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 2008


Master of Ceremonies
Tanea Heke
Director
Tim Gordon
Judges
Laurie Atkinson - The Dominion Post
Jackson Coe - Salient
Lynn Freeman - Capital Times
Helen Simms - The Lumière Reader
John Smythe - Theatreview
Montana Award for Most Original Production of the Year
Apollo 13: Mission Control - Hackman and BATS Theatre
Also nominated:
Familiar Strangers - Connect Productions
On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover - Theatre Beating
Downstage Theatre Award for the Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year
Arthur Meek - On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover
Also nominated:
Sam Snedden - Guardians
Gareth Williams - The Dentist's Chair
Circa Award Donated by TACT for the Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year
Brooke Williams - Mr. Marmalade
Also nominated:
Sophie Hambleton - The Little Dog Laughed
Margana O'Reilly - Bare
Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School & Victoria University of Wellington Award for the Most Promising New Director of the Year
Sophie Roberts - Mr. Marmalade
Also nominated:
Sophie Dingemans - Grace
Miranda Manasiadis - Singularity
The Dominion Post Award for Costume Designer of the Year
Kathryn Tyree - The Kreutzer
Also nominated:
Bekky Campbell - Songs of Hollow Hill
Paul Jenden - Roger Hall's Little Red Riding Hood: The Pantomime
Theatrelight Award for Lighting Designer of the Year
Lisa Maule - The American Pilot
Also nominated:
Ulli Briese - Metamorphosis
Natasha James - Paua
Weta Workshop Award for Set Designer of the Year
Daniel Williams - The Little Dog Laughed
Also nominated:
John Hodgkins - The American Pilot
Brad Knewstubb - Apollo 13: Mission Control
Western Audio Engineering Award for Sound Designer of the Year
Gareth Ruck - Apollo 13: Mission Control
Also nominated:
Murray Hickman - Metamorphosis
Thomas Press - The American Pilot
Constance Scott Kirkdale Award for Outstanding Composer of Music
Jonathan Crayford - Adagio
Also nominated:
Gareth Farr - Heat
David Ward - The Dentist's Chair
Peter Harcourt Award for Outstanding New Playwright of the Year Sponsored by BATS Theatre & Taki Rua Productions
Eli Kent - Rubber Turkey
Also nominated:
Sophie Dingemans - Grace
Branwen Millar - Armslength
The Absolutely Positively Outstanding New New Zealand Play of the Year
Where We Once Belonged - adapted by Dave Armstrong from the novel by Sia Figiel
Also nominated:
2b or nt 2b? - Sarah Delahunty
The Man That Lovelock Couldn't Beat - Dean Parker
The Orbit Corporate Travel Award for Supporting Actress of the Year
Michelle Amas/Jane Waddell - Mammals
Also nominated:
Erin Banks - Love Song
Jessica Robinson - A Streetcar Named Desire
Chapman Tripp Award for Supporting Actor of the Year
Felix Praval - Sensible Susan and the Queen's Merkin: A Morality Play
Also nominated:
Peter Hambleton - The American Pilot
Bruce Phillips - The Man That Lovelock Couldn't Beat
Mayor's Award for Significant Contribution to the Theatre
Sunny Amey
In the four performance categories there are seven nominees:
Kip Chapman - The Little Dog Laughed
Ali Harper - Bombshells
Brian Hotter - Heat
Miriama McDowell - Te Karakia
Gavin Rutherford - Love Song
Simon Vincent - Metamorphosis
Jason Whyte - Apollo 13: Mission Control
EAT Wellington Accolade for Outstanding Performance
Kip Chapman - The Little Dog Laughed
Grouse Lighting Accolade for Outstanding Performance
Simon Vincent - Metamorphosis
Chapman Tripp Award for Actress of the Year
Ali Harper - Bombshells
Gail Cowan Management Award for Actor of the Year
Brian Hotter - Heat
The Museum Hotel Award for Director of the Year
Tim Spite - Paua
Also nominated:
Sara Brodie - The Kreutzer
Willem Wassenaar - The Little Dog Laughed
Chapman Tripp Award for Production of the Year
Mr. Marmalade - The Moving Theatre Company
Also nominated:
On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover - Theatre Beating
Paua - SEEyD Theatre Company
