Presented by the Ōtepoti Dunedin Theatre Reviewers’ Collective, the awards were founded in 2010 and have since been held annually.
The 14th annual awards will acknowledge the work of Dunedin and New Zealand theatre practitioners in 2025.
Collective members Barbara Frame, Terry MacTavish, Helen Watson White and Brenda Harwood, all professional reviewers, spent last year taking in as many theatre shows as possible before selecting the finalists and winners.
In a statement this week, the Ōtepoti Dunedin Theatre Reviewers Collective announced the finalists for the 14th Ōtepoti Dunedin Theatre Awards, to be held on Monday, February 9, from 5.30pm at Te Whare o Rukutia, 20 Princes St.
The awards will celebrate theatrical achievement in 2025 across a range of categories, including technical achievement in set and costume design, lighting and technology; outstanding performance by individuals and ensembles; and the overall award for production of the year.
There will also be special awards for outstanding contributions to the Dunedin theatre community and emerging artists, as well as tributes and commendations.
Ms MacTavish said the collective had been impressed by the passion, skill and work ethic of Dunedin’s theatre community, who had managed to create an array of shows in the face of the ongoing funding and venue challenges.
"We are so proud of everyone for their passion, commitment and mahi."
This year’s awards ceremony will include the inaugural presentation of the Louise Petherbridge Award for Distinguished Contribution to Theatre in Ōtepoti Dunedin, honouring the theatre doyenne’s memory. The award will be presented by her son David Petherbridge, who has donated the trophy.
"We are very excited to be able to present this award, and the beautiful trophy that comes with it, this year and in future years," Ms MacTavish said.
Ms Frame said the awards remained true to their original purpose of acknowledging the contribution of performers, directors, writers, designers and creatives to the performing arts sector, locally and nationally.
"It is a wonderful chance to bring our theatre community together for a well-deserved celebration of all that they achieved in 2025," she said.
The Ōtepoti Dunedin Theatre Awards event is supported by a Dunedin City Council Community Events grant.
There will be an entry fee for the awards ceremony to help cover costs.
14TH ANNUAL ŌTEPOTI DUNEDIN THEATRE AWARDS — FINALISTS:
• Outstanding Performance — Lead Male Role:
Max Beal as The Poet in An Iliad
Gregory Cooper in Every Brilliant Thing
Nick Tipa in Babyface
• Outstanding Performance — Lead Female Role:
Kim Buchan as Olivia in Crunchy Silk
Harriet Moir in Every Brilliant Thing
Tessa Romano in You! Who?
• Outstanding Performance — Supporting Female Role:
Maegan Stedman-Ashford as Granny Weatherwax in Lords and Ladies
Sheena Townsend as Cassanunda in Lords and Ladies
Laura Wells as Nanny Ogg in Lords and Ladies
• Outstanding Performance — Supporting Male Role:
Zac Henry as Bandersnatch in Alice in Wonderland: A Pantomime
Steve Parker as Mustrum Ridcully in Lords and Ladies
Nic Turner as The Right Royal Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland: A Pantomime
• Outstanding Performance — Duo
Blaise & Sarah Barham in All Heroes
Mārama Grant & Ashley Stewart in A Rare Public Appearance of Miss Georgette Heyer
Kelly Hocking & Sara Georgie in Voertices
• Outstanding Performance — Ensemble
The Comic Artisans in Lords and Ladies
The Neurospice Girls cast — Lizzie Tollemache with Mārama Grant, Lexie Tomlinson, Ellie Swann and Destiny Carvell.
The Wrong Rabbits, with Zac Henry (Bandersnatch) in Alice in Wonderland: A Pantomime
• Outstanding Concept — Script
Kim Morgan for Comedy of Errors, Dunedin Summer Shakespeare
Nick Tipa for Babyface, with dramaturgy by Bronwyn Wallace
Lizzie Tollemache for The Neurospice Girls
Afterburner for the Anderson Localisation
Ellie Swann for BRinG bAcK ThE STaR FOunTAIn
• Outstanding Concept — Libretto
John Drummond and Claire Barton for An Enchantment of Nightingales (Opera Otago)
Fiona Farrell and Anthony Ritchie for You! Who?
Gillian Whitehead and Tessa Petersen for The Journey of Mataatua Whare
Penelope Hare and Tobias Deveroux for Alice in Wonderland: A Pantomime
• Outstanding Touring Production
Penny Ashton for Tempestuous
Figment Productions for In Other Words
Indian Ink Theatre Company for Paradise or the Impermanence of Icecream
NZ Otago for Mansfield Park
Trick of the Light for Suitcase Show
• Emerging Artist
Megan Bowker (Design)
Ella Court (Design)
Brenna Fields (Acting)
Maggie Holtham (Design)
Rowan Metreyeon (Acting)
Meadow Stewart (Acting)
• Outstanding Design — Technology:
Samuel Leaper, sound for An Iliad
Tabitha Littlejohn, sound for Every Brilliant Thing
Anderson Localisation interactive sound app — Lisa Warrington, Nick Tipa, and the late Rua McCallum (afterburner)
Sam Meikle, sound for All Heroes
Matt Morgan (set sound music video) & Garry Keirle (lighting) for The Neurospice Girls
Jordan Wichman, production design for An Iliad, X-Variations/Voertices
• Outstanding Design — Set/Costumes
Rochelle Brophy, costumes for Dunedin Midwinter Carnival
Christine Colbert, costumes for The Importance of Being Earnest
Maggie Holthan (practical effects), Maegan Stedman-Ashford (costumes), and Craig Storey (set builder) for Alice in Wonderland: A Pantomime
Sofian Scott, set for Babyface
Charmian Smith, costumes for An Enchantment of Nightingales
Sofie Welvaert, costumes and set for Lords and Ladies
• Outstanding Direction
Max Beal & Sam Leaper for An Iliad
Sara Georgie for Babyface
Lara McGregor for Every Brilliant Thing
Kim Morgan for The Neurospice Girls
• Production of the Year
Max Beal for An Iliad
Birds of a Feather for Every Brilliant Thing
Huc Sunt Dracones for The Neurospice Girls
Nick Tipa for Babyface
• There will also be a series of special awards for individual achievements, and the presentation of the inaugural Louise Petherbridge Award for Distinguished Contribution to Theatre in Ōtepoti Dunedin.
