Waiting for Godot won the production of the year and best director (Richard Huber) awards.
Otago Daily Times deputy editor Simon Cunliffe won the best script award for his debut play, The Truth Game, which was produced by the Fortune Theatre, while Peter Hayden won best male performance for his portrayal of a world-weary newspaper journalist in the same play.
Other productions recognised last night were The Tutor, Avenue Q, A Shortcut To Happiness and Mates And Lovers.
"It's great when a production comes along that really raises the bar, in terms of standards both for the audience and the actors involved," he said last night.
"The awards were selected by a blind panel, so that even the judges didn't know who had won until they were presented."
ODT reviewer Barbara Frame described Waiting for Godot, which played at the Globe in August, as "superb".
The outstanding contribution to Dunedin theatre award was presented to Wow! Productions producer and Stage South founder Clare Adams.
The lifetime achievement award went to former Dunedin and Fortune Theatre playwright Roger Hall, who penned many of New Zealand's best-loved plays, including Middle Age Spread, Conjugal Rites, Love Off The Shelf, Who Wants To Be 100? and most recently, Four Flat Whites In Italy, staged at the Fortune in 2009.
The Dunedin Theatre Awards were established last year to "celebrate theatrical excellence", Mr Davies said.
Results were. -
Best design (technical): Stephen Kilroy (lighting design for The Tutor, Fortune Theatre).
Best design (scenographic): Peter King (set design for Avenue Q, Fortune Theatre).
Best publicity: James Higgs, Miguel Nitis and Nikki Kidd for Avenue Q, Fortune Theatre).
Emerging talent: Jake Metzger (The Tutor, Fortune Theatre).
Best visiting production: Mates And Lovers (Fabulous Arts Aotearoa New Zealand).
Best script/narrative: Simon Cunliffe (The Truth Game, Fortune Theatre).
Best male performance: Peter Hayden (The Truth Game, Fortune Theatre).
Best female performance: Elena Stejko (A Shortcut To Happiness, Fortune Theatre).
Best director: Richard Huber (Waiting For Godot, Globe Theatre).
Production of the year: Waiting For Godot (Globe Theatre).
Rising star award: Stageworks Theatre Society Otago Inc, RAD Productions and Young, Wild and Fortunate.
Outstanding contribution to Dunedin theatre: Stage South founder Clare Adams.
Lifetime achievement award: playwright Roger Hall.
