woman |
| Set Designer of the Year | Dan Williams | Public Service Announcements: Election 2023 |
| Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Meg Rollandi | The Importance of Being Earnest |
| The Peter Harcourt New Playwright | Freya Daly Sadgrove | Whole New Woman |
| New Aotearoa Play | Katie Wolfe | The Haka Party Incident |
| The Absolutely Most Original Production | One Night Band | |
| Excellence Award for Ensemble | ARAWHATA | |
| The Dorothy McKegg Actor of the Year | Julie Edwards | The Sun and the Wind |
| The Grant Tilly Performer of the Year | Erina Daniels | ONO |
| The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Nī Dekkers-Reihana | The Haka Party Incident |
| The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Isobel MacKinnon | The Importance of Being Earnest |
| Director of the Year | Katie Wolfe | The Haka Party Incident |
| Community Awards | | |
| The Kate Sheppard Grindset Award | Maeve O’Connell | |
| The Guardians of the Future | Save VUW Theatre – Kerryn Palmer, James Wenley, Sarah Thomasson, Lucas Neal, David O’Donnell, Paul Tozer, Rebekah De Roo and Katie Hill | |
| A Leading Light of Accessible Theatre | Jo Marsh | |
| Rangatahi Award for the Next Generation of Excellence | Wellington Young Actors Group | |
| The Theatre Style Icon Award | Colleen McColl | |

## 2022 awards

Presented at a ceremony at the Hannah Playhouse on Sunday 11th December 2022. Funded by Wellington City Council, BATS Theatre, Taki Rua Productions, Circa Theatre and Playmarket.
| Award | Winner | Notes |
| Mayoral Significant Contribution to Theatre | Rangimoana Taylor | |
| The Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer Award | Reon Bell | Wednesday to Come by Renee, Flames |
| The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer Award | Bjorn Aslund | ROXY, Sublime Interludes, The Everchanging Boy, An Honest Conversation |
| Lighting Designer of the Year | Brynne Tasker-Poland | Skin Tight, UNDOING |
| Sound Designer of the Year | Jason Wright | Destination Mars |
| Production Designer of the Year | Lucas Neal | Skin Tight by Gary Henderson |
| The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Emma Stevens | ROXY |
| Outstanding Composer of Music | Tane Upjohn-Beatson | The Griegol |
| The Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the Year | Isaac Martyn | He Māori? |
| New Aotearoa Play | Carrie Rudzinski and Olivia Hall | Hysterical |
| The Absolutely Positively Most Original Production | First Buzzard at the Body By Elliot Vaughan | |
| Excellence Award for Choreography | Skin Tight by Gary Henderson | |
| Excellence Awards for Innovative Contribution to the Industry and/or Community | DAFT: Disabled Artist’s Festival of Theatre Performing Arts of Young People Aotearoa (PAYPA) Fresh off the Page | three awards given |
| The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year | Rutene Spooner | Thoroughly Modern Maui |
| The Dorothy McKegg Actor of the Year | Miriama McDowell | The Wasp |
| The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Jthan Morgan | The Mermaid, The Tiwhas, Too Much Hair, Pinocchio |
| The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Ella Gilbert | Skin Tight by Gary Henderson |
| Excellence Award for Ensemble | The Swing by Helen Pearse-Otene | |
| Excellence Award for Theatre for Young Audiences | not awarded | |
| Excellence Award for Theatre for Social Change | Te Ahu Taiohi | Produced by Tāwhiri |
| Director of the Year | Hannah Smith | The Griegol by Hannah Smith and Ralph McCubbin Howell |
| Production of the Year | The Griegol by Hannah Smith and Ralph McCubbin Howell | |
| Community Awards Heart of Gold Awards: Sepelini Mua’au, Hannah Kelly, Nī Dekkers-Reihana, Austin Harrison, Aimee Sullivan Save the Day Award: Tony Black Community Arts Mahi Award: Voice Arts Big Mentor Energy Award: Deb McGuire Front of House Superstar Award: Harish Purohit Voice of Reason Award: Sam Brooks The Newsies Award: Simon Howard | Community Awards Heart of Gold Awards: Sepelini Mua’au, Hannah Kelly, Nī Dekkers-Reihana, Austin Harrison, Aimee Sullivan Save the Day Award: Tony Black Community Arts Mahi Award: Voice Arts Big Mentor Energy Award: Deb McGuire Front of House Superstar Award: Harish Purohit Voice of Reason Award: Sam Brooks The Newsies Award: Simon Howard | |

## 2020 awards

Because of the massive disruption and closure to performing arts in 2020 caused by COVID-19 the awards took a different approach with awards categories being:
* Theatre Angels - people who've really helped out individuals and collectives, especially over lockdown and have been the spirit of the industry
* Community Award Winners - with the following headings: Twenty Twenty Best Entrance, The Genuine Good Guy Award, Te Auaha Best Lockdown Mentor Award, The # Pivot to Digital Award
* Ghost Light Award Winners - to acknowledge those who used their skills to not just tend to our garden, but grow it, weed it, help us not just get through a difficult time, but used their skills and platform, as an opportunity to shed light on practises and customs no longer working for us, as practitioners, and as people.
In addition in 2020 there was the usual Mayoral Significant Contribution to Theatre which went to Carolyn Henwood.
| Award | Winner | Notes |
| Mayoral Significant Contribution to Theatre | Carolyn Henwood | Henwood "was one of the group of 15 who founded Circa Theatre in 1976", and "was the driver in establishing the Theatre Artists Charitable Trust". |
| Theatre Angels | Carrie Green Eleanor Strathern George Fowler Jake Brown Jean Sergent Vanessa Imminik | For lifting people's spirits during lockdown. "For working tirelessly through lockdown contacting hundreds of Circa patrons to refund tickets" "An incredible performer, improviser, dancer, drag king extraordinaire" "Jake Brown’s rage energy, gleaming smile and beautiful openness lights up our community" "For her enormous commitment to and involvement in the Wellington theatre industry" "For going out of her way to keep everyone informed of job listings and important info" |
| Community Award: Twenty Twenty Best Entrance | Jennifer O'Sullivan | "Long-time NZ Improv Festival Director Jennifer O'Sullivan not only produced and directed the Festival this year, but gave birth to her first child on opening night." |
| Community Award: Genuine Good Guy Award | William (Bill) Paankink - Te Auaha | "an all round genuine good person in our community" |
| Community Award: Best Lockdown Mentor Award | Sasha Gibb | "for mentoring numerous young, emerging theatre and events artists, producers and general practitioners over lockdown" |
| Community Award: The # Pivot to Digital Award | Tane Hipango, Brynne Tasker-Poland and Benny Jennings | “the sole reason that BATS was able to get into livestreaming as soon as lockdown started”. |
| Ghost Light Award | BATS Theatre Circa Theatre Claire Mabey PANNZ - Auckland Live Tahi Festival Tanemahuta Gray & Meg Williams | "BATS once again proved to be a leader and safe haven in our community" "During the chaos of the March lockdown, this theatre stepped up as a community leader" "Claire Mabey is a force of nature in the Wellington arts community." "the PANNZ Online Hui Series provided us with a space to come together to share knowledge" "The Tahi Festival supported emerging artists, the development of new work, and honoured the whakapapa of solo performance in Aotearoa." "For their mahi and advocacy for the theatre and wider arts sectors" |

## 2019 awards

The 2019 awards ceremony was held on Sunday 8 December at Shed 6 on the Wellington waterfront. Stella Reid was MC.
| Award | Winner |
| The Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer Award | Sam Tippet, Stage Manager Hamlet and Ransom |
| The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer Award | Tahi, New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance |
| Lighting Designer of the Year | Jennifer Lal, Pakaru |
| Sound Designer of the Year | Jason Wright, The Clearing |
| Set Designer of the Year | Sean Coyle, Pakaru |
| The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Rose Philpott and Tori Manley-Tapu, Orchids |
| The Constance Scott Kirkcaldie Award for Outstanding Composer of Music | Eden Mulholland, Orchids |
| The Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the Year | Abby Howells, HarleQueen |
| Outstanding New NZ Play | Mitch Tawhi Thomas, Pakaru |
| The Absolutely Positively Most Original Production | Captain Cook Thinks Again, Barbarian Productions |
| The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year | Jason Te Kare, Cellfish |
| The Dorothy McKegg Actor of the Year | Carrie Green, Cellfish |
| The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Madeline McNamara, The Attitudes – Refusing Performance |
| The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Karin McCracken, Yes Yes Yes |
| Excellence Award for Performance Ensemble | Pakaru, Hāpai Productions |
| Excellence Award for Theatre for Young Audiences | Story Studio Live 2019, Capital E National Theatre for Children |
| Excellence Award for Theatre for Social Change | Yes Yes Yes, Eleanor Bishop and Karin McCracken, produced by Zanetti Productions |
| Director of the Year | Jo Randerson, Captain Cook Thinks Again |
| The Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust Production of the Year | Pakaru, Hāpai Productions |

## 2018 awards

The 2018 awards ceremony was held at Te Papa on Sunday 9 December, MCed by Jo Randerson. The event had a theme honouring 125 years of women's suffrage.
| Award | Winner | Notes |
| The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer Award | Eleanor Strathern, Producer, A Mulled Whine | |
| The Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer Award | Trae Te Wiki, Acting Hine Kahāwai; Writing Beneath Skin and Bone | |
| The Mayoral Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre | Sue Paterson | Accepted posthumously by her son Jack Paterson. |
| Lighting Designer of the Year | Rachel Marlow, Wild Dogs and Peter and the Wolf | |
| Sound Designer of the Year | Eden Mulholland, Meremere and Rushes | |
| The Constance Scott Kirkaldie Outstanding Composer of Music | Robin Kelly, Valerie | |
| Set Designer of the Year | John Verryt, Rushes | |
| The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Sheila Horton, Bloomsbury Women and the Wild Colonial Girl | |
| The Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the Year | Hōhepa Waitoa, He Kura E Huna Ana | |
| Outstanding new New Zealand Play of the Year | D. F. Mamea, Still Life with Chickens | |
| The Absolutely Positively Most Original Production of the Year | Jane Doe, Zanetti Productions | |
| The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year | Rodney Bell, Meremere | |
| The Dorothy McKegg Actress of the Year | Anapela Polataivao, Wild Dogs Under my Skirt | |
| The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Goretti Chadwick, Still Life with Chickens | |
| The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Anya Tate-Manning, My Best Dead Friend | |
| Excellence Award for AV Design | Rowan Pierce, Big J Stylez and Meremere and Rushes | |
| Excellence Award for Puppetry | Peter and The Wolf | |
| Excellence Award for Community Engagement | Taurima Vibes, Breathe and All Good | |
| Director of the Year | Malia Johnston, Meremere and Rushes | |
| The Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust Production of the Year | Wild Dogs Under my Skirt, NZ Festival and FCC | "for its expert staging and cast of powerful Pasefika women" |

## 2017 awards

The 2017 awards ceremony was held on Sunday 10 December at St James Theatre, Wellington, and MCed for a third year by James Nokise. The Mayoral Award was presented by Justin Lester.
| Award | Winner | Notes |
| The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer | Karin McCracken, Wine Lips, Body Double | |
| The Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer | Lucas Neal, Gallatea, Yellow Face, Marine Snow | |
| The Mayoral Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre | Laughton Pattrick – composer, musical director, musician, singing teacher | "whose decades of work in theatre, as a composer and as a music teacher have enriched the lives of thousands of students, theatre makers and theatre goers." |
| Lighting Designer of the Year | Marcus McShane, The Father, Body Double, A Doll’s House | |
| Sound Designer of the Year | Lucien Johnson, Lobsters | |
| Set Designer of the Year | Ian Harman, A Doll’s House, Hand to God | |
| The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Cara Louise Waretini, The Night Mechanics | |
| The Constance Scott Kirkaldie Outstanding Composer of Music | Alex Taylor, Dido and Aeneas: Recomposed | |
| The Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the Year | Natano Keni and Sarita So, Riverside Kings | |
| Outstanding New New Zealand Play | Emma Kinane, Anahera | |
| The Absolutely Positively Most Original Production | Dido and Aeneas: Recomposed | |
| The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year | Tom Clarke, Wine Lips/Hand to God | |
| The Dorothy McKegg Actress of the Year | Neenah Dekkers-Reihana, Anahera, The Mooncake and the Kūmara | |
| The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Carmel McGlone, Lobsters | |
| The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Dawn Cheong, The Night Mechanics | |
| Excellence Award for Design | Tanemahuta Gray, Gillie Coxhill, Nathan McKendry, Tiki Taane, Sam Trevethick, Guy Benfield, David Strong, Rowan Pierce, Dave Spark and Matthew Knight for Tiki Taane Mahuta. | For full production design |
| Excellence Award for Ensemble Performance | Lobsters, Borderline Arts Ensemble | |
| Excellence Award for Innovative Contribution to the Industry and/or community | Te Haukāinga – Taki Rua Productions | |
| Director of the Year | Jane Yonge, The Basement Tapes | |
| The Jack Jeffs Production of the Year | Body Double | A STAB Commission, from Zanetti Productions |

## 2016 awards

The 2016 awards ceremony was held on Sunday 11 December at Te Whaea, hosted by James Nokise.
| Award | Winner | Notes |
| Most Promising Male Newcomer | Tom Clarke, The Devil's Half-Acre | |
| Most Promising Female Newcomer | Susie Berry, Jekyll and Hyde | |
| The George Webby Most Promising New Director Of The Year | Stella Reid, Orphans | |
| The Peter Harcourt Outstanding New Playwright Of The Year | Carrie Green, Man Parts – Dannevirke’s Greatest Female Tenor | |
| The Judges’ Wildcard | Barbarian Productions | "both for their inventive and bold performances, as well as their creative community ignition and inspiration through workshops, inclusive practices and Industry talks – diligently making society better through their work." |
| Lighting Designer Of The Year | Rachel Marlow, Dust Pilgrim | |
| Set Designer Of The Year | Poppy Serano, Dust Pilgrim | |
| The Paul Jenden Costume Designer Of The Year | Sopheak Seng, The Vultures | |
| Sound Designer Of The Year | Oliver Devlin, The Seven Sons of Supparath | |
| Mayor's Award For Service To Theatre | Linda Wilson, Circa Theatre | "for her tireless work behind the scenes of our beloved Circa Theatre" |
| The Constance Scott Kirkaldie Award For Outstanding Composer Of Music | Hayley Sproull, Vanilla Miraka | |
| Absolutely Positively Most Original Production Of The Year | A Trial – Barbarian Productions and Binge Culture Collective | |
| Outstanding New New Zealand Play Of The Year | Rob Mokaraka, Shot Bro – Confessions of a Depressed Bullet | |
| Supporting Actor Of The Year | Andrew Paterson, Orphans | |
| Supporting Actress Of The Year | Anya Tate-Manning, Hudson and Halls Live | |
| The Richard Campion Accolade For Outstanding Performance | Rob Mokaraka, Shot Bro – Confessions of a Depressed Bullet | |
| The Grant Tilly Actor Of The Year | Chris Parker, Hudson and Halls Live | |
| The Dorothy Mckegg Actress Of The Year | Hayley Sproull, Vanilla Miraka | |
| Director Of The Year | Kip Chapman & Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Hudson and Halls Live in Wellington | |
| Production Of The Year | Hudson and Halls Live in Wellington – Silo Theatre | "by Silo Theatre Auckland, telling a beautiful love story with humour, flamboyance and charm." |

## 2015 awards

The 2015 awards ceremony was held on Sunday 6 December at Circa Theatre, hosted by James Nokise. The biggest winner was All Our Sons by Witi Ihimaera, produced by Taki Rua Productions and Circa Theatre. There were 21 categories of award, awarded as follows:
| Award | Winner | Notes |
| Mayor's Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre | The Critics | "Especially noted was Laurie Atkinson (Evening Post / Dominion Post) for his 35 years service as a Wellington Theatre Reviewer" |
| Most Promising Male Newcomer | Andrew Paterson – The Angry Brigade | |
| Most Promising Female Newcomer | Carrie Green – Conversations With My Penis | |
| The George Webby Most Promising New Director | Miriama McDowell – Nga Pou Wahine | |
| The Peter Harcourt Outstanding New Playwright | Helen Vivienne Fletcher – How To Catch A Grim Reaper | |
| The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Ian Harman - The Mystery of Edwin Drood | |
| Lighting Designer of the Year | Jen Lal – All Our Sons | |
| Set Designer of the Year | Ian Harman – Ache | |
| Sound Designer of the Year | Maaka McGregor – All Our Sons | |
| Most Original Production | All Our Sons – Taki Rua Productions / Circa Theatre | |
| The Constance Scott Kircaldie Outstanding Composer of Music | Phil Jones – The Kitchen at the End of the World | |
| Absolutely Positively Outstanding New New Zealand Play | Not in our Neighbourhood – Jamie McCaskill / Tikapa Productions | |
| Supporting Actor of the Year | Jamie McCaskill – Seed | |
| Supporting Actress of the Year | Brianne Kerr – Richard III | |
| The Richard Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Renee Lyons – Ache | |
| The Dorothy McKegg Actress of the Year | Kali Kopae – Not In Our Neighbourhood | |
| The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year | Rob Mokaraka – All Our Sons | |
| Director of the Year | Nathaniel Lees – All Our Sons | |
| Production of the Year | All Our Sons – Taki Rua Productions / Circa Theatre | |
| Critics’ Wildcard | Tawata Productions | "for their tireless and inspired work creating Matariki Festival" |
| Outstanding Contribution to the Wellington Theatre | Timothy Gordon | "for his advocacy and leadership of the Theatre Awards" |
| Outstanding Contribution to Wellington Theatre | Neil Gray, of Chapman Tripp | "for his patronage and support of the Theatre Awards" |