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 2013
Held at Paramount Theatre
Master of Ceremonies
Hayley Sproull
Producer & Artistic Director
Tim Gordon
Assistant Producer
Sophie Hambleton
Judging Panel
Laurie Atkinson The Dominion Post
Uther Dean Fishhead
Elspeth Sandys The Listener
John Smythe Theatreview
Sam Phillips Lumiere
Arbiters
Michael Wray
Sharon Wray
The Mayor's Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre
Playmarket, for "40 years dedication, passion, altruism, longevity and hard work in the arts."
The Critics' Wildcard Award
The Bacchanals, for "Guts, determination, Kiwi ingenuity and inspired prociency with zero budget."
The Circa Award Donated by TACT for Most Promising Male Newcomer
Joe Dekkers-Reihana - Coriolanus
Also nominated:
Chris Parker - Outsiders' Guide
Sam Hallahan - Joseph K
The Emerging Artist Trust Wellington and Whitireia Performing Arts Most Promising Female Newcomer
Hayley Sproull - Outsiders' Guide
Also nominated:
Chelsea Bognuda - Midnight in Moscow
Neenah Dekkers-Reihana - Affinity
The George Webby Most Promising Director of the Year sponsored by Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School and Victoria University of Wellington
Hannah Smith - The Road That Wasn't There
Also nominated:
Jarod Rawiri - Neang Neak's Legacy
Uther Dean - Joseph K
The Peter Harcourt Outstanding New Playwright of the Year sponsored by BATS Theatre and Taki Rua Productions
Sarita Keo Kossamak So - Neang Neak's Legacy
Also nominated:
Renee Lyons - Nick: An Accidental Hero
Uther Dean - A Play About Space
The Grouse Lighting Award for Lighting Designer of the Year
Marcus McShane - Broken River
Also nominated:
Nick Zwart - Joseph K
Nigel Percy - Duck, Death and the Tulip
Weta Workshop Award for Set Designer of the Year
Andrew Foster - Red
Also nominated:
Chris Reddington & Nick Zwart - Broken River
Meg Rollandi - Joseph K
The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year sponsored by Chapman Tripp
Kasia Pol - Sydney Bridge Upside Down
Also nominated:
Gillie Coxill - Midnight in Moscow
Sheila Horton - No Naughty Bits
The Park Road Post Production Award for Sound Designer of the Year
Tane Upjohn-Beatson - Broken River
Also nominated:
Barney Olson - Light Sleepers' Wake
Te Aihe Butler - Affinity
Outstanding Composer of Music (private sponsor)
Gareth Farr- Duck, Death and the Tulip
Also nominated:
Andrew McMillan - The Magic Chicken
Tane Upjohn-Beatson - Joseph K
The Absolutely Positively Most Original Production of the Year
Squidboy - Theatre Beating
Also nominated:
A Play About Space - my accomplice
Whistle Solo - 99 Luftballoons
The Playmarket and Capital E National Theatre for Children Award for Outstanding New Zealand Play
The Road That Wasn't There - Ralph McCubbin Howell
Also nominated:
Midnight in Moscow - Dean Parker
Whistle Solo - Julie Hill
The Chapman Tripp Award for Supporting Actor of the Year
Aaron Cortesi - Sydney Bridge Upside Down
Also nominated:
Ray Henwood - The Price
Stephen Papps - No Naughty Bits
The Chapman Tripp Award for Supporting Actress of the Year
Nancy Brunning - Neang Neak's Legacy
Also nominated:
Emma Kinane - Tribes
Jessica Robinson - Midnight in Moscow
In the following three categories there are seven nominees:
Barney Duncan - Whistle Solo
Byron Coll - Midsummer - A Play with Songs
Erin Banks - Tribes
John Bach - Red
Kate Prior - Midsummer - A Play with Songs
Paul Waggott - Tribes
Renee Lyons - Nick: An Accidental Hero
The Richard Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance sponsored by Chapman Tripp and Watson McKenzie Photography
Renee Lyons - Nick: An Accidental Hero
The Dorothy McKegg Award for Actress of the Year sponsored by Brancott Estate
Erin Banks - Tribes
The Grant Tilly Award for Actor of the Year sponsored by The ProActors and eCaster
Byron Coll - Midsummer - A Play with Songs
The Museum Hotel Award for Director of the Year
Geoff Pinfield - The Magic Chicken
Also nominated:
Andrew Foster - Red
Lyndee-Jane Rutherford - Midsummer - A Play with Songs
The Chapman Tripp Award for the Production of the Year
The Road That Wasn't There - Trick of the Light Theatre
Also nominated:
Midsummer - A Play with Songs - Circa Theatre
The Magic Chicken - Theatre Beating presented by Time Out Theatre
