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:
2022 Wellington Theatre Awards
Held at Hannah Playhouse, the 2022 Wellington Theatre Awards were proudly supported and funded by the Wellington City Council, alongside Playmarket, BATS Theatre, Circa Theatre and Taki Rua Productions.
Please find a list of the winners for the 2022 Wellington Theatre Awards Below:
The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer Award - Björn Aslund (ROXY, Sublime Interludes, The EverchangingBoy, An Honest Conversation)
The Willem Wassenar Most Promising Newcomer Award - Reon Bell (Wednesday to Come, Flames)
Lighting Designer of the Year - Brynne Tasker Poland (Skin Tight, UNDOING)
Set/Production Designer of the Year - Lucas Neal (Skin Tight)
The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year - Emma Stevens (ROXY)
Sound Designer of the Year - Jason Wright (Destination Mars)
Outstanding Composer of Music - Tane Upjohn Beatson (The Griegol)
The Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the Year - Isaac Martyn (He Māori?)
New NZ Play - Carrie Rudzinski and Olivia Hall (Hysterical)
The Absolutely Positively Most Original Production - First Buzzard at the Body
The Mayoral Award for Significant Contribution to the Theatre - Rangimoana Taylor
Excellence Award for Theatre for Social Change - Te Ahu Taiohi
Excellence Award for Performance Ensemble - The Swing
Excellence Award for Innovative Contribution to the industry and/or Community - DAFT: Disabled Artist's Festival of Theatre, Performing Arts of Young People Aotearoa, Fresh off the page
Excellence Award for Choreography (Movement, Fight and Intimacy Coordination) - Skin Tight
The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year - Rutene Spooner (Thoroughly Modern Māui - Te Nāui o Nāianei)
The Dorothy McKegg Actor of the Year - Miriama McDowell (The Wasp)
The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance - Jthan Morgan (The Little Mermaid, The Tiwha's, Too Much Hair, Pinnochio)
The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance - Ella Gilbert (Skin Tight)
The Mayoral Award for Significant Contribution to the Theatre - Moira Wairama and Tony Hopkins
Director of the Year - Hannah Smith (The Griegol)
Production of the Year - The Griegol
Community Awards
Heart of Gold Award - Sepelini Mua'au, Hannah kelly, Nī Dekkers-Reihana, Austin HArrison, Aimée Sullivan
Save the Day Award - Tony Black
Community Arts Mahi Award - Voice Arts
Big Mentor Energy Award - Deb McGuire
Front of House Superstar Award - Harish Purohit
The Voice of Reason Award - Sam Brooks
The Newsies Award - Simon Howard