WHANGĀREI FRINGE 2022 AWARD WINNERS & FINALISTS

What a ride that was! After 17 days, more than 120 events, lots of laughs and not enough sleep, Whangārei Fringe 2022 drew to a close with the awards ceremony on October 16.

The Fringe team would like to send a HUGE thank-you to the artists, volunteers, audiences, venues, funders, sponsors, and everyone else who helped make the festival the buzzing ball of energy and weirdness that it was. We've loved seeing creatives, particularly local ones, step out of their comfort zone and trying something new.
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Here are the finalists and winners of the 2022 Whangārei Fringe awards:

KOTAHITANGA AWARD (aka the Fuckin’ A, Whangārei! Award), for an event that strengthens and builds community.
FINALISTS:
Comedic Lube Wrestling
Human Library
WINNER:
What the Folk, Whangārei! 
 
BEST MUSIC, for a truly outstanding musical experience.
FINALISTS:
Cicada
Put Up and Shut Up!
Maggie Cocco’s Science for Sociopaths
WINNER:
Tui Mamaki for The Moon and the Machine (Songs from Beneath the Hood of a Mother)

BEST COMEDY, for the funniest show in Fringe.
FINALISTS:
Alexander Sparrow: 50-Minute Slay and Walk Away
Barnie Duncan is Funny for One Hour
Comedic Lube Wrestling
WINNER:
Pat Goldsack’s Swingers Club & Brothel

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE AWARD, for the best performance that makes use of a non–traditional venue.
FINALISTS:
The Imaginarium
Human Library
The Drifting Room
WINNER:
Mermaid Bait – The Elevator Tour

SPOTLIGHT AWARD, for a stand-out work that shines a light on a significant societal issue.
FINALISTS:
Climate Imaginaries
Man Lessons: The Live Show
WINNER:
Barrier Ninja

BEST NEW WORK, for a stand-out new work. The winner and finalists will each receive development support from ONEONESIX, Northland Youth Theatre or Creative Northland.
FINALISTS:
The Tiny Show
To Be Frank
WINNER:
Put Up and Shut Up!

NORTHPOWER BRIGHT SPARK AWARD, for an impressive up-and-coming act that the judges think has a bright future.
FINALISTS:
Cast of Like Sex 
Mutes from Mars
WINNER:
Cicada

BEST PERFORMER, for stand-out individual performers across all genres.
Barnie Duncan for Barnie Duncan is Funny for One Hour
Tomasin Fisher-Johnson for The Tiny Show

BEST IN FRINGE, for the most outstanding show of Whangārei Fringe 2022.
FINALISTS:
Barnie Duncan is Funny for One Hour
The Imaginarium
The Moon and the Machine (Songs From Beneath the Hood of a Mother)
WINNER:
Stories about My Body

SPIRIT OF FRINGE, for the event that best embraced and embodied the ‘let’s get weird’ spirit of Whangārei Fringe.
WINNER:
The Imaginarium

A scene from The Imaginarium.

Instrument petting zoo at What the Folk, Whangārei!

Put Up and Shut Up!

Morgana O'Reilly in Stories About My Body.

Best performers Tomasin Fisher-Johnson (left) and Barnie Duncan (right) with Fringe team member Lutz Hamm. Photo: Chris Schreuder

Mermaid Bait – The Elevator Tour