Dunedin Theatre Awards

The Dunedin Theatre Awards are annual theatre awards in Dunedin, New Zealand. The awards were established in 2010 by director and actor Patrick Davies, and the winners are selected by a panel of theatre reviewers.[1] The winners are selected by the Dunedin Reviewers Collective.

2010 awards

The first awards were presented by Mayor Dave Cull in December 2010 at an event held at the Fortune Theatre.[1] The panel of reviewers who selected the winners consisted of Anna Chinn, Jimmy Currin, Barbara Frame, Terry MacTavish, Sharon Matthews, and Jen Aitken. The awards were criticised when 6 out of 7 awards were won by the Fortune Theatre, and no awards were given to visiting production Miss Saigon.[2] Founder of the awards Patrick Davies said that the awards explicitly excluded children's theatre, musical theatre or "anything to do with education" from consideration, but that categories for those types of production might be included the following year.[2] The OSTAs (Otago Southland Theatre Awards) were launched in 2013 to reward achievements in musical theatre.[3]

Award Winner Notes
Technical design Peter King for Wuthering Heights at the Fortune Theatre. King was head of design at Fortune Theatre.[4]
Scenographic design Peter King for The Pitmen Painters at the Fortune Theatre[4]
Dunedin script Harry Love for All's Well that Ends at the Globe Theatre[4]
Production of the year The Pitmen Painters at the Fortune Theatre[4]
Male performance John Glass in The Pitmen Painters at the Fortune Theatre[4]
Female performance Anna Henare in Wuthering Heights at the Fortune Theatre[4]
Director Patrick Davies for The Pitmen Painters at the Fortune Theatre[4]
Outstanding contribution to Dunedin theatre Nicholas McBryde Founding director of the Otago Festival of the Arts. "For his work in establishing the Otago festival.[4]
Wild card awards Karen Elliot

Janice Cheng

Kathryn Hurst

Vicki Cross

Interim Fortune Theatre manager[4]

Dunedin theatre stalwart[4]

Anti-Social Tap founder[4]

Anti-Social Tap founder[4]

2011 Awards

The 2011 Awards were held at the Playhouse Theatre on 12 December 2011.[5]

Award Winner Notes
Production of the year Waiting For Godot at the Globe Theatre[5]
Best director Richard Huber for Waiting For Godot at the Globe Theatre[5]
Best female performance Elena Stejko in A Shortcut To Happiness at the Fortune Theatre[5]
Best male performance Peter Hayden in A Shortcut To Happiness at the Fortune Theatre[5]
Best design (scenographic) Peter King for set design for Avenue Q at the Fortune Theatre[5]
Best design (technical) Stephen Kilroy for lighting design for The Tutor at the Fortune Theatre[5]
Best publicity James Higgs, Miguel Nitis and Nikki Kidd for Avenue Q at the Fortune Theatre[5]
Emerging talent Jake Metzger for The Tutor at the Fortune Theatre[5]
Best visiting production Mates And Lovers by Fabulous Arts Aotearoa New Zealand[5]
Best script/narrative Simon Cunliffe for The Truth Game at the Fortune Theatre[5]
Rising star award Stageworks Theatre Society Otago Inc, RAD Productions and Young, Wild and Fortunate[5]
Outstanding contribution to Dunedin theatre Clare Adams[5] Wow! Productions producer and Stage South founder
Lifetime achievement award playwright Roger Hall[5]

2012 awards

In 2012 a decision-making matrix was introduced to the judging process to try to achieve a fairer result.[6] New awards were introduced for emerging talent, industry support, outstanding contribution to Dunedin theatre and for lifetime achievement.[6] The awards ceremony was held at the Mayfair Theatre on 11 December.[7]

Award Winner Notes
Production Play by the Fortune Theatre, in the Standard Insurance building in the Exchange[7]
Director Lara Macgregor for Play by the Fortune Theatre[7]
Female performance Hilary Halba for Play by the Fortune Theatre[7]
Male performance Simon O'Connor for Heroes by the Fortune Theatre[7]
Scenographical designer Hannah Kidd for Play by the Fortune Theatre[7]
Technical designer Stephen Kilroy for Play by the Fortune Theatre[7]
Promotion Cabaret Botanica, by Inge Andrewes
Emerging artists Grace Park and Alex Wilson[7]
Visiting production Richard Meros Salutes the Southern Man[7] by Conditional Productions
Script/narrative Death*Sex*Magic[7] by Jonathan Cweorth
Outstanding industry support Bill Noble and University Book Shop[7]
Outstanding contribution to Dunedin theatre Michael Andrewes and the Really Authentic Gilbert and Sullivan Performance Trust[7]
Lifetime achievement award Shirley Kelly, Mary Dixon, Denise Walsh and Louise Petherbridge[7]

2013 awards

The 2013 awards were held at the Globe Theatre on 15 December.[8]

Award Winner Notes
Technical Design of the Year Midge aka Brendon McBryde for music design for Sheep by Counterpoint[8]
Scenographic Design of the Year Sofie Welvaert for costume design for Macbeth at the Globe Theatre[8]
Promotion of the Year Angus McBryde, Jozephine Parker, Hadley R. Taylor for Moose Murders by Counterpoint[8]
Visiting Production of the Year Travelling Medicine Show by Porcelain Punch at the Fortune Theatre[8]
Narrative/Script of the Year Richard Huber for Songbird[8]
Female Performance of the Year Sophie Hambleton in Gifted[8]
Male Performance of the Year Simon O'Connor in Gifted[8]
Direction of the Year Abby Howells for Moose Murder[8]
Production of the Year Tribes at the Fortune Theatre[8]
Emerging Artist of the Year Abby Howells "for her sterling work in writing"[8]
Emerging Artist of the Year Alexandra Ross "for her lighting work in various theatres"[8]
Outstanding Industry Support Dunedin Performance Journal "for its work creating a formidable forum and platform for online discussion of the theatre around Dunedin"[8]
Outstanding Contribution to Dunedin Theatre Rosemary Beresford for "vital and tireless [work] in responding to the Globe Theatre’s restoration"[8]
Lifetime Achievement award Hilary Norris she "was there at the beginning of the Fortune Theatre and has been a vital and active worker, bringing powerful performances as an actor and incisive direction to the stage"[8]
Lifetime Achievement award Harry Love he "has worked tirelessly to provide top quality classics – both ancient and modern to our audiences"[8]

2014 awards

The 2014 awards at were held at the Fortune Theatre on 16 December.[9][10] A new nationwide initiative to honour longevity and commitment to theatre was launched, with awards for practitioners involved in 25, 50 and 100 professional shows.[11] Shirley Kelly, Louise Petherbridge, and Hilary Norris were honoured for completing more than 100 professional shows. For more than 50 professional shows, Martyn Roberts, Lisa Warrington, Lara Macgregor, Terry MacTavish, Peter King, Julie Edwards, and Simon O'Connor were honoured. In the third category, for more than 25 professional shows, honours went to Hilary Halba, Karen Elliot, Vivien Aitken, Barry Dorking, Matthew Wilson, and Patrick Davies.[12]

Award Winner Notes
Technical Design of the Year Martyn Roberts for light design for This Other Eden by Opera Otago[10] 
Scenographic Design of the Year Brenda Rendall for costume design for This Other Eden by Opera Otago[10] 
Promotion of the Year Andrew Brinsley-Pirie, Rosemary Beresford, Dale Neill, Keith Scott, Sofie Welvaert for A Midsummer Night’s Dream promotion campaign by the Globe Theatre[10]
Visiting Production of the Year Promise & Promiscuity by Hotpink Productions[10] 
The Robert Lord Narrative/Script of the Year Stuart Young, Cindy Diver, Susie Lawless for The Keys Are In The Margarine by Talking House. This award this year was sponsored by a donor who asked that it be named for Dunedin playwright Robert Lord.[10]
Female Performance of the Year Angela Johnson in Souvenir[10]
Male Performance of the Year Jason Whyte in The Caretaker

Ken Blackburn in The Caretaker

Kip Chapman in The Caretaker

Three winners were awarded "to acknowledge the tight ensemble acting in this three-man production."[10]
Director of the Year Jacqueline Coats for This Other Eden[10]
The 'Outstanding Performance' Production of the Year Peninsula by Fortune Theatre. This award "was sponsored for 2014 by Outstanding Performance, a company which began in Dunedin and which employs actors nationwide for simulated patient and leadership training work."[10]
Emerging Theatre Artist Award Rosie Howells, Nell Guy, and Heidi Geissler Three people were awarded, "all with strong links to both Counterpoint and to the female comedy troupe Discharge."[10]
A one-off, special award category was created as "to acknowledge the number of quality theatre shows presented this year that commemorated World War I." Journey’s End by Globe Theatre[10]
Outstanding Contribution to Dunedin Theatre Allen Hall Theatre in its centenary year[10]
Lifetime Achievement award Lisa Warrington[10] 

2015 awards

The sixth annual awards were held at the Allen Hall Theatre on 7 December.

Award Winner Notes
‘Robert Lord Award’ for Script/Narrative of the Year Phil Braithwaite for The War Play by Fortune Theatre[13]
Promotion of the Year Gareth McMillan & Zoe Robson for Farley's Arcade Wow! Productions[13]
Technical Design of the Year Matthew Morgan for sound for The Hound of the Baskervilles by Fortune Theatre[13]
Scenographic Design of the Year Martyn Roberts, Richard Clark, Stephen Kilroy for set design for Farley's Arcade Wow! Productions[13]
Female Performer of the Year Nadya Shaw Bennett in Farley's Arcade Wow! Productions[13]
Male Performer of the Year Jared Kirkwood in Punk Rock by Fortune Theatre[13]
Outstanding Contribution of the Year Lara Macgregor Fortune Theatre[13]
Director of the Year Lara Macgregor for Punk Rock Fortune Theatre[13]
Ensemble of the Year The Hound of the Baskervilles cast Fortune Theatre[13]
‘Outstanding Performance’ Production of the Year Punk Rock by Fortune Theatre/ OU Theatre Studies[13]
Special Awards Presented: Lifetime Achievement Natalie Ellis[13]
Kaitiaki Rua McCallum[13]
‘Otago Community Trust’ Outstanding Community Event 86 hour Shakespeare Marathon Fortune Theatre[13]
‘Otago Community Trust’ Outstanding Community Event Farley’s Arcade: The Wildest Place in Town Wow! Productions[13]
‘DCC Creative Communities Scheme’ Outstanding Community Engagement Talking House[13]

2016 awards

The 2016 awards were held on the 5 December at the Fortune Theatre.[14]

Some of the costumes for Mary Stuart, which won Charmian Smith the 2016 costume design award. From left, Emer Lyons as the maid, Terry MacTavish as Elizabeth I, and Helen Fearnley, who received the Outstanding Performance award for her role as Mary Stuart.
Award Winner Notes
Outstanding Lighting Design Martyn Roberts for Wai=Rua A Line=Near[14]
Watson White Award for Outstanding Costume Design Charmian Smith for Mary Stuart[14]
Outstanding Use of Digital Technologies Grounded – Digital Design[14]
Outstanding Set Design Peter King for Winston's Birthday [14]
DCC Creative Communities Scheme Award for Outstanding Innovation Circus Alice by Brophy Aerials[14]
Robert Lord Award for Outstanding Script/Narrative Paul Baker for Winston's Birthday [14]
DCC Creative Communities Scheme Award for Outstanding Ensemble The Skriker cast[14]
Otago Community Trust Special Event 2016 Marking the ‘Shakespeare 400’ Globe Theatre for The Comedy of Errors[14]
Outstanding Performance In A Female Role Claire Chitham for Grounded [contemporary]

Helen Fearnley for Mary Stuart [classical][14]

Outstanding Performance In A Male Role Simon O'Connor for Krapp's Last Tape [14]
Counterpoint Productions Award for Emerging Talent Jordan Dickson[14]
Director of the Year Keith Scott for Mary Stuart [14]
Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Theatre 2016 John Smythe, Managing Editor, Theatreview[14]
Outstanding Contribution to Dunedin Theatre 2016 Nicholas McBryde, Director, Arts Festival Dunedin[14]
Production of the Year Grounded by Fortune Theatre[14]

2017 awards

The 2017 award ceremony was held on 4 December at the Athenaeum Theatre.[15][16]

Award Winner Notes
Outstanding Lighting Design Garry Keirle for Into The Woods[16]
‘Watson White’ Award for Outstanding Costume Design Sofie Welvaert for Pirates Of Penzance[16]
‘Robert Lord’ Award for Outstanding Script/Narrative/Libretto Keith Scott for 1917: Until The Day Dawns[16]
Outstanding Set Design Peter King for Twelfth Night[16]
Outstanding Sound Design Lindsay Gordon for Into the Woods[16]
Outstanding Innovation (joint winners) Brophy Aerial Studio for Fragments of a Dream

Dunedin Medieval Society for The Bookworm

Amanda Brosnan for Ghost Soldiers[16]

‘Dunedin Goldsmiths’ Award for Outstanding Ensemble Cast of The Pirates of Penzance[16]
Outstanding Performance (two awarded) Jonathon Hendry as Malvolio in Twelfth Night

Bryony Skillington as Feste in Twelfth Night[16]

Emerging Talent (two awarded) Lydia Bernard

Shaun Swain[16]

Outstanding Visiting Production That Bloody Woman[16]
‘Otago Community Trust’ Award for Outstanding Community Theatre Stopping Violence Dunedin for Stories to Heal Violence[16]
Director of the Year Lewis Ablett-Kerr for Never the Sinner[16]
‘Outstanding Performance’ Award for Production of the Year Twelfth Night [16] by Fortune Theatre
Special awards Josh Thomas[16] for services to the Dunedin Fringe Festival
Nigel Ensor and Peter King[16] for services to Dunedin theatre

2018 awards

The 2018 awards were held at Hanover Hall on 10 December, and presented by Louise Petherbridge.[17]

Award Winner Notes
Outstanding Lighting Design Martyn Roberts for Dark Matter[17]
Outstanding Sound Design Shayne P. Carter for An Iliad[17]
‘Watson White’ Award for Outstanding Design (Set/Costume/AV) Rochelle Brophy for Elemental[17]
Outstanding Performance Helen Fearnley as Henry Higginson in Blood of the Lamb

Michael Hurst as The Poet in An Iliad[17]

Sara Georgie as Eloise and Karen in Eloise in the Middle[17]

‘Robert Lord’ Award for Outstanding Script/Narrative/Libretto Emily Duncan for Eloise in the Middle[17]
‘Dunedin Goldsmiths’ Award for Outstanding Ensemble cast of Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense

cast of 4 Note Opera[17]

Emerging Talent (two awarded) Josephine Chan

Josephine Devereaux[17]

Outstanding Visiting Production Hudson and Halls Live by Silo Theatre[17]
‘Otago Community Trust’ Award for Outstanding Community Theatre Mental Notes, by Suitcase Theatre[17]
Contribution to Dunedin Theatre Maryanne Wright-Smyth

Brian Beresford[17]

Company of the Year Arcade Theatre Company[17]
Director of the Year Orion Carey-Clark, for The Lieutenant of Inishmore[17]
‘Outstanding Performance’ Award for Production of the Year An Iliad, by Fortune Theatre[17]
Special achievement 70th anniversary celebration year, Taieri Dramatic Society[17]
Special Performance Achievement Harrison Diver[17]
Most Spectacular Event Elemental, by Brophy Aerials[17]
Outstanding Public Programme Toitū Otago Settlers Museum[17]
Outstanding WW1 Community Commemoration Homecoming, TheatreWorks and UO Theatre Studies

Mārama Tōnu

Hāhakaranga:   Ake Ake Theatre Company[17]

2019 awards

The opening scene from Globe Theatre's 2019 Richard II, based on a medieval Book of Hours. Charmian Smith won the Outstanding Technical Design award for costumes.

The tenth anniversary Dunedin Theatre Awards were held at Hanover Hall on 2 December.[18] The awards were presented by Dunedin Theatre Awards founder Patrick Davies. Special presentations were made for longstanding achievements in theatre to Chris Manley, John Watson, and Playhouse Theatre, with a further special award recognising the recent UNESCO Cities of Literature Short Play Festival, and an award for the production of the decade.[18]

Award Winner Notes
Outstanding Technical Design (Light/Sound/AV) Kerian Varaine for AV for The Toy Factory Fire [18]
Outstanding Technical Design – Set Shannon van Rooijen for Wings[18]
Outstanding Technical Design – Costumes Charmian Smith for Richard  II at the Globe[18]
Outstanding Technical Design – Costumes Maryanne Wright-Smyth for The Mikado[18]
Outstanding Performance Nick Dunbar as Sam in The Flick[18]
Outstanding Performance Cheyne Jenkinson for multiple roles & productions[18]
Outstanding Performance Laura Wells as The Maid in Ophelia Thinks Harder[18]
Emerging Talent Laniet Swann as Rory in A Hundred Words for Snow[18]
Outstanding Script/Narrative Emily Duncan for Le Sujet Parle[18]
Outstanding Visiting Production  Measure for Measure by the Pop Up Globe[18]
Outstanding Community Engagement  Trouble – D[18]
Outstanding Ensemble Cast of The Bald Soprano[18]
Director of the Year  Lara Macgregor for The Flick[18]
Production of the Year The Bald Soprano by Arcade[18]
Company of the Year The Globe Theatre[18]
Outstanding Service to Theatre in Education Chris Manley[18]
Outstanding Contribution to Children's Theatre Playhouse Theatre[18]
Outstanding Enterprise UNESCO Cities of Literature Short Play Festival[18]
Outstanding Contribution to Dunedin Theatre John Watson[18]
Production of the Decade Punk Rock (2015)[18]

2021 awards

An awards ceremony on 13 December 2021 at Hanover Hall celebrated productions during 2020 and 2021. Winners were:[19]

Award Winner Notes
Production of the Year Resilience, A Lockdown Theatre Response (Wow! Productions & Theatreworks)
Outstanding Director Lisa Warrington — The End of the Golden Weather (Wow! Productions)
Performance Female Role Kimberley Buchan — The Glass Menagerie (Globe Theatre)
Performance Male Role Matt Wilson — The End of the Golden Weather (Wow! Productions)
Performance Ensemble Sophie Graham & Alex Martyn — Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons (Arcade Theatre Company)
Community Theatre Bittersweet: Unwrapping Cadbury’s (Talking House)
Script/Narrative/Libretto Michael Metzger — The Changing Shed
Design & Technology Charmian Smith — costumes for Murder in the Cathedral (Dunedin Medieval Society/Suitcase Theatre)
Touring Production Wild Dogs Under My Skirt
Outstanding Contribution to Dunedin Theatre Alister McDonald
Outstanding Contribution to Dunedin Theatre Simon O'Connor

References

  1. ^ a b Benson, Nigel (10 December 2010). "Inaugural theatre awards". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b Benson, Nigel (26 December 2010). "Favouritism alleged in theatre awards". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  3. ^ Benson, Nigel (13 April 2013). "'Ostas' to encourage musical theatre arts". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Benson, Nigel (18 December 2010). "Fortune production leads awards". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Benson, Nigel (13 December 2011). "Top theatrical turns honoured". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b Benson, Nigel (8 November 2012). "Fairer theatre awards object of using matrix". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Benson, Nigel (12 December 2012). "Free-entry 'Play' earns theatre awards". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "WINNERS: 2013 DUNEDIN THEATRE AWARDS - CELEBRATING THEATRICAL EXCELLENCE -". www.theatreview.org.nz. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  9. ^ McAvinue, Shawn (17 December 2014). "Theatre puts on its own awards". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "AWARD WINNERS FOR 2014 DUNEDIN THEATRE AWARDS". www.theatreview.org.nz. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  11. ^ "MILESTONES TO BE HONOURED AT THEATRE AWARDS NATIONWIDE". www.theatreview.org.nz. 19 November 2014. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  12. ^ McAvinue, Shawn (17 December 2014). "Theatre puts on its own awards". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Harwood, Brenda (10 December 2015). "Theatre awards given on 'night of the stars'". The Star.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "DUNEDIN THEATRE AWARDS 2016 Finalists and Winners". www.theatreview.org.nz. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  15. ^ Houlahan, Mike (6 December 2017). "Fortune director wins two theatre awards". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "DUNEDIN THEATRE AWARDS 2017". www.theatreview.org.nz. 4 December 2017. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Theatre stalwart honoured at annual awards evening". Otago Daily Times Online News. 11 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "DUNEDIN THEATRE AWARDS 2019 WINNERS: Dunedin Theatre celebrates 10 years of Awards presentations". www.theatreview.org.nz. 4 December 2019. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Awards celebrate work during a difficult period". Otago Daily Times Online News. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.