January 31, 2014

AUCKLAND THEATRE AWARDS TO INTRODUCE NEW FORMAL AWARDS IN 2014 

AUCKLAND, NZ – The Auckland Theatre Awards are pleased to announce the introduction of a small number of formally judged awards for Auckland professional theatre. 

The Auckland Theatre Awards are committed to honouring excellence, bringing the community together and celebrating the art form. Founder Kip Chapman believes that “after five years of informal awards we now have the experience, the maturity and the mandate to test whether formal awards can work in Auckland”. 

Unlike many other awards ceremonies, there will be no set categories for each year. There will be up to ten awards given with every aspect of the theatrical production considered. This allows the judges to collectively decide what needs to be acknowledged in any given year, based on what they have observed in the Auckland professional theatre scene. It also reflects the dynamic and varied nature of the industry, where no individual year is like another.

Each year judges will be selected from within the industry and will undertake the task on a voluntary basis. The 2014 judging panel was selected with input from key sponsors and supporters.  These judges reflect the diversity of our theatre form, and all have significant professional talent and experience. Any judging is, of course, subjective but ATA firmly believe this group will be fair and balanced. 

The judges will remain anonymous but ATA can reveal that there are six of them; four women and two men, ranging from their early twenties into their sixties; An administrator, a writer/reviewer, a creative director, an actor, a director and a festival curator. 

The Auckland Theatre Awards will make its best effort to ensure judges attend all major Auckland theatre productions. Independent production companies must notify ATA and organise provision of judging tickets, unless you have already have an arrangement with us through your venue. For all further questions, including if you would like to nominate a judge for next year or discuss sponsorship, please contact the ATA producer Rachel Forman.  

“The awards will still be one of the most fun nights of the theatrical calendar… singing, dancing, lampooning, confetti cannons and some sore heads the following morning. Our aim, as it always has been, is to honour success and bring the theatrical community together, and we hope these new awards will work to further that mission” says Chapman. 

Kip Chapman and Rachel Forman
The Auckland Theatre Awards

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