Presented by the Ōtepoti-Dunedin Reviewers’ Collective, comprising Barbara Frame, Terry MacTavish, Helen Watson-White and Brenda Harwood, the awards recognised the best of Dunedin theatre in 2025.
About 100 local theatre practitioners packed into performance space Te Whare o Rukutia to cheer the finalists and winners across a broad range of categories including performance, writing, technology, costumes, emerging artist, director and production of the year.
Special awards for individual contributions to theatre in Dunedin were also presented.
Welcoming the audience, Harwood said the reviewers’ collective had been "impressed by the achievements of all of the finalists announced for these awards, many of them involved in multiple shows".
In tough economic times, the volume and quality of work presented during 2025 was a testament to the "passion, dedication and skill" of the theatre community.
The collective welcomed Dunedin theatre stalwart Rosemary Beresford to the stage to present the certificates and congratulate the winners.
The award winners were widely spread among an array of local productions; including Nick Tipa’s Babyface, which won production of the year and the script award; Production company Hic Sunt Dracones’ show The Neurospice Girls, which won the direction award for Kim Morgan, the ensemble award for its cast and the design award for set, technology and lighting for Matthew Morgan and Garry Keirle.
The award for outstanding performance in a female role went to Harriet Moir for Every Brilliant Thing (Birds of a Feather) and the award for outstanding performance in a male role went to Max Beal for An Iliad.
The night’s premier award, the Louise Petherbridge Award for Distinguished Contribution to Theatre in Ōtepoti Dunedin was presented to long-standing theatre practitioner, educator and author Assoc Prof Hilary Halba.
The award, which replaces the "Outstanding Contribution to Theatre" award is represented by a statuette of Shakespearean character Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Award winners
Production of the year
Babyface by Nick Tipa
Outstanding direction
Kim Morgan for The Neurospice Girls
Outstanding performance — lead female role
Harriet Moir as The Performer in Every Brilliant Thing
Outstanding performance — lead male role
Max Beal as The Poet in An Iliad
Laura Wells as Nanny Ogg in Lords and Ladies
Outstanding performance — supporting male role
Steve Parker as Mustrum Ridcully in Lords and Ladies
Outstanding performance — duo
Kelly Hocking & Sara Georgie in Voertices
Outstanding performance — ensemble
The Neurospice Girls cast — Lizzie Tollemache with Mārama Grant, Lexie Tomlinson, Ellie Swann, and Destiny Carvell.
Outstanding concept — script
Nick Tipa for Babyface (dramaturgy by Bronwyn Wallace)
Outstanding concept — libretto
Outstanding performance — touring production
Trick of the Light for Suitcase Show
Emerging artist
Ella Court — design
Outstanding design — set and technology
Matthew Morgan (set, sound, AV) & Garry Keirle (lighting) for The Neurospice Girls
Outstanding design — costume and props
Sofie Welvaert for set, costume and props — Lords and Ladies
Special awards:
Outstanding community theatre
Individual community contribution
Rochelle Brophy — Dunedin Midwinter Carnival
Individual community contribution
Brent Caldwell — OAR, Community Theatres, Theatrefest
Individual community contribution
Ellie Swann — NAT, Star Fountain
Lisa Warrington — Theatreview, Theatre Aotearoa Database
Premier Award
The Louise Petherbridge Award
Hilary Halba for distinguished contribution to theatre in Ōtepoti Dunedin
