About Us

Welcome to the website of the Wellington District Theatre Federation (WDTF), a registered charity devoted to promoting all aspects of community theatre within our region.

Members include theatre societies, schools/colleges and individuals everywhere from Levin, down the coast to Wellington City, round the harbour to Eastbourne then up the Hutt Valley and over the hills as far as Masterton.
Although we were originally set up as part of the New Zealand Theatre Federation, we are now completely autonomous with our own independent membership.
Our flagship event is the annual Full-Length Play Festival, which culminates in the awarding of the much-coveted Antoinette Awards. But we also run a fun-filled 24-Hour Play Challenge, support workshops and promote the endeavours of all member societies.
The day-to-day running of WDTF is delegated to an executive to which all member societies are entitled to send a representative.

2025 Adjudicator

Ruth Sarratt

In common with many of us. I was “into” my school drama productions, then jobs and family took over my time.  I returned to theatre when my children were older and was thoroughly hooked.  Then followed many years involved in local community theatre groups – acting, stage crewing, directing, set building and designing, making props, making the tea – you have to do it all in community theatre.  More recently, accreditation as an Associate of New Zealand Drama Adjudicators (ANZDA) seemed a logical way of passing on some of my experience and sharing the knowledge.

I have come to believe that live theatre is a very special way of experiencing being human, and that it should be available to us all.  I also firmly believe that we can always learn something new and improve our theatrical endeavours; a bit of timely advice or a thought-provoking question from an objective observer can do wonders to elevate a performance.

I have a particular interest in basic stagecraft (the elementary stuff that is so easy to get slightly wrong and thereby annoy your audience) and encouraging actors to use their whole body to support the script.  It still awes me when I see a script really brought to life by a team effort – the “magic that is live theatre” never fades

Wellington District Theatre Federation

Supporting Community Theatre throughout the Wellington District

About Us

2024 Antoinette Winners

Best Musical

Best Overall

Best Drama

Best Comedy

2025 Adjudicator

Ruth Sarratt

What's on around the district?

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