The Ngā Whakarākei O Whātaitai / Wellington Theatre Awards are the main theatre awards in New Zealand's capital city, Wellington established in 2015 after the previous awards sponsor ended their support. They are awarded annually.
The previous awards were called the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards, established in 1992 and sponsored by law firm Chapman Tripp.
2023 awards The 32nd Annual Wellington Theatre Awards of 2023 were presented at the Hannah Playhouse on Sunday 10 December. Funded by Wellington City Council, BATS Theatre, Taki Rua Productions, Circa Theatre and Playmarket. +AwardWinnerNotesMayoral Significant Contribution to TheatreProfessor David O’DonnellThe Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer AwardFinley HughesThe Haka Party IncidentThe George Webby Most Promising NewcomerTessa RedmanLOVE/LOVE/LOVE/LOVE/LOVELighting Designer of the YearIsadora LaoThe Coven on Grey Street, O Le Pepelo, Le Gaio Ma Le Pala’ai, ARAWHATASound Designer of the YearOliver DevlinWhole New WomanOutstanding Composer of MusicFreya Daly Sadgrove, Oliver Devlin, Samuel Austin, Ingrid Saker and Thomas FriggensWhole New WomanSet Designer of the YearDan WilliamsPublic Service Announcements: Election 2023Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the YearMeg RollandiThe Importance of Being EarnestThe Peter Harcourt New PlaywrightFreya Daly SadgroveWhole New WomanNew Aotearoa PlayKatie WolfeThe Haka Party IncidentThe Absolutely Most Original ProductionOne Night BandExcellence Award for EnsembleARAWHATAThe Dorothy McKegg Actor of the YearJulie EdwardsThe Sun and the WindThe Grant Tilly Performer of the YearErina Daniels ONOThe Campion Accolade for Outstanding PerformanceNī Dekkers-ReihanaThe Haka Party IncidentThe Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding PerformanceIsobel MacKinnonThe Importance of Being EarnestDirector of the YearKatie WolfeThe Haka Party IncidentCommunity AwardsThe Kate Sheppard Grindset AwardMaeve O’ConnellThe Guardians of the FutureSave VUW Theatre – Kerryn Palmer, James Wenley, Sarah Thomasson, Lucas Neal, David O’Donnell, Paul Tozer, Rebekah De Roo and Katie HillA Leading Light of Accessible TheatreJo MarshRangatahi Award for the Next Generation of ExcellenceWellington Young Actors GroupThe Theatre Style Icon AwardColleen McColl
2022 awards Presented at a ceremony at the Hannah Playhouse on Sunday 11 December 2022. Funded by Wellington City Council, BATS Theatre, Taki Rua Productions, Circa Theatre and Playmarket. AwardWinnerNotesMayoral Significant Contribution to TheatreRangimoana TaylorThe Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer AwardReon Bell Wednesday to Come by Renee, FlamesThe George Webby Most Promising Newcomer AwardBjorn AslundROXY, Sublime Interludes, The Everchanging Boy, An Honest ConversationLighting Designer of the YearBrynne Tasker-PolandSkin Tight, UNDOINGSound Designer of the YearJason Wright Destination MarsProduction Designer of the YearLucas NealSkin Tight by Gary HendersonThe Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the YearEmma StevensROXYOutstanding Composer of MusicTane Upjohn-BeatsonThe GriegolThe Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the YearIsaac MartynHe Māori?New Aotearoa PlayCarrie Rudzinski and Olivia HallHystericalThe Absolutely Positively Most Original ProductionFirst Buzzard at the Body By Elliot VaughanExcellence Award for ChoreographySkin Tight by Gary HendersonExcellence Awards for Innovative Contribution to the Industry and/or CommunityDAFT: Disabled Artist’s Festival of Theatre Performing Arts of Young People Aotearoa (PAYPA) Fresh off the Page three awards givenThe Grant Tilly Actor of the YearRutene Spooner Thoroughly Modern MauiThe Dorothy McKegg Actor of the YearMiriama McDowellThe WaspThe Campion Accolade for Outstanding PerformanceJthan MorganThe Mermaid, The Tiwhas, Too Much Hair, PinocchioThe Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding PerformanceElla GilbertSkin Tight by Gary HendersonExcellence Award for EnsembleThe Swing by Helen Pearse-OteneExcellence Award for Theatre for Young Audiencesnot awardedExcellence Award for Theatre for Social ChangeTe Ahu TaiohiProduced by TāwhiriDirector of the YearHannah Smith The Griegol by Hannah Smith and Ralph McCubbin HowellProduction of the YearThe Griegol by Hannah Smith and Ralph McCubbin HowellCommunity Awards Heart of Gold Awards: Sepelini Mua’au, Hannah Kelly, Nī Dekkers-Reihana, Austin Harrison, Aimee 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
Voice of Reason Award: Sam Brooks
The Newsies Award: Simon Howard
2020 awards Because of the massive disruption and closure to performing arts in 2020 caused by COVID-19 the awards took a different approach with awards categories being:
Theatre Angels - people who've really helped out individuals and collectives, especially over lockdown and have been the spirit of the industry Community Award Winners - with the following headings: Twenty Twenty Best Entrance, The Genuine Good Guy Award, Te Auaha Best Lockdown Mentor Award, The # Pivot to Digital Award Ghost Light Award Winners - to acknowledge those who used their skills to not just tend to our garden, but grow it, weed it, help us not just get through a difficult time, but used their skills and platform, as an opportunity to shed light on practises and customs no longer working for us, as practitioners, and as people.
In addition in 2020 there was the usual Mayoral Significant Contribution to Theatre which went to Carolyn Henwood. +AwardWinnerNotesMayoral Significant Contribution to TheatreCarolyn HenwoodHenwood "was one of the group of 15 who founded Circa Theatre in 1976", and "was the driver in establishing the Theatre Artists Charitable Trust".Theatre AngelsCarrie Green Eleanor Strathern
George Fowler
Jake Brown
Jean Sergent
Vanessa ImminikFor lifting people's spirits during lockdown. "For working tirelessly through lockdown contacting hundreds of Circa patrons to refund tickets"
"An incredible performer, improviser, dancer, drag king extraordinaire"
"Jake Brown’s rage energy, gleaming smile and beautiful openness lights up our community"
"For her enormous commitment to and involvement in the Wellington theatre industry"
"For going out of her way to keep everyone informed of job listings and important info"Community Award: Twenty Twenty Best EntranceJennifer O'Sullivan"Long-time NZ Improv Festival Director Jennifer O'Sullivan not only produced and directed the Festival this year, but gave birth to her first child on opening night."Community Award: Genuine Good Guy AwardWilliam (Bill) Paankink - Te Auaha "an all round genuine good person in our community"Community Award: Best Lockdown Mentor AwardSasha Gibb "for mentoring numerous young, emerging theatre and events artists, producers and general practitioners over lockdown"Community Award: The # Pivot to Digital AwardTane Hipango, Brynne Tasker-Poland and Benny Jennings“the sole reason that BATS was able to get into livestreaming as soon as lockdown started”.Ghost Light AwardBATS Theatre Circa Theatre
Claire Mabey
PANNZ - Auckland Live
Tahi Festival
Tanemahuta Gray & Meg Williams "BATS once again proved to be a leader and safe haven in our community" "During the chaos of the March lockdown, this theatre stepped up as a community leader"
"Claire Mabey is a force of nature in the Wellington arts community."
"the PANNZ Online Hui Series provided us with a space to come together to share knowledge"
"The Tahi Festival supported emerging artists, the development of new work, and honoured the whakapapa of solo performance in Aotearoa."
"For their mahi and advocacy for the theatre and wider arts sectors"
2019 awards The 2019 awards ceremony was held on Sunday 8 December at Shed 6 on the Wellington waterfront. Stella Reid was MC. +AwardWinnerNotesThe Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer AwardSam Tippet, Stage Manager Hamlet and RansomThe George Webby Most Promising Newcomer AwardTahi, New Zealand Festival of Solo PerformanceLighting Designer of the YearJennifer Lal, PakaruSound Designer of the YearJason Wright, The ClearingSet Designer of the YearSean Coyle, PakaruThe Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the YearRose Philpott and Tori Manley-Tapu, OrchidsThe Constance Scott Kirkcaldie Award for Outstanding Composer of MusicEden Mulholland, OrchidsThe Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the YearAbby Howells, HarleQueenOutstanding New NZ PlayMitch Tawhi Thomas, PakaruThe Absolutely Positively Most Original ProductionCaptain Cook Thinks Again, Barbarian ProductionsThe Grant Tilly Actor of the YearJason Te Kare, CellfishThe Dorothy McKegg Actor of the YearCarrie Green, CellfishThe Campion Accolade for Outstanding PerformanceMadeline McNamara, The Attitudes – Refusing PerformanceThe Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding PerformanceKarin McCracken, Yes Yes YesExcellence Award for Performance EnsemblePakaru, Hāpai ProductionsExcellence Award for Theatre for Young AudiencesStory Studio Live 2019, Capital E National Theatre for ChildrenExcellence Award for Theatre for Social ChangeYes Yes Yes, Eleanor Bishop and Karin McCracken, produced by Zanetti ProductionsDirector of the YearJo Randerson, Captain Cook Thinks AgainThe Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust Production of the YearPakaru, Hāpai Productions
2018 awards The 2018 awards ceremony was held at Te Papa on Sunday 9 December, MCed by Jo Randerson. The event had a theme honouring 125 years of women's suffrage. +AwardWinnerNotesThe George Webby Most Promising Newcomer AwardEleanor Strathern, Producer, A Mulled WhineThe Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer Award Trae Te Wiki, Acting Hine Kahāwai; Writing Beneath Skin and BoneThe Mayoral Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre Sue Paterson Accepted posthumously by her son Jack Paterson.Lighting Designer of the Year Rachel Marlow, Wild Dogs and Peter and the Wolf Sound Designer of the Year Eden Mulholland, Meremere and Rushes The Constance Scott Kirkaldie Outstanding Composer of Music Robin Kelly, Valerie Set Designer of the YearJohn Verryt, Rushes The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year Sheila Horton, Bloomsbury Women and the Wild Colonial Girl The Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the Year Hōhepa Waitoa, He Kura E Huna Ana Outstanding new New Zealand Play of the Year D. F. Mamea, Still Life with ChickensThe Absolutely Positively Most Original Production of the Year Jane Doe, Zanetti ProductionsThe Grant Tilly Actor of the Year Rodney Bell, Meremere The Dorothy McKegg Actress of the Year Anapela Polataivao, Wild Dogs Under my Skirt The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance Goretti Chadwick, Still Life with ChickensThe Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance Anya Tate-Manning, My Best Dead Friend Excellence Award for AV Design Rowan Pierce, Big J Stylez and Meremere and Rushes Excellence Award for Puppetry Peter and The WolfExcellence Award for Community Engagement Taurima Vibes, Breathe and All GoodDirector of the Year Malia Johnston, Meremere and Rushes The Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust Production of the Year Wild Dogs Under my Skirt, NZ Festival and FCC "for its expert staging and cast of powerful Pasefika women"
2017 awards The 2017 awards ceremony was held on Sunday 10 December at St James Theatre, Wellington, and MCed for a third year by James Nokise. The Mayoral Award was presented by Justin Lester.