December 10, 2025
WELLINGTON THEATRE AWARDS 2025
[Links to reviews inserted by Theatreview]
Most Promising Newcomer Awards (any gender or skill):
Most Promising Newcomer Award in honour of George Webby
Jackson Burling – Over and Out
Most Promising Newcomer Award in honour of Willem Wassenaar
Te Ani Solomon – Papa, The Handlers
Lighting Designer of the Year sponsored by Grouse Lighting
Natasha James – The Sound Inside
Sound Designer of the Year (sponsored by HardKase Audio)
Thomas Arbor – The Sound Inside
Outstanding Composer of Music in Honour of Constance Scott Kirkaldie
William Duignan and Andy Manning – Antonio!
Set Designer of the Year in honour of Raymond Boyce
Meg Rollandi – The Sound Inside
Costume Designer of the Year in honour of Paul Jenden
Jthan Morgan – The Handlers
New Playwright of the Year in honour of Peter Harcourt
Poata Alvie McKree – The Handlers
New Aotearoa Play of the Year in honour of Renée
The Handlers by Poata Alvie McKree
Most Original Production of the Year
ROADKILL: The Uber-Cool Musical
Actors of the Year / Accolades for Outstanding Performance Awards
Actor of the Year in honour of Grant Tilly:
Kali Kopae – The Handlers
Actor of the Year in honour of Dorothy McKegg:
Jackson Burling – Over and Out
Accolade for Outstanding Performance in honour of Ray Henwood:
Dulcie Smart – The Sound Inside
Accolade for Outstanding Performance in honour of Michele Amas:
Toatepi Rosalind Tui – The Handlers
Director of the Year in honour of Richard Campion
Stella Reid – The Sound Inside
Excellence Award – Movement
Running into the Sun
Excellence Award for Ensemble
The Handlers
Production of the Year in honour of Bill Sheat
The Handlers
The Backstage Production Award, presented by Grouse Lighting
Michael Lyell-O’Reilly
Community Awards:
Carol Fifield – Bright and Curly Positively Supportive Award
Anita Hunziker – Dancers’ Delight Award
Campbell Wright – Legendary Technical Wrangler Award
Shifting Centre – Rose Kirkup Community Rage Award
The Mayoral Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre (decided by the Theatre Cluster)
Allan McShane
Comments