Theatre awards recognise young Whanganui and Feilding creatives

Whanganui Performing Arts' production of The Addams Family have been nominated for the Regional Theatre Awards. Photo / Ben Pryor Photography

Regional Theatre Awards nominations have been revealed with the Whanganui Performing Arts' production of The Addams Family up for 11 gongs.

The awards celebrate theatre in the Whanganui-Manawatū region.

Twenty-five productions have received a share of 176 nominations over 35 categories, including the Feilding Little Theatre Players' production of Cinderella, and Whanganui Performing Arts' production of The Addams Family.

Convenor and head of the assessment panel Sheridan Hickey said the awards aim to recognise and promote talent, stagecraft and production values.

The Addams Family production was performed in Whanganui’s Repertory Theatre from October 3 to 12 and has been nominated for 11 awards.

This is the first year Whanganui Performing Arts has been considered by the awards panel.

“Everyone’s just really honoured to be nominated because there’s a lot of productions that are considered for these awards,” former vice-president of Whanganui Performing Arts and director of The Addams Family, Megan Hartley, said.

Hartley has been nominated for best direction of a musical alongside nominations for best musical ensemble, actor in a female role, actor in a male role and, best musical concept and design.

Young actors Mia Latonio and Lucy Hartley have been nominated for best actor awards. Photo / Ben Pryor Photography

“It’s pretty cool, it’s quite shocking really how many we were nominated for,” she said.

The Feilding Little Theatre Players were nominated for seven awards for their production of Cinderella, and one for their production of Keeping Up Appearances.

Cinderella is nominated for best emerging actor, best connection between characters and nominated three times for best magic moment.

Keeping Up Appearances is nominated for best cameo by Carole Payton as Mrs Debden.

The 2024 Regional Theatre Awards will mark 20 years since the Regional Theatre Awards began as The Globe Theatre Awards in 2004.

The awards evening is on February 14 at the Palmerston North Conference and Function Centre.

Early-bird tickets can be found at Ticketek.

Whanganui Performing Arts

Concept and Design (Musical): Oliver Rei, The Addams Family

Choreography (Youth): Juliette Little, The Addams Family

Musical Direction (Youth): Alyssa Hartley, The Addams Family

Direction (Musical): Megan Hartley, The Addams Family

Ensemble (Musical): The Ancestors, The Addams Family

Character Actor: Monique Smith as Uncle Fester, The Addams Family

Supporting Actor in a Male Role (Youth): Mia Latonio as Pugsley, The Addams Family

Actor in a Female Role (Youth): Lucy Hartley as Wednesday, The Addams Family

Actor in a Male Role (Youth): Max Herdman as Gomez, The Addams Family

Actor in a Female Role (Musical): Alyssa Hartley as Morticia Addams, The Addams Family

Actor in a Male Role (Musical): Max Herdman as Gomez Addams, The Addams Family

Feilding Little Theatre Players

Connection Between Characters (Musical): Lavara Makutu and Briana Howard as Beryl and Cheryl, Cinderella

Magic Moment: Logan Wucherpfennig as The Page, Cinderella

Magic Moment: Jonathon Bulford as Hi-Vis Guy, Cinderella

Magic Moment: Greta Murphy as The Mouse, Cinderella

Emerging Actor: Indie Nicholls as The Baroness, Cinderella

Actor in a Female Role (Youth): Sasha Borlase as Cinderella, Cinderella

Actor in a Male Role (Youth): Oliver Greeneld as Prince Charming, Cinderella

Cameo: Carole Payton as Mrs Debden, Keeping Up Appearances

Olivia Reid is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.