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 1999




Presenters
Robyn Malcolm & Craig Parker
Scriptwriter
Gerald Bryan
Ceremony Director
Ken Blackburn
Judges
Mark Amery - Sunday Star Times
Laurie Atkinson - The Evening Post
Lynn Freeman - Capital Times
Timothy O'Brien - The Dominion
Harry Ricketts - New Zealand Listener
John Smythe - The National Business Review
Nelson Wattie - Theatre News
Outstanding New New Zealand Play of the Year
Bare by Toa Fraser
Also nominated:
The Sojourns of Boy by Briar Grace Smith & Jo Randerson
This Train I'm On by Greg McGee
Outstanding New Writer of the Year
Toa Fraser - Bare
Also nominated:
Dianna Fuemana - Mapaki
Mel Johnston - I'm Having It Off with Ajax
Production of the Year
Much Ado About Nothing directed by Miranda Harcourt
Also nominated:
The Sojourns of Boy directed by David O'Donnell
Waiting for Godot directed by Ross Jolly
Most Original Production of the Year
Flood directed by Tracey Monastra & Emma Willis
Also nominated:
Automaton directed by Jacqueline Wilson
The Sojourns of Boy directed by David O'Donnell
Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year
Daniel Gillies - The God Boy
Also nominated:
Henry Blaek - Waiting for Godot
Greg Matetaka - The Sojourns of Boy
Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year
Madeleine Sami - Bare
Also nominated:
Dianna Fuemana - Mapaki
Tanea Heke - Julius Caesar
Costume Designer of the Year
Paul Jenden - A Dragon in a Wagon
Also nominated:
Leslie Burkes-Harding - Les Parents Terribles
Nic Smillie - Much Ado About Nothing
Lighting Designer of the Year
Jennifer Lal - Mapaki
Also nominated:
Tony Rabbit - Sweeney Todd
Martyn Roberts - Bleach
Set Designer of the Year
Andrew Thomas - Much Ado About Nothing
Also nominated:
John Harding - Les Parents Terribles
Tony De Goldi - The Sojourns of Boy
Sound Designer of the Year
Gavin McLean - Automaton
Also nominated:
Michael Norris - Sweet As
Chris Ward - The God Boy
Outstanding Performance
Jacque Drew - Danny and the Deep Blue Sea
Outstanding Performance
Bruce Phillips - Julius Caesar
Outstanding Performance
Tim Balme - Much Ado About Nothing
Actress of the Year
Madeleine Sami - Bare
Actor of the Year
Ken Blackburn - Waiting for Godot
Also nominated for acting awards:
Donna Akersten - Honour
Jodie Dorday - Sylvia
Robyn Malcolm - Much Ado About Nothing
Tina Regtien - How I Learned to Drive
Tim Spite - Waiting for Godot
Director of the Year
Ross Jolly - Waiting for Godot
Also nominated:
Miranda Harcourt - Much Ado About Nothing
David O'Donnell - The Sojourns of Boy
Significant Contribution to Theatre
Sheilah Winn
