Palmerston North's Globe Theatre Awards are here to stay after a backlash on social media this month, ahead of this year's event, put its future in doubt.
Criticism of the award nominations in social media "outbursts" had indicated to Globe Theatre Trust Board chairman Stephen Fisher that the awards needed to be reconsidered.
Fisher said that after feedback was sought from Manawatū theatre groups the trust had decided to keep the awards, which aim to honour the work of non-professional theatre in the region.
"The feeling was they needed to carry on with some minor changes," he said.
"We see them as being an essential part of the local theatrical scene. Hopefully we'll make an effort to attract a bigger audience."
Fisher said responses to a survey the trust sent to groups at the beginning of the month had all been positive.
"It will probably take some assistance for the trust board at organising them... we're hoping to involve the societies more in the awards."
He said theatre groups were 100 per cent in favour of keeping the awards.
The awards will be a similar format next year but with slight adjustments, which were set to be confirmed over the next year.
"I'm glad... there's some wonderful work that goes on in theatre around here and we often don't celebrate it enough."
The Globe Theatre Awards for 2014 were held at the Palmerston North venue on February 27.
The Abbey Musical Theatre's performance of The Phantom of the Opera took out the award for production of the year.
Source: Manawatū Standard
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