Horowhenua was well represented at the Regional Theatre Awards in Palmerston North this week, with nominees from all three theatres in the region and a large contingent of supporters travelling up to support them on the night.
Levin Little Theatre had a successful night for their play An Unseasonable fall of Snow with seven nominations and six awards.
Taylor Salton, Mike Pyefinch and Mark Peni were among the winners on the night.
Salton received awards for Emerging Performer, Connection Between Characters and Best Male Actor, Pyefinch also received an award for Connection Between Characters, while Peni took out the categories of Concept and Design (Play) and Debut Director.
The play also received the award for top Play of 2018.
A lifetime achievement award was presented to theatre stalwart Joyce Corrin in recognition of the huge contribution to theatre she has made over many years.
Young actor Jonty Praat of Levin Performing Arts Society also did well, receiving the Youth Performer award.
Spokesperson Lorraine Lepper said the Levin theatre scene was incredibly proud of all its nominees and talent, as well as the huge amount of support in the region, including the many supporters who made the journey to the awards night.
"The venue would have looked a lot emptier on the night without our supporters taking up nearly a third of the room," she said. "It's great to see Horowhenua people supporting our thespians."
The evening included a masquerade gala.
Among those presenting awards was Horowhenua District Councillor and arts supporter Victoria Kaye-Simmons and the event was MCd by Centrepoint Theatre's Daniel Pengelly.
Lepper said Levin Performing Arts Society was now looking forward to its own awards night on March 16, which would celebrate the 2018 shows, acknowledging the three diverse productions performed last year.
The full list of nominees for that event can be viewed at www.levinperformingarts.com