Feature: DOLPHIN THEATRE AWARDS NIGHT at Dolphin Theatre

The wonderful tradition of gathering to acknowledge and celebrate yet another wonderful year of theatrical offerings at Onehunga's Dolphin Theatre took place on Sunday evening.

The choice to present the world premiere of emerging playwright Richard De Luca's Death of a Dream has certainly paid off as it took out an array of awards including Best Production, Best Female Lead Role, Best Supporting Female, Best Supporting Male and Best Character (male) at their annual end of year Awards Night and Christmas Party.

The play, written as a sequel to Death of a Salesman, has certainly got legs if these awards are anything to go by.

I've seen most of the offerings this year at The Dolphin Theatre so I know the competition was tough.

Pictured in the photo from left to right are Death of a Dream award recipients Kim Griffin, Anna Baird, Penelope Keegan, Matthew van Den Berg, Ngaire-Ann Hobson, Mike Daley with Director's PA Brian Keegan.
(Their awards are listed below)

Past President, Life Member and current adjudicator coordinator Helen Stilwell recalls the tradition of the annual awards being well and truly in place when she joined Dolphin in 1973.

Helen recalls when many of the trophies were donated and added to the awards night. Memorable ones included the original founder of the theatre, Veronica Dow who donated cups for best actor and actress. She also remembers the Mrs Kay Trophies for Best Production and for Best Set Construction. Mrs Kay was a great benefactor and attended all the shows in the early days, Laurie Henderson who was Mayor donated cups for best-supporting actor and actress.

Around 1974 the family Of Lyn Hubbard presented the Lyn Hubbard Award which recognised a person who worked tirelessly for the theatre in the backstage or front of house areas and who generally would go unrecognised. Lyn was very involved herself in the early days. The cups continued to be donated over the years with quite a collection up for grabs today.

During the 70's Helen suggested a change of time for the presentation of the awards and has remained a wonderful highlight to finish each year with as part of the annual Christmas Party. This year was no exception as Dolphin members got into their finery for a celebration of a wonderful year of theatre.

The Dolphin Theatre acknowledges the hard work of adjudicators Laurie Mills, Audrey Stickland and Brian O'Connor who have also agreed to continue to adjudicate in 2019.

The winners of this year's awards are:

Best Production: Death Of A Dream Directed by PENELOPE KEEGAN.
Best Lead Actor: PAUL NORELL - An Inspector Calls.
Best Lead Actress: ANNA BAIRD - Death Of A Dream.
Best Support Female: KIM GRIFFIN - Death Of A Dream.
Best Support Male: MIKE DALEY - Death Of A Dream.
Best Character Actress: REBECCA STUBBING - Baskerville.
Best Character Male: MATTHEW VAN DEN BERG - Death Of A Dream.
Best Newcomer Female: LAURA BEVERLEY - An Inspector Calls.
Best Newcomer Male: GREG JAREMA - Nell Gwynn
Best 21 and Under Female: MARIKA VAN DER VOORN - Goodnight Mister Tom.
Best 21 and Under-Male: GEORGE MAUNSELL - Goodnight Mister Tom.
Best Costume Design: CAROLE EVANS - Nell Gwynn
Best Lighting Design: GEORGIA TAYLOR - An Inspector Calls.
Best Set Design: NATHAN HEY - Goodnight Mister Tom.
Best Set Construction:Peter Webster, ITAMARA WHARERAU, LEON PERKINS, TONY SIMMONS, STEVE MAUNSELL - An Inspector Calls.
Best Set Décor: Emma Love - Goodnight Mister Tom
Best Property Design: JENI COTTIER & PANDORA CARLYON - Nell Gwynn
Best Sound Design: RAY GABITES - Goodnight Mister Tom
Scrooge Award (lowest production costs): JULIA LEATHWICK - Hot Water
One-Act Play winner: ZANE FLEMING - 21 Chump Street
Lyn Hubbard Award: TONY SIMMONS - Excellence as Facilities Manager
Presidents Award: JOCELYN MCQUAID - Outstanding Contribution to Dolphin Theatre

Look out for an exciting array of productions from The Dolphin Theatre in 2019.

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