Join us at The Hannah on 6 December for the Wellington Theatre Awards, Ngā Whakarākei O Whātaitai 2026, celebrating excellence in theatre.
We are excited to announce our new creative team for 2026: Co-hosts Maeve O'Connell and Raureti Ormond, and Creative Director, Parekawa Finlay.
For more information, please go to News page.
Photography Credit: Renati Waaka
Nominations open for 2027 Judging Panel
We are seeking expressions of interest for three new judges to join our wonderful judging panel for 2027! This is a volunteer position. For more information, please go to Current Vacancies page. Or submit your nomination here:
Nominations open for 2026 Community &
Backstage Awards
⭐️ Community Awards: We invite you to submit your nominations for individuals or companies that have made a significant and positive impact on our community in their work and practice across the last year for a
Especially those whose efforts are behind the scenes and sometimes go unnoticed - from Ushers, Volunteers, Publicists and all our unsung heroes across Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
⭐️ Backstage Award: We invited you to submit your nominations to recognise the theatre practitioners that work backstage and have demonstrated excellence vital to the success of theatre in Wellington this year. The Backstage Award is open to nominations from the wider sector and the winner is selected by the judges.
The specific roles that are eligible are Operators, Production Managers, Stage Managers. This can be summed up as: Excellence in the fields of Technical Operation (Sound, Lighting, Vision) or Arts Management (Stage, Production or Technical).
Community Award Nominations and Backstage Award Nominations also close at 10pm on Thursday 12th November 2026.
Submit your nomination here:
The 2026 Awards are proudly supported by:
Wellington Theatre Awards 1992
cast
MC
Ian Fraser
Anchors
Rima Te Wiata & Lloyd Scott
Judges
Laurie Atkinson - The Evening Post
Susan Budd - The Dominion
Patricia Cooke - The Dominion Sunday Time
Denis Welch - New Zealand Listener
New Zealand Playwright of the Year
Robert Lord - Joyful and Triumphant
Also nominated:
Riwia Brown
Anthony McCarten
BATS Theatre Production of the Year
A Dangerous Game
Circa Theatre Production of the Year
Joyful and Triumphant
Downstage Theatre Production of the Year
Death and the Maiden
Taki Rua/Depot Theatre Production of the Year
Hide 'n' Seek
Most Original Production of the Year
Hide 'n' Seek by Hori Ahipene & Hone Kouka, Taki Rua/Depot Theatre
Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year
Tim Spite - Backstage with the Quigleys, BATS Theatre & Blue Remembered Hills, Circa
Also nominated:
Willie Davis
Mick Rose
Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year
Nancy Brunning - Nga Wahine, Taki Rua/Depot Theatre
Also nominated:
Donna Muir
Erina Toi-Paku
Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Andrew Laing - The Glass Menagerie, Circa Theatre
Also nominated:
Michael Haigh
Peter Hambleton
Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Deidre O'Connor - The Comedy of Errors, Circa Theatre
Also nominated:
Donna Akersten
Miranda Harcourt
Costume Designer of the Year
Prunella Wilde - The Glass Menagerie, Circa Theatre
Also nominated:
Janet Dunn
John Harding
Lighting Designer of the Year
Tony Rabbit - Death and the Maiden, Downstage Theatre
Also nominated:
Alistair Edwards
Set Designer of the Year
Prunella Wilde - The Glass Menagerie, Circa Theatre
Also nominated:
Andrew Moyes
Tony Rabbit
Significant Contribution to Theatre
George Webby - Director of Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School for 14 years, Chairman of the Downstage Theatre Trust
Male Actor of the Year
Brian Sergent - The Homecoming, Circa Theatre & A Dangerous Game, BATS Theatre
Also nominated:
Tim Balme
Jonathon Hendry
Mark Hadlow
Female Actor of the Year
Jennifer Ludlam - Lysistrata & Daughters of Heaven, both at Circa Theatre
Also nominated:
Perry Piercy
Jane Waddell
Director of the Year
Susan Wilson - Joyful and Triumphant
Also nominated:
Murray Lynch
Colin McColl
Production of the Year
Joyful and Triumphant directed by Susan Wilson, Circa Theatre
Also nominated:
The Glass Menagerie directed by William Walker
The Homecoming directed by Ross Jolly