Auckland Live Showdown returns with their first live awards night since 2019 

Auckland Live Showdown returns with their first live awards night since 2019, inviting a new group of nominees to join together and celebrate another amazing year of Auckland secondary school performing arts. 

In 2008, the Auckland Community Theatre Trust (ACTT) – founded in 2004 to support and promote excellence in community theatres across Auckland – started Showdown, a competition for Auckland secondary school productions. The aim was to lift the profile of performing arts in secondary schools, recognise those akonga with outstanding technical and performance skills, and be a step on the pathway into a career in the performing arts. 

Held yearly since then, Showdown has recognised over 2000 secondary school kaiako and akonga for their excellent work in the performing arts, with many of these going through to continue performing in community theatres, developing their skills in tertiary study and going on to careers in the performing arts. 

In 2019, Auckland live came on board as a major supporter. The event took on the name Auckland Live Showdown and found a home in the Bruce Mason Centre. Auckland Live are proud to acknowledge and celebrate the amazing talent in the performing arts amongst young people from right across the Auckland region.      

This year’s event will include a stellar line-up of presenters and some special performances throughout the night. Come along to support the secondary schools that have put in the hard mahi that into this year’s productions and see who walks away with each award. 

Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini 
My success should not be bestowed onto me alone, as it was not individual success but success of a collective