The simplest way to describe the Auckland Theatre Awards - colloquially the Hackmans - is that it's like the work Christmas party for the entire theatre industry. There are costumes. There are awards, some tongue-in-cheek and some serious after the establishment of the Excellence Awards last year, and some not-so-gentle roasting of everyone from Auckland Theatre Company to Te Pou to Young and Hungry.

Co-founders Kip Chapman and Rachel Forman passed on the reins last year to Eli Matthewson and Sophie Dowson, with the hosting duties passing from Chris Parker to Kura Forrester. The transition was seamless. Forrester was a charming and spiky MC, and the evening was one giant wink celebrating the year and the people who made it, while also reminding us that this is theatre and we shouldn't take it so seriously all the time.

Excellence Awards

Judges:
Metro editor-at-large Simon Wilson, producer Angela Green, playwright Sam Brooks, actor and director Jason Te Kare, costume designer Elizabeth Whiting and vocal coach Linda Cartwright

Achieving Excellence Across All Aspects of the Production

The Book of Everything - Silo Theatre

Little Shop of Horrors - Live Live Cinema

All Your Wants and Needs Fulfilled Forever - PlayGround Collective

Hudson & Halls Live!

Achieving Excellence in Set and Lighting Design

Tony Rabbit for A Doll's House

Achieving Excellence in Sound Design and Composition

Thomas Press for his work throughout 2015

The Lifetime Achievement Award

Chosen by the industry

Actor George Henare CNZM, OBE

Mr. Fahrenheit Publicity Best Newcomers

Chosen by the industry

Christine Urquhart – Set & Costume designer

Jordan Keyzer – Stage Manager & Producer

Gaby Solomona - Actor

People’s Choice Awards

The HACKMAN Cup for Most Original Production

All Your Wants and Needs Fulfilled Forever – PlayGround Collective

Mangere Arts Centre Award for Best Ensemble

The company of The Book of Everything – Silo Theatre

The Auckland Actors Award for Best Death

Rose Matafeo in Rose Matafeo – Finally Dead

The Elephant Publicity Award for Best Poster

Ernest Rutherford: Everyone Can Science!

The Gail Cowan Award for Best Viral Marketing Campaign

The talking lightbulb in All Your Wants and Needs Fulfilled Forever

The TAPAC Award for Best Entrance

Kate McGill & Frith Horan in The Best Possible Album Party That Anybody Has Ever Been To

The Equity New Zealand Award for Best show by Emerging Artists

Alice Canton in Orangutan

The Playmarket Award for Best line in a Kiwi Play

"She doesn't have a phone in her car - it's not Star Trek” - Hudson & Halls Live!

The Johnson & Laird Management Award for Best Accent

Luci Hare in Lysistrata

The APRA Award for Best Music

Gareth Hobbs for All Your Wants and Needs Fulfilled Forever

The Kathryn Rawlings and Associates Award for Best Comeback

Ben Crowder directing Sit On It again

The South Pacific Pictures Award for Best Technical F*#k up

Declan Greene’s note before Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography

The Actors Program Award for Best Nudity

Edwin Beats in Not Psycho

The Sharu Loves Hats Award for Best Pash

Eli Kent and the mannequin in All Your Wants and Needs Fulfilled Forever

The Pantograph Punch Award for Best Critic

James Wenley

The Tour-Makers Award for Travelling Hero

A Boy Wonder