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 1996

Presenter
Ginette McDonald
Judges
Mark Amery - Capital Times
Laurie Atkinson - The Evening Post
Sudan Budd - The Dominion
Patricia Cooke - The Dominion Sunday Time
Denis Welch - New Zealand Listener
Outstanding New Zealand Play of the Year
Tzigane by John Vakidis
Also nominated:
True by Stuart McKenzie
Untitled (One Flesh) by Fiona Samuel
Outstanding Short Play of the Year
Mo & Jess Kill Suzie by Gary Henderson
Also nominated:
The Unsung Boy by Rebecca Hobbs
Untitled (One Flesh) by Fiona Samuel
Production of the Year
Tzigane directed by Cathy Downes
Also nominated:
A Frigate Bird Sings directed by Nathaniel Lees
The Visit directed by Colin McColl
BATS Theatre Production of the Year
Black Monk
Circa Theatre Production of the Year
Three Tall Women
Downstage Theatre Production of the Year
King Lear
Taki Rua/Depot Theatre Production of the Year
Te Reo Maori season
Most Original Production of the Year
Too High the Son by Stephen Bain with France Hervé & Tim Spite
Also nominated:
Black Monk by Jo Randerson & Andrew Foster
La Chambre d'Amour Pt III by France Hervé & Stephen Bain
Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year
Jason Te Kare - Flat Out Brown
Also nominated:
Karl Kite Rangi - Flat Out Brown
Jeffrey Szusterman - Tzigane
Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year
Nicola Kawana - Mo & Jess Kill Suzie
Also nominated:
France Hervé - Too High the Son
Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell - Flat Out Brown
Costume Designer of the Year
John Verryt - King Lear
Also nominated:
Dorita Hannah - Ricordi
John Parker - Eugenia
Lighting Designer of the Year
Martyn Roberts - Black Monk
Also nominated:
Lisa Maule - Irirangi Bay
Helen Todd - Eugenia
Set Designer of the Year
Dorita Hannah - The Visit
Also nominated:
Andrew Foster - Black Monk
Kate Peters & Michael Tuffery - A Frigate Bird Sings
Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Roy Ward - The Visit
Also nominated:
Simon Ferry - King Lear
K.C. Kelly - Tzigane
Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Geraldine Brophy - Tzigane
Also nominated:
Rachel House - King Lear
Dra McKay - Mo & Jess Kill Suzie
Female Comedian or Group of the Year
Hen's Teeth Collective
Also nominated:
Ultra Super Vixen Women with Really Enormous Tits
Naughty Bad Girls
Male Comedian or Group of the Year
Sugar & Spice
Also nominated:
Short Back & Sides - Mr. Licky
Alan Brough - My Body Is My Temple
Significant Contribution to Theatre
Rona Bailey
Female Actor of the Year
Doroty McKegg - Tzigane
Also nominated:
Madeline McNamara - Eugenia
Ellie Smith - Master Class
Male Actor of the Year
Bruce Phillips - Broken Glass
Also nominated:
Grant Tilly - C'MON BLACK
Des Kelly - Tzigane
Director of the Year
Cathy Downes - Tzigane
Also nominated:
Andrew Foster - Black Monk
Nathaniel Lees - A Frigate Bird Sings
