The Wellington Theatre Awards 2018

Ngā Whakarākei o Whātaitai

6:30pm Sunday 9 December

Amokura Gallery, Te Papa Tongawera

Wellington’s theatre industry assembled at the Amokura Gallery, Te Papa on the evening of Sunday 9 December to honour theatrical achievements and artistic excellence in 2018. The celebrations centred around the theme of Our Voice, honouring 125 years of women’s suffrage.

The evening began with a karanga and mihi led Toni Huata and Tānemahuta Gray. A roaring waiata of Tutira Mai Nga Iwi by the whole room of 300 guests followed, starting the night off with a sense of unity and collective pride.

This year’s awards were hosted with warmth and generosity of spirit by new MC Jo Randerson, artistic director of Barbarian Productions. Jo spoke to the inclusivity, fairness and support sought by the passionate community of theatre practitioners in the capital.

This year’s Mayoral Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre went posthumously to former New Zealand Festival director Sue Paterson, for her more than 40 years of service to arts and culture. Her son Jack accepted the award on her behalf.

Major winners on the night included acclaimed dance-based work Meremere, and Rushes, an interactive promenade piece. The Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust Production of the Year was awarded to FCC and the New Zealand Festival for Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, for its expert staging and cast of powerful Pasefika women. Wild Dogs Under My Skirt was also acknowledged with Rachel Marlow’s win for lighting design and Anapela Polataivao as the Dorothy McKegg Actress of the Year.

The Wellington Theatre Awards congratulates all nominees and creatives on an excellent year of theatre. We can’t wait to see what you create in 2019!

The Theatre Awards Trust would like to sincerely acknowledge the incredible support of: Wellington City Council, Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust, The Lion Foundation, Four Winds Foundation, The Dominion Post, BATS Theatre, Capital E, Circa Theatre, Emerging Artists Trust, Hannah Playhouse, MJF Lighting, Park Road Post, Playmarket, Showcast, Sileni Estates, Taki Rua, Toi Whakaari, Victoria University of Wellington and WETA Workshop.

Wellington Theatre Awards 2018 Winners

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

Lighting Designer of the Year

Rachel Marlow Wild Dogs | Peter and the Wolf

Sound Designer of the Year

Eden Mulholland Meremere | 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 | Meremere | Rushes

Excellence Award for Puppetry

Peter and The Wolf

Excellence Award for Community Engagement

Taurima Vibes Breathe | All Good

Director of the Year

Malia Johnston Meremere | Rushes

The Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust Production of the Year

Wild Dogs Under my Skirt NZ Festival and FCC

The Mayoral Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre

Sue Paterson