November 27, 2023

Congratulations to all the exceptional nominees. The 2023 WELLINGTON THEATRE JUDGES AWARD NOMINATIONS! Prepare for an evening filled with anticipation as we reveal the community nominations and winners at the grand event on Sunday, December 10.

The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer +
The Willem Wassenar Most Promising Newcomer
(Two awards)
Finley Hughes – The Haka Party Incident
Wellington Ballroom – ARAWHATA
Megan Connolly – Ginge and Minge present: Fame or Die, Ungarteted Territory, Naturally Curious, Jez & Jace
Jackson Burling – CAUTION WET FLOOR, Into the Woods
Anna Barker – The Importance of Being Earnest, Into the Woods, ratKing, One Night Band, Long Ride Home
Kaisa Fa’atui – ONO, Raru e Maruakaītā
Grace Newton – Whole New Woman, Heads Down Thumbs Up
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
Rachel Marlow – Dakota of the White Flats
Grace Newton – Whole New Woman, Heads Down Thumbs Up
Rebekah de Roo – Only Bones, Daniel Nodder

Sound Designer of the Year
Oliver Devlin – Whole New Woman
Eden Mulholland – Dakota of the White Flats
Emma Katene – 3 Steps Back
Kingsley Spargo – The Haka Party Incident

Outstanding Composer of Music
Freya Daly Sadgrove, Oliver Devlin, Samuel Austin, Ingrid Saker and Thomas Friggens – Whole New Woman
Ben Kelly – Only Bones – Daniel Nodder
Liam Kelly, Pippa Drakeford, Lennox Grootjans, Peter Hamilton, Tessa Dillon and Ben Kelly – One Night Band
John Gibson and Paige Pomana – Kōpū by Tuakoi Ohia

Set Designer of the Year
John Verryt – The Haka Party Incident, Dirty Work, Dakota of the White Flats
Dan Williams – Public Service Announcements: Election 2023
Lucas Neal – The Coven on Grey Street
Josh Tucker and Scott Maxim – Into the Woods

Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year
Meg Rollandi – The Importance of Being Earnest
Elizabeth Whiting and Denise Hailes – I Want To Be Happy
Victoria Gridley – Naturally Curious, Land of the Long Long Drive
Ana van Schie de Pont – Dakota of the White Flats

The Peter Harcourt New Playwright
Katie Wolfe – The Haka Party Incident
Reon Bell and Sean Rivera – Concerning the UFO Sighting Outside Mt Roskill, Auckland
Tuakoi Ohia – Kōpū by Tuakoi Ohia
Freya Daly Sadgrove – Whole New Woman

New Aotearoa Play
Tainui Tukiwaho – The Sun and the Wind
Katie Wolfe – The Haka Party Incident
Freya Daly Sadgrove – Whole New Woman
Natano Keni and Sarita So – O le Pepelo, Le Gaoi Ma Le Pala’ai

The Absolutely Most Original Production
One Night Band
The King of Taking
ARAWHATA
Skyduck: A Chinese Spy Comedy

Acting Nominations for the following:
The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year,
The Dorothy McKegg Actor of the Year,
The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance and
The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance
(Four Awards)
Julie Edwards – The Sun and the Wind
Daniel Nodder – Only Bones – Daniel Nodder
Isobel MacKinnon – The Importance of Being Earnest
Erina Daniels – ONO
Batanai Mashingaidze – Dakota of the White Flats
Áine Gallagher – Into The Woods
Tainui Tukiwaho – The Sun and the Wind
Nī Dekkers-Reihana – The Haka Party Incident
Joe Dekkers-Reihana – The Sun and the Wind
Mel Dodge – Prima Facie
Helen Moulder – The Bicycle and the Butcher’s Daughter
Lauren Gibson – The Haka Party Incident

Director of the Year
Katie Wolfe – The Haka Party Incident
Edward Peni – The Sun and the Wind
Ella Becroft – Dakota of the White Flats
Amber Curreen – Kōpū by Tuakoi Ohia

Production of the Year
The Haka Party Incident
The Sun and the Wind – Taurima Vibes
Whole New Woman
ARAWHATA

Excellence Award for Ensemble
ARAWHATA
The Haka Party Incident
Kōpū by Tuakoi Ohia
Dakota of the White Flats

Join us for an enchanting evening that pays tribute to the heartbeat of Wellington’s vibrant theatre community!  Secure your tickets and be part of the magic here: http://tiny.cc/WTAawards2023