The Antoinettes
The Antoinettes are the WDTF Theatre Awards. They are awarded by the Full-Length Festival Adjudicator which changes each year. Only plays entered into the Festival are eligible for consideration. The awards are presented at the Antoinettes Evening typically falling on the first Sunday of December and held at the Polish Club in Newtown.
The adjudicator can make the following awards. There is no requirement to make an award if either there are no entries in that category OR the adjudicator does not believe any entry in the relevant category meets the required threshold.
The adjudicator can make the following awards. There is no requirement to make an award if either there are no entries in that category OR the adjudicator does not believe any entry in the relevant category meets the required threshold.
Excellence in Acting
These are awarded for acting in any role, irrespective of whether it is 'leading' or 'supporting'. The number of such awards will depend upon the overall number of entries; typically the number is four but this can be increased if necessary.
Best Short Play
A new category to acknowledge the growing number of short plays. To enter into this category the play must have a runtime of under 60 minutes.
Best Costume & Make Up in a Production
Self explanitory!
Best Set Design
Also fairly self explanitory!
Best Technical Production
This can encompass some or all of the many technical aspects: lighting, sound, special effects.
Best Youth Production
A new categroy added as we have had an increasing number of productions purely cast (and sometimes crewed!) with those under 18.
Best Ensemble Production
This category acknowledges shows where there is no real "lead", instead it has a group of roles that are similar in size.
Best Musical
When plays are entered into the Festival they are entered as a drama, comedy or musical. This award is for the best production of a musical. The award does not reflect the quality of the script; it is the quality of the production which is being assessed
Best Comedy
When plays are entered into the Festival they are entered as a drama, comedy or musical. This award is for the best production of a comedy. The award does not reflect the quality of the script; it is the quality of the production which is being assessed.
Best Drama
When plays are entered into the Festival they are entered as a drama, comedy or musical. This award is for the best production of a drama. The award does not reflect the quality of the script; it is the quality of the production which is being assessed.
Best Overall Production
What it says!
Special Awards
Special Award category's can change each year according to the adjudicator but are considered something bigger than a "moment". Each year also includes the Most Promising Youth Performer, and Best New Director.
Magic Moments
In addition to the formal Antoinette Awards the Adjudicator can award any number of "Magic Moments". As the name suggests, these can be for any aspect of a production which struck the Adjudicator as special.
The Don Blackmore Award
A new award from 2021 in honour of the great Don Blackmore.
This award is for excellence in technical contribution over a year and is presented at the annual Antoinette's. Any member society can nominate.
Trophy created by Sam Perry.
2024 Winners
Congratulations to everyone who was involved in one (or several!) of the 34 productions entered into this year's Full-Length Play Festival. After long and careful deliberation by our 2024 adjudicator, Phil Peleton, the following societies and individuals were presented with awards at the most recent Gala Evening.
Best Overall Production
Coasters Musical Theatre "Frankenstein" by Nick Dear based on the novel by Mary Shelley, directed by Sera Devcich
Best Drama
Coaster Musical Theatre "Frankenstein" by Nick Dear based on the novel by Mary Shelley, directed by Sera Devcich
Best Comedy
Mana Little Theatre "The Miser" by Moliere, freely adapted by Sean Foley & Phil Porter, directed by Nick Edwards
Best Musical
Upper Hutt Musical Theatre "The PROM" by Matthew Sklar, Bob Martin & Chad Beguelin, directed by Bec Watson, musically directed by Tia Minnoch
Best Ensemble Production
Stagecraft Theatre "Persuasion" adapted and cast devised from the novel by Jane Austin, cast devised with dramaturg Anna Renton-Green
Best Costume & Make Up in a Production
Mana Little Theatre "The Miser" by Moliere, freely adapted by Sean Foley & Phil Porter, directed by Nick Edwards
Best Set Design
Hutt City Musical Theatre "Evil Dead: The Musical" by George Reinblatt, Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, Melissa Morris & Rob Daleman, directed by Kat Filer
Best Technical Production
Hutt Repertory Theatre "The Girl on the Train" Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff & Duncan Abe from the novel by Paula Hawkins, directed by Ewen Coleman, technical team of Max Webb, Ben Rowan & TIm Gruar
Best Short Play
KAT Theatre "Aunt Leaf" by Barbara Wiechmann, directed by Lynn Coory
Excellence In Acting
- Allan Burne as Macbeth in “Macbeth” presented Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe
- Charlie Potter as Feste in “Twelfth Night” presented by Stagecraft Theatre
- Colleen Wilton as Cheryl in “Evil Dead: The Musical” presented by Hutt City Musical Theatre
- Lydia Verschaffelt as Olivia in “Twelfth Night” presented by Stagecraft Theatre
- Martin Tidy as The Creature in “Frankenstein” presented by Coasters Musical Theatre
- Slaine McKenzie as Cleante in “The Miser” presented by Mana Little Theatre
- Tim MacDonald as Victor Frankenstein in “Frankenstein” presented by Coasters Musical Theatre
- Zachary Klein as Konstantin in “The Seagull” presented by Stagecraft Theatre
The Don Blackmore Award
for Outstanding Technical Achievement in 2024
is awarded to
Max Webb
Special Awards
- Hutt City Musical Theatre's "Evil Dead: the Musical" for its Pre-Show Experience
- Theo Nettleton for Versatility in Acting
- New Players "When Harriet Met Sally" for Design Consistency
- Charlie Potter and Abby Lyons for their Double-Act as the two Annes in Stagecraft Theatre's "Persuasion"
- Simon Manns & Braden Lister for their Fight Choreography in Hutt City Musical Theatre's "Evil Dead: the Musical"
- A Special Award was awarded by the adjudicator for Most Promising Youth Performer to Mischa Thomson as Alice in “Alice the Musical' presented by KAT Theatre
- A Special Award was awarded by the adjudicator for Best New District Director 2024 to Nick Edwards for “The Miser” presented by Mana Little Theatre
Magic Moments
- Lara Strong – Stagecraft Theatre’s “A View from the Bridge” for Catherine’s First Arrival.
- Zachary Klein & Tess Lavanda – Stagecraft Theatre’s “The Seagull” for The Final Scene Between Konstantin and Nina.
- David Cox – Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe’s “It Could Be Any One of Us” for the perfectly delivered line at the end of his Poirot-style summing up of the murder suspects: “Or was it me”.
- Lian Butcher – Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe’s “Macbeth” for her “Unsex Me” Speech.
- Neo Carter-Knight – Hutt City Musical Theatre’s “Evil Dead: The Musical” for Scotty’s Intestines.
- Alistair Smith – KAT Theatre’s “Our Man in Havana” for the Dog Dies at the Table.
- New Players – “Art Theft” for Three in a Bed
- Mike McJorrow (actor), Katie Knight & Meredith Dooley (costumes) – Stagecraft Theatre’s “Twelfth Night” for Malvolio’s Entry as Ali G.
- Porirua Little Theatre – “The 39 Steps” for A Magnificence of Magic Moments.
- Clara Archibald & Nyjah Rohloff – Porirua Little Theatre’s “High School Musical” for the Tender Rooftop Scene.
- Frankie Blignaut – Kaha Theatre’s “The Other Side” for being the Spooky Little Girl.
- Wellington Repertory Theatre – “The Hound of the Baskervilles” for the Misty Moor Effect
- Katie Docherty – Kapiti Playhouse’s “Oliver!” for the song “As Long as He Needs Me”.
- Stacey O’Brien – Kauri Theatre’s “Rent” for Maureen’s Performance Art Piece.
- Lizzie Summers & Leo Gore – Porirua Little Theatre’s “High School Musical” for Ryan’s Callback Dance.
- Jodie Mahan – Mana Little Theatre’s “The Mother” for the Emotional Breakdown.
- Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe – “The Foreigner” for The Incredible Melting Klansman.
- Nicholas Appleton – Hutt City Musical Theatre’s “Evil Dead: The Musical” for Ash vs His Own Hand.
- Marty Pilott – KAT Theatre's “Puss in Boots” for lumbering into the audience, delighting and traumatising children and adults alike.
- Alistair Davies and Katherine Keane – Wellington Repertory Theatre’s “Pip” for the beautiful duet Love/Can’t Love.