Best of best revealed in regional theatre awards
In keeping with these Covid times, the Regional Theatre Awards 2022 were announced virtually on Saturday.
The awards covered 30 productions presented by 19 theatre groups in 2021.
Organiser Sheridan Hickey congratulated the participants for their tenacity and achievement.
“You managed the many challenges that required you to juggle show dates around the everchanging alert levels, arrange rehearsals via Zoom or similar digital form, start a season then have to close, cancel shows or put them on hold. Through it all you worked creatively, supported each other and kept smiling.”
The main winners were: Outstanding Direction of a Youth Production: Kane Parsons assisted by Finn Davidson, Aladdin Jnr, Manawatu¯ Youth Theatre Outstanding Musical Direction of a Youth Production: Asaria Saili, Moana Jnr, Levin Performing Arts Society
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role of a Youth Production: Leo Arnault Martin (Lumiere), Beauty and the Beast Jnr, Levin Little Theatre Outstanding Youth Performance in a Female Role: Alyssa Hartley (Genie), Aladdin Jnr, MYTH Outstanding Youth Performance in a Male Role: Navah Chapman (Paul Blake), Lent, Foxton Little Theatre Best Concept and Design of a Play: Shirley Valentine, ThorneStar Productions Outstanding Concept and Design of a Musical: Chicago, Act Three Productions; Legally Blonde, ATP Best Choreography: Alex Hughes, Ruby Jamieson, Cara Hesselin, Legally Blonde, ATP
Best Musical Direction: Barry Jones, We Will Rock You, ATP
Best Direction of a Play: Sonya Grimstrup assisted by Val Franklin, Calendar Girls, LLT
Best Debut Direction of a Musical: Jo Sale, Legally Blonde, ATP Best Direction of a Standard Size Musical: Steve Sayer, Chicago, ATP
Best Direction of a Stupendous Size Musical: Phil Anstis, We Will Rock You, ATP
Best New Aotearoa NZ Play: Destiny and The Eternal, Angie Farrow, ARL Collective Outstanding Ensemble in a Short Play: Bad (Jazz) Blood (Hannah Pratt, Leona Revell, Sophia Parker, Karmeehan Senthilnathan), Sunday Script Sessions
Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Play: The Women, Calendar Girls, LLT
Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical: Chicago, ATP Outstanding Performance in a Short Play: Cam Dickons, Freaks, SSS Outstanding Performance for a Supporting Female Role in a Play: Lisa Swinbanks (Philostrate/Puck), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Manawatu¯ Summer Shakespeare; Carolyn Allan (Mrs Blake), Lent, FLT Best Performance in a Supporting Female Role in a Musical: Clare Lees-Galloway (Paulette), Legally Blonde, ATP
Best Performance in a Supporting Male Role in a Play: Phil Mills (Nick Bottom), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, MSS
Best Performance of a Supporting Male Role in a Musical: Florien Schrimpf (Max Detweiler), The Sound of Music, LPAS
Best Performance of a Female Role in a Sequence of Short Plays: Liz Kirkman, Chance, ARL Collective Best Performance of a Female Role in a Solo Play: Gael Haining Ede (Shirley), Shirley Valentine, ThorneStar Productions
Best Performance of a Female Role in a Play: Ella Kahu (Annie), Calendar Girls, LLT
Best Performance for a Female Role in a Musical: Jessie Feyen (Elle), Legally Blonde, ATP Outstanding Performance of a Male Role in a Play: Cam Dickons (Lysander), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, MSS; Carl Terry (Mr Maitland — Matey), Lent, FLT Best Performance of a Male Role in a Musical: Lindsay Yeo (Billy Flynn), Chicago, ATP