August 2, 2025

Donna PHILPOTT QSM Obituary

Peacefully at Rita Angus Retirement Village on 31st July 2025, in her 89th year.

Dearly loved wife of the late Ray, and loved mother of Marcelle, and a much loved cousin of Mark & Viv, Richard & Felicity, David & Greta and Noel Peters. Special thanks to the staff of Rita Angus Retirement Village for their loving care of Donna.

Musical Theatre NZ’s post

It is with sadness that the MTNZ Executive farewells one of our most prominent Life Members – Donna Philpott. Donna was an MTNZ Zone 3 rep for 23 years and a past Patron. Donna was instrumental in the very first consortium of Les Miserables and 42nd St. A well known personality in musical theatre, Donna will be missed and remembered with fondness. Moe mai rā Donna.

Musical Theatre NZ

Life Member

Affectionately known to all as Dame Donna, she was involved with Wellington Musical Theatre for 40 years, retiring in 2003. Her main role had been as production manager for the last 18 years, overseeing and organising rights, auditions, personnel and all of the other tasks associated with getting “a show on the road”.

Instrumental in forming the Musical Theatre Consortium that negotiated the rights to bring Les Mis to NZ the first time in 1994, she then went onto gain the performing rights for 42nd Street in 1995. Donna is firmly committed to musical theatre throughout NZ and was the MTNZ Zone Three representative for 23 years. She was honoured with Life Membership of MTNZ in 2008 and the MTNZ highest honour – Patron.

https://www.mtnz.org.nz/about/life-members

Messages and tributes can be posted c/- PO Box 14-366, Kilbirnie 6241, or placed in Donna’s tribute book at www.tributes.co.nz where you can also join the service via livestream. Donations in memory of Donna would be appreciated in favour of the Wellington Free Ambulance https://www.wfa.org.nz/donate.

You are invited to wear something bright to celebrate Donna’s life at her funeral service, which will be held at The Pines, 50 The Esplanade, Houghton Bay on Wednesday 6th August 2025 at 2.00pm, thereafter private cremation.