Ko Tainui te waka

Ko Ngāti Maniapoto te iwi

Ko Ngāti Apakura te hapū

Ko Pirongia-o-Te Aroaro-ō-Kahu te maunga

Kāwhia moana, Kāwhia kai, Kāwhia tangata

Tihe maui ora!

Pakaru by Mitch Tawhi Thomas, (Senior Acting Tutor here at Toi Whakaari, phenomenal playwright and accomplished actor) has been nominated for seven awards at the Wellington Theatre Awards 2019.  Mitch also picked up a nomination in the Outstanding Performance category for his portrayal of Claudius in the Summer Shakespeare’s production of Hamlet.

The nominations are:

New NZ Play

Mitch Tawhi Thomas – Pakaru

Director of the Year

Mitch Tawhi Thomas – Pakaru

Production of the Year

Pakaru – Hāpai Productions

Excellence Award for Performance Ensemble

Pakaru – Hāpai Productions

Set Designer

Sean Coyle – Pakaru

Lighting Designer

Jennifer Lal – Pakaru and Orchids

Sound Designer

Thomas Lambert – Pakaru, Ransom and Story Studio Live 2019

Outstanding Performance

Mitch Tawhi Thomas – Hamlet

Pakaru won the 2019 Adam NZ Play Award, the second time Mitch has claimed the top prize, his first being in 2012 for Hui.

The Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, 8 December in Shed 6.