December 16, 2013

WINNERS:  2013 DUNEDIN THEATRE AWARDS   

– CELEBRATING THEATRICAL EXCELLENCE –

A fantastic and star struck night was had last night at the historic Globe Theatre, where the 2013 Dunedin Theatre Awards were held. New Kids on the Block, Counterpoint, came through strongly and costumes made it to the podium for the first time. Simon O’Connor won best Male Performance continuing his run from last year’s awards. Wellington actress Sophie Hambleton took Best Female Performance – both actors acknowledged for their work in the Fortune’s Gifted.

And the Nominees and winners re…

TECHNICAL DESIGN OF YEAR
Byron Park – Sound Design – Moose Murders, Counterpoint
Braydon Zirkler – Composition – Piccolo Cor, Counterpoint
Jennifer Lal – Light Design Gifted, Fortune Theatre
Marianna Dogum – Choreography – Altar Boyz, Fortune Theatre
Midge (AKA Brendon McBryde) – Music Design – Sheep, Counterpoint

SCENOGRAPHIC DESIGN OF THE YEAR
Sofie Welvaert – Costume Design – Macbeth, Globe Theatre
Maryanne Wright-Smyth – Costume Design – Boeing Boeing, Fortune Theatre
Maryanne Wright-Smyth – Costume Design – Love, Loss and What I Wore, Fortune Theatre
Maryanne Wright-Smyth – Costume Design – Gifted, Fortune Theatre
Matt Best – Set Design – Tribes, Fortune Theatre

PROMOTION OF THE YEAR 
Angus McBryde, Jozephine Parker, Hadley R. Taylor – Moose Murders, Counterpoint
Ellie Swann – Women Behaving Badly, Globe Theatre
Ellie Swann – Macbeth, Globe Theatre
Improsaurus – Holy Improv Kapow, Improsaurus
Karin Reid – Break In, Ad Hoc

VISITING PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
In Absentia – Tablo, Globe Theatre
Michael James Mania – Taki Rua, Fortune Theatre
Traces – Les 7 Doigts, Regent Theatre
Travelling Medicine Show – Porcelain Punch, Fortune Theatre
Why Are My Parents So Boring? – Dan Bain, Fortune Theatre

NARRATIVE / SCRIPT OF THE YEAR 
Abby Howells – What, Is This Woman’s Hour?
Harry Love – Women of Troy
Jonathan Cweorth – A Miscellany of Midwinter Puppetry
Miriam and Anna Noonan – Piccolo Cor
Richard Huber – Songbird 

MALE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR  
Andrew Laing – Gifted
Luke Agnew – Box/Role/Dream
Nathan Mudge – Tribes
Paul Barrett – Tribes
Simon O’Connor – Gifted  

FEMALE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR 
Catherine Downes – Tribes
Marylin Parker – Women of Troy
Rachel Chin – Moose Murders
Sophie Hambleton – Gifted
Sophie Hambleton – Tribes

DIRECTION OF THE YEAR 
Abby Howells – Moose Murders 
Alex Wilson – Sheep 
Anna and Miriam Noonan – Piccolo Cor 
Conrad Newport – Gifted 
Lara Macgregor – Tribes 

PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR 
Gifted – Fortune Theatre
Moose Murders – Counterpoint
Piccilo Cor – Counterpoint
Sheep – Counterpoint
Tribes – Fortune Theatre

And the Special Awards went to…

The Special Awards, in recognition of some amazing achievements went as following:-

Emerging Artist awards went to Abby Howells for her sterling work in writing, Abby will be leaving Dunedin in 2014 to start her Masters in Creative Writing at Victoria University;
Alexandra Ross was rewarded with an Emerging Artist award for her lighting work in various theatres around Dunedin.

Outstanding Industry Support went to the Dunedin Performance Journal for its work creating a formidable forum and platform for online discussion of the theatre around Dunedin.

Rosemary Beresford was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Dunedin Theatre. Rosemary has been vital and tireless in responding to the Globe Theatre’s restoration  by co-ordinating the Friends of the Globe’s response and raising a quarter of million dollars in sic months towards the work due to be started next year. The Globe Theatre has been a cornerstone of the Dunedin theatrical community hosting such luminaries as James K. Baxter and Ralph Hotere; Rosemary’s work will ensure it endures into our future.

Lifetime Achievement awards were presented to Hilary Norris and Harry Love. Hilary was there at the beginning of the Fortune Theatre and has been a vital and active worker, bringing powerful performances as an actor and incisive direction to the stage. Harry has worked tirelessly to provide top quality classics – both ancient and modern to our audiences.

Congratulations to all the winners, the nominees and the theatricians of Dunedin!

Patrick Davies & Hadley Taylor
PLanDevents