The Excellence in Technical Craft Award

Green scribble with text overlaid, name of award, 2027

Recognises excellence in the technical craft of improv, including innovative formatting, use of character and narrative, and the live use of improvised music, lighting, sound or other responsive craft elements that shape and elevate improvised performance.

Criteria for consideration

  • Have performed as an individual or ensemble in Aotearoa New Zealand during the 1 June 2026 to 1 May 2027 eligibility period.

  • Demonstrates high quality technical craft that is enhancing or innovating improvised performance.

  • Uses elements from the improv toolkit creatively, such as improvised music, lighting, sound, structure or format, to support and extend the work.

  • Shows responsiveness to the live, emergent nature of improv and makes clear craft choices that enhance performers’ offers and audience experience.

  • Contributes to the development of improv practice by experimenting with how technical elements can be created, adapted or performed in the moment, while supporting collaborative and respectful practice.

Tara McEntee

Tara McEntee (Board Secretary) is an experienced improvisor, actor, teacher, and professional lady working in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington. She has been performing improv professionally for over 15 years, and is a bold, unabashed loudmouth about how improv improves lives.She has been part of Improsaurus in Dunedin, the Court Jesters in Christchurch, and is currently a performer and former Board Member of Poprox Improv in Wellington. By day, Tara works as a senior civil servant in the health sector. Wherever she goes, Tara inevitably gets her hands dirty in the nitty gritty of how to do things better, be it in performance, production, administration, or pandemics. She is passionate about the art form of improv, the community, and the potential for improv to be cemented as a core art form in New Zealand.

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The Excellence in Community Engagement Award