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.
The Hayden Rogers Memorial Shield
A new award from 2025 in honour of the industrious Hayden Rogers.
This shield will be presented at the annual Antoinette's for the production that takes glory of
Best Overall Production
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.
2025 Winners
Congratulations to everyone who was involved in one (or several!) of the 36 productions entered into this year's Full-Length Play Festival. After long and careful deliberation by our 2025 adjudicator, Ruth Sarratt, the following societies and individuals were presented with awards at the most recent Gala Evening. A special thank you to the family of Hayden Rogers who joined us this year to present the inaugrual Hayden Rogers Memorial Shield.
The Hayden Rogers Memorial Shield
for Best Overall Production in 2025
is awarded to
Stagecraft Theatre's "The Heiress"
by Ruth & Augustus Goetz, directed by Meredith Dooley
Best Drama
Stagecraft Theatre "The Heiress" by Ruth & Augustus Goetz, directed by Meredith Dooley
Best Comedy
Porirua Little Theatre "Pack of Girls" by David Geary, directed by Felicity Cozens
Best Musical
Hutt City Musical Theatre "The Wedding Singer" by Chad Beguelin, Matthew Skylar & Tim Herlihy, directed by Chris Cox, musically directed by
Best Ensemble Production
KAT Theatre "Jekyll & Hyde" by Neil Bartlett adapted from the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, directed by Tanya Piejus
Best Costume & Make Up in a Production
Hutt City Musical Theatre "The Wedding Singer" by Chad Beguelin, Matthew Skylar & Tim Herlihy, directed by Chris Cox, costumes by Kat Filer & Hugo van Stratum
Best Set Design
Stagecraft Theatre "Superior Donuts" by Tracey Letts, directed by James Kiesel, designed by Lucy Signogeikas
Best Technical Production
Hutt Repertory Theatre "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie, directed by Chris Ingram and Millie Fuller, technical team of Ben Rowan, Max Webb & George Kananghinis
Best Youth Production
Hutt Repertory Theatre "Thumbelina" by Vera Morris, directed by Catherine Kananghinis and Elizabeth Kananghinis
Best Short Play
Mana Little Theatre "Stormy Weather" by Cherol Filbee, directed by Yvonne Fisher
Excellence In Acting
- Tom Kereama as Jay Gatsby in “The Great Gatsby” presented Wellington Repertory Theatre
- Laurie Ward as Rick Steadman in “The Nerd” presented by Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe
- Darren Ormandy as The Doctor in “You've Ruined a Perfectly Good Mystery” presented by Hutt Repertory Theatre
- Allen Burne as Arthur in “Superior Donuts” presented by Stagecraft Theatre
- McKay Findlay as Franco in “Superior Donuts” presented by Stagecraft Theatre
- David Cox as Sir Lawrence Wargrave in “And Then There Were None” presented by Hutt Repertory Theatre
- Aimee Sullivan as Catherine in “The Heiress” presented by Stagecraft Theatre
Special Awards
- Stagecraft Theatre's "Superior Donuts" for its magnificent Realisation of a fight combining acting, choreography, sound, and lighting.
- Flynn Berney for Seizing and Owning a Role as the Queen of Hearts in Upper Hutt Musical Theatre's "Alice in Wonderland Jr"
- Janet Nobel & James Kiesel for their Fight Choreography in Stagecraft Theatre's "Private Lives"
- A Special Award was awarded for Best New District Directors 2025 to Millie Fuller & Chris Ingram for “And Then There Were None” presented by Hutt Repertory Theatre
Magic Moments
- Wellington Repertory Theatre – “The Story of Hansel, Gretel & Little Red” for Condensed Dancing.
- Alistair Williams & Katherine O'Neil – Mana Little Theatre's "Stormy Weather" for The Makeover Reveal.
- Hayden Rogers – KAT Theatre's "A Marriage Has Been Arranged for Sang Froid.
- Amelia Lucie-Smith – New Players "Crazy Ladies" for her Comedic Magic.
- Renwick Wright & David Butterfield – Kapiti Playhouse's "The Vicar of Dibley: for the Father and Son Chat.
- Upper Hutt Musical Theatre – "Calendar Girls - The Musical" for their Foyer Decoration.
- Alexander Semmens – Mana Little Theatre's “21 Minutes” for Teenage Embarrassment.
- Floyd Norman – KAT Theatre’s “Jekyll & Hyde” for his Chilling Delivery.
- Jacey McGrath – Coaster's Musical Theatre “Legally Blonde - The Musical” for being Whipped Into Shape.
- Devin Stinton – Upper Hutt Musical Theatre’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr” for the White Rabbit's Tap Dance.
- Paulette McIndoe – Mana Little Theatre’s “Easy Money” for her Wonderful Party Trick.
- Clare Docherty – KAT Theatre's “Poverty” for Motherly Disdain
- Finian Nacey – Wellington Repertory Theatre's “Shakespeare in Love” for his Bemused Deflowering.
- Sarah-Beth Brown – KAT Theatre’s “Home, I'm Darling” for her Incongruous Laptop.
- Regina Castle & Vince Jennings – Kapiti Playhouse’s “The Full Monty” for their Emotional Exchange.
- Freddy Thompson – Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe's “The Nerd” for Pure Terror.
- Catherine Kananghinis & George Kananghinis – Hutt Repertory's “Thumbelina" for their Ferocious Fight.
- Sylvia McKenna & Kevin Hastings – Wellington Repertory Theatre’s “Dial M for Murder” for their Well Staged Murder.
- Annie Treadwell – Upper Hutt Musical Theatre's “Alice in Wonderland Jr” for The Mad Hatter's Laugh.
- Brock Oliver – KAHA Theatre’s “Lady Windermere's Fan” for his Physical Comedy.
- George Kananghinis – Hutt Repertory's “And Then There Were None" for the Breathtaking Backdrop.
- Vicki Wolfe & Jacob Cannell – Mana Little Theatre’s “21 Minutes” for their Foreplay Dance.
- Samuel Davies – New Players “Crazy Ladies” for the Qunitessential NZ Birdsong.
- KAT Theatre – “The Man Whose Mother Was A Pirate” for The Wheelbarrow Dance.
- Nikki Carroll – Kapiti Playhouse's “Nunsense” for Tricks With Her Veil.