The Annual Auckland Theatre Awards (colloquially The Hackmans, and not to be confused with the Auckland Community Theatre Awards) are annual performing arts awards presented by in Auckland New Zealand. The awards are normally presented at the Civic Theatre in Auckland. The Excellence Awards were introduced in 2014, and are judged by a panel of four to six industry judges. There is also a People's Choice section of awards. The awards were founded by Kip Chapman and Rachel Forman in 2008, and handed over to Eli Matthewson and Sophie Dowson in 2014. Awards for 2020 There were no awards presented for 2020.
Awards for 2019 The awards for 2019 were presented at the Civic on 16 January 2020. +AwardWinnerNotesExcellence award for overall productionWorking On My Night MovesProduction team Te Aihe Butler, Julia Croft, Sarah Foster-Sproull, Calvin Hudson, Nisha Madhan, Kate Prior, Ruby Reihana-Wilson, Meg Rollandi, Jason Wright and Lydia Zanetti. The judges described Working on My Night Moves as Croft and Madhan's "most uncomfortably intoxicating work to date". The show was developed at the Battersea Arts Centre in London.Excellence award for overall productionOnly Bones v1.0By Kallo Collective, featuring Thom Monckton and Gemma Tweedie.Excellence award for overall productionPinayNew Zealand's first Filipino play, written by Marianne Infante, of Proudly Asian Theatre, and directed by James Roque, the judges commented it was "moving and heartfelt".Excellence award for overall productionYes Yes YesYes Yes Yes, a play about consent, was designed for educational settings. Production team Eleanor Bishop, Rachel Marlow, Karin McCracken, Ruby Reihana-Wilson, Helen Sheehan and Lydia Zanetti.Excellence award for overall productionSing It To My FaceBarbarian Productions assembled different generations of community choirs to sing to each other about generational issues.Excellence in directionSophie RobertsFor The WolvesExcellence in performanceArlo GreenFor HomosExcellence in leadershipAhi KarunaharanIn 2019 Karunaharan directed two mainstage shows for Silo Theatre and Auckland Theatre Company, telling South Asian stories and featuring only South Asian performers. Excellence in DesignRachel Marlow, Nic Smillie and Rachael WalkerFor Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are DeadOutstanding newcomer awardBrady Peeti Ankita SinghPeeti starred in Māori/Australian Aboriginal comedy, Black Ties. Singh runs her own production company, Oriental Maidens
Awards for 2018 The awards for 2018 were presented through a Facebook livestream rather than the usual live event at the Civic. +AwardWinnerNotesExcellence for Overall ProductionThe Contours of HeavenA one-woman show by Ana Scotney Excellence for Overall ProductionBurn HerWritten by Sam Brooks, produced by Smoke Labours ProductionsExcellence for Overall ProductionHirSilo Theatre's HirExcellence for Overall ProductionTeaWriter and directed by Ahi KarunaharanCommunity Spirit AwardNisha MadhanFor her mentoring work throughout the communityExcellence Award: PerformanceLeon WadhamFor his Comedy Festival piece GiddyExcellence Award: PerformanceGoretti ChadwickFor Auckland Theatre Company's Still Life with Chickens.Excellence Award: PerformanceThe ensemble cast of The Wizard of OtahuhuMade up of 50 actors aged between from 9 to 30Excellence in Sound DesignClaire DuncanFor MedusaExcellence in Impact by a CompanyEverybody Cool Lives HereExcellence in Lighting DesignRachel Marlow For her body of work in 2018Outstanding Newcomer AwardsMarianne Infante Micheal McCabe
Petmal LamEmerging companyThe Maumahara Girlie teamProducer Vanessa Crofskey & director/creator Mya Morrison-Middleton, with Whetu Silver, Freddy Carr, Amanda Tito and Onehou Strickland.
Awards for 2017 The 9th Annual Auckland Theatre Awards were presented in the Wintergarden at The Civic on 4 December 2017. The ceremony was hosted by Johanna Cosgrove and directed by Sam Snedden. Jacinda Ardern presented the Hackman Cup. Jennifer Ward-Lealand presented the Excellence Awards. +AwardWinnerNotesLifetime Achievement AwardJeremy CollinsDeveloping Philips Selecon, one of the world’s foremost producers of luminaires for theatre, as well as providing mentorship and advocacy to others in the industry.Excellence Award: Overall Body of WorkJohn Verryt Set designExcellence Award: Overall Body of WorkFAFSWAGExcellence Award: Overall ProductionOTHER [chinese] Directed by Alice Canton, produced by Julie ZhuExcellence Award: Overall ProductionMirror, MirrorDirected by Troy Tuua, produced by Mangere Arts CentreExcellence Award: Overall ProductionNell GwynnDirected by Colin McColl, produced by Auckland Theatre CompanyExcellence Award: PerformanceNicole WhippyFor The MountaintopExcellence Award: PerformanceRutene SpoonerFor Super HUGH-ManExcellence Award: Innovation of FormPeter & the WolfCreated by Sophie Roberts and Leon Radojkovic, produced by Silo TheatreExcellence Award: Excellence in AdaptationE Kore A Muri E Hokia (Mo & Jess Kill Susie) by Te Rēhia TheatreExcellence Award: Community SpiritAuckland Fringe festivalHackman Cup for Most Original Production of the Year OTHER [chinese] Awards for 2016 The awards for theatre during 2016 were presented on 5 December 2016. The Excellence awards, which were presented by Jennifer Ward-Lealand, were judged by former Metro editor Simon Wilson, producer Angela Green, The Pantograph Punch founding editor, Rosabel Tan, and actor and director Jason Te Kare. +AwardWinnerNotesLifetime Achievement AwardCarla Van ZonExcellence Award: Overall ProductionTe PōProduced by Theatre Stampede, Nightsong Productions, Auckland Arts Festival and the New Zealand Festival. Presented at Q Theatre.Excellence Award: Overall ProductionPotato Stamp MegalomaniacProduced by Pressure Point Collective and presented at The Basement TheatreExcellence Award: Overall ProductionThat Bloody WomanProduced by Auckland Theatre Company in association with The Court Theatre and The Christchurch Arts Festival. Presented at Sky City Theatre.Excellence Award: Overall ProductionThe White GuitarProduced by The Conch in association with the Christchurch Arts Festival. Presented at Q Theatre by Tour-MakersExcellence Award: Overall ProductionDon JuanProduced by A Slightly Isolated Dog and presented as part of the Matchbox Season at Q Theatre.Excellence Award: DirectionAnapela PolataivaoFor her direction of the F.C.C production of Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, presented at Mangere Arts Centre.Excellence Award: PerformanceMorgana O'Reilly For her performance as Vanda Jordan in the Auckland Theatre Company production of Venus in Fur, presented in the Herald TheatreExcellence Award: PerformanceJennifer LudlamFor her performance as Arthur in the Silo Theatre production of Boys Will Be Boys, presented at Q TheatreExcellence Award: DesignAndrew FosterFor his set designs for Te Pō, To Kill a Mockingbird, Defending the J.J. Mac, Thomus & Vernon God Little, presented at Q Theatre, The Civic Theatre and The Basement TheatreExcellence Award: Entrepreneurial Achievement Lester McGrathFor his leadership as general manager of Auckland Theatre Company in the creation of the ASB Waterfront Theatre.Best Newcomer AwardsNicky Vella – Producer Natasha Hoyland – Stage Manager & Producer
Tim Earl – Actor
Awards for 2015 The awards for 2015 were awarded on 7 December of that year. The judges for the Excellence awards were Metro editor Simon Wilson, producer Angela Green, playwright Sam Brooks, actor and director Jason Te Kare, costume designer Elizabeth Whiting and vocal coach Linda Cartwright. +AwardWinnerNotesLifetime Achievement AwardGeorge Henare CNZM, OBEExcellence Award: Overall ProductionThe Book of Everythingby Silo TheatreExcellence Award: Overall ProductionLittle Shop of Horrorsby Live Live CinemaExcellence Award: Overall ProductionAll Your Wants and Needs Fulfilled Forever by PlayGround CollectiveExcellence Award: Overall ProductionHudson & Halls Live!by Silo TheatreExcellence Award: Set Design and Lighting DesignTony Rabbit For A Doll's HouseExcellence Award: Sound Design and CompositionThomas PressFor his work throughout 2015Best NewcomersChristine Urquhart – Set & Costume designer Jordan Keyzer – Stage Manager & Producer
Gaby Solomona - Actor
Awards for 2014 The awards for 2014 were announced on 1 December of that year. The organisers introduced an Excellence Award section, judged by a panel of six. Jacinda Ardern, who was a Labour MP and shadow minister for the arts, presented some of the awards. A nationwide initiative to honour service and dedication to theatre was also premiered. The Service Honour medals were awarded for achieving 25, 50 or 100 professional productions. Recipients were Silo Theatre director Sophie Roberts, playwright Roger Hall and actor Jennifer Ward-Lealand. +AwardWinnerNotesLifetime Achievement AwardLinda CartwrightActor and vocal coachExcellence Award for achieving excellence across all aspects of this ambitious productionShane Bosher and teamAngels In America, Silo TheatreAchieving excellence with its original concept and execution360: A Theatre of RecollectionsTheatre Stampede and Nightsong ProductionsAchieving excellence in a wide range of performancesStephen LovattAchieving excellence in lighting designJane HakaraiaVarious projectsAchieving excellence in all aspects of producing their debut productionDaffodils: Bullet Heart ClubAchieving excellence in fostering new and emerging artists in Auckland CityThe Basement TheatreAchieving excellence in physical performanceTrygve WakenshawVarious productionsNewcomer awardLavinia Uhila - Producer and Actor Jess Sayer - Actor and Playwright
Amanaki Prescott - Dancer, Actor and Playwright
References
External links Auckland Theatre Awards Facebook page