City’s theatre scene celebrated

By The Star | Posted:

Huge congratulations to all the winners of the 12th Dunedin Theatre Awards

City’s theatre scene celebrated | Otago Daily Times Online News (odt.co.nz)

There was laughter, tears and cheers galore as 100 members of the local theatre community packed into Hanover Hall for Monday’s 12th Dunedin Theatre Awards ceremony.

Presented by the Dunedin Theatre Reviewers Collective, the event celebrated achievement across all aspects of theatre, from technical support to acting and directing, in 2022 and 2023.

Collective members Barbara Frame, Terry MacTavish, Helen Watson White, and Brenda Harwood, led the ceremony, announcing the awards across 10 categories, and presenting six special awards for Outstanding Contribution to Dunedin Theatre.

Welcoming the audience, Harwood praised the city’s "supremely talented" theatre community.

"Every one of the finalists announced for these awards has won our admiration and has earned our warmest congratulations for their achievements. Many are involved in multiple shows each year, which is a testament to their passion and skill," she said.

The ceremony also honoured the late Dunedin theatre doyenne Louise Petherbridge (92), who died in January, and who had been the theatre awards’ "living taonga" for more than a decade.

Her son David Petherbridge stood in for his mother during the ceremony, shaking hands and presenting the certificates to the winners.

Receiving the gift of the pounamu that had symbolised her "living taonga" status, he paid tribute to the vital importance of theatre in sustaining and enriching his mother’s life, as it had for the wider Dunedin community.

12th Dunedin Theatre Awards — Winners

Outstanding Performance: Female role — Marama Grant for Fortune in The World’s First Lovers

Outstanding Performance : Male role — Nick Tipa for Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Outstanding Performance: Ensemble — The cast of The Pink Hammer

Outstanding Set, Design, and Technology — Sofie Welvaert for the set of Lamb to the Slaughter

Outstanding Costumes — Amber Bridgman for The World’s First Lovers

Outstanding Script/Narrative/Libretto — Georgia Jamieson Emms, Anna Leese, and Kenneth Young for The Strangest of Angels

Outstanding Touring Production — Penny Ashton for Olive Copperbottom: A Dickensian Tale of Love, Gin and The Pox

Emerging Artist — Tabitha Littlejohn

Outstanding Director — Andrew McKenzie for Saved

Outstanding Director — Kim Morgan for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Spring Awakening

Production of the Years — Saved, Plan D Productions.

Outstanding Contribution to Dunedin Theatre

Dunedin Midwinter Carnival

Sahara BreeZe Productions

Prospect Park Productions

Olveston Winter Series

The Scouts Gang Show

Dunedin Summer Shakespeare