Wellington Theatre Awards | |
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Type | Wellington, New Zealand theatre awards |
Formerly called | Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards |
Established | 2015 |
Website | https://wellingtontheatre.wixsite.com/awards |
The Ngā Whakarākei O Whātaitai /WellingtonTheatre Awards are the main theatre awards in New Zealand's capital city, Wellington established in 2015 after the previous awards sponsor ended their support. They are awarded annually.
The previous awards were called the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards, established in 1992 and sponsored by law firm Chapman Tripp. [1]
The 32nd Annual Wellington Theatre Awards of 2023 were presented at the Hannah Playhouse on Sunday 10th December. Funded by Wellington City Council, BATS Theatre, Taki Rua Productions, Circa Theatre and Playmarket. [2]
Award | Winner | Notes |
---|---|---|
Mayoral Significant Contribution to Theatre | Professor David O’Donnell | |
The Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer Award | Finley Hughes | The Haka Party Incident |
The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer | Tessa Redman | LOVE/LOVE/LOVE/LOVE/LOVE |
Lighting Designer of the Year | Isadora Lao | The Coven on Grey Street, O Le Pepelo, Le Gaio Ma Le Pala’ai, ARAWHATA |
Sound Designer of the Year | Oliver Devlin | Whole New Woman |
Outstanding Composer of Music | Freya Daly Sadgrove, Oliver Devlin, Samuel Austin, Ingrid Saker and Thomas Friggens | Whole New Woman |
Set Designer of the Year | Dan Williams | Public Service Announcements: Election 2023 |
Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Meg Rollandi | The Importance of Being Earnest |
The Peter Harcourt New Playwright | Freya Daly Sadgrove | Whole New Woman |
New Aotearoa Play | Katie Wolfe | The Haka Party Incident |
The Absolutely Most Original Production | One Night Band | |
Excellence Award for Ensemble | ARAWHATA | |
The Dorothy McKegg Actor of the Year | Julie Edwards | The Sun and the Wind |
The Grant Tilly Performer of the Year | Erina Daniels | ONO |
The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Nī Dekkers-Reihana | The Haka Party Incident |
The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Isobel MacKinnon | The Importance of Being Earnest |
Director of the Year | Katie Wolfe | The Haka Party Incident |
Community Awards | ||
The Kate Sheppard Grindset Award | Maeve O’Connell | |
The Guardians of the Future | Save VUW Theatre – Kerryn Palmer, James Wenley, Sarah Thomasson, Lucas Neal, David O’Donnell, Paul Tozer, Rebekah De Roo and Katie Hill | |
A Leading Light of Accessible Theatre | Jo Marsh | |
Rangatahi Award for the Next Generation of Excellence | Wellington Young Actors Group | |
The Theatre Style Icon Award | Colleen McColl |
Presented at a ceremony at the Hannah Playhouse on Sunday 11th December 2022. Funded by Wellington City Council, BATS Theatre, Taki Rua Productions, Circa Theatre and Playmarket. [3]
Award | Winner | Notes |
---|---|---|
Mayoral Significant Contribution to Theatre | Rangimoana Taylor | [3] |
The Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer Award | Reon Bell | Wednesday to Come by Renee , Flames |
The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer Award | Bjorn Aslund | ROXY, Sublime Interludes, The Everchanging Boy, An Honest Conversation |
Lighting Designer of the Year | Brynne Tasker-Poland | Skin Tight, UNDOING |
Sound Designer of the Year | Jason Wright | Destination Mars |
Production Designer of the Year | Lucas Neal | Skin Tight by Gary Henderson |
The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Emma Stevens | ROXY |
Outstanding Composer of Music | Tane Upjohn-Beatson | The Griegol |
The Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the Year | Isaac Martyn | He Māori? |
New Aotearoa Play | Carrie Rudzinski and Olivia Hall | Hysterical |
The Absolutely Positively Most Original Production | First Buzzard at the Body By Elliot Vaughan | |
Excellence Award for Choreography | Skin Tight by Gary Henderson | |
Excellence Awards for Innovative Contribution to the Industry and/or Community | DAFT: Disabled Artist’s Festival of Theatre Performing Arts of Young People Aotearoa (PAYPA) Fresh off the Page | three awards given |
The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year | Rutene Spooner | Thoroughly Modern Maui |
The Dorothy McKegg Actor of the Year | Miriama McDowell | The Wasp |
The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Jthan Morgan | The Mermaid, The Tiwhas, Too Much Hair, Pinocchio |
The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Ella Gilbert | Skin Tight by Gary Henderson |
Excellence Award for Ensemble | The Swing by Helen Pearse-Otene | |
Excellence Award for Theatre for Young Audiences | not awarded | |
Excellence Award for Theatre for Social Change | Te Ahu Taiohi | Produced by Tāwhiri |
Director of the Year | Hannah Smith | The Griegol by Hannah Smith and Ralph McCubbin Howell |
Production of the Year | The Griegol by Hannah Smith and Ralph McCubbin Howell | |
Community Awards Heart of Gold Awards: Sepelini Mua’au, Hannah Kelly, Nī Dekkers-Reihana, Austin Harrison, Aimee Sullivan Save the Day Award: Tony Black Community Arts Mahi Award: Voice Arts Big Mentor Energy Award: Deb McGuire Front of House Superstar Award: Harish Purohit Voice of Reason Award: Sam Brooks The Newsies Award: Simon Howard |
Because of the massive disruption and closure to performing arts in 2020 caused by COVID-19 the awards took a different approach with awards categories being: [4]
In addition in 2020 there was the usual Mayoral Significant Contribution to Theatre which went to Carolyn Henwood. [4]
Award | Winner | Notes |
---|---|---|
Mayoral Significant Contribution to Theatre | Carolyn Henwood | Henwood "was one of the group of 15 who founded Circa Theatre in 1976", and "was the driver in establishing the Theatre Artists Charitable Trust". [5] |
Theatre Angels | Carrie Green Eleanor Strathern George Fowler Jake Brown Jean Sergent Vanessa Imminik | For lifting people's spirits during lockdown. "For working tirelessly through lockdown contacting hundreds of Circa patrons to refund tickets" "An incredible performer, improviser, dancer, drag king extraordinaire" "Jake Brown’s rage energy, gleaming smile and beautiful openness lights up our community" "For her enormous commitment to and involvement in the Wellington theatre industry" "For going out of her way to keep everyone informed of job listings and important info" [5] |
Community Award: Twenty Twenty Best Entrance | Jennifer O'Sullivan | "Long-time NZ Improv Festival Director Jennifer O'Sullivan not only produced and directed the Festival this year, but gave birth to her first child on opening night." [5] |
Community Award: Genuine Good Guy Award | William (Bill) Paankink - Te Auaha | "an all round genuine good person in our community" [5] |
Community Award: Best Lockdown Mentor Award | Sasha Gibb | "for mentoring numerous young, emerging theatre and events artists, producers and general practitioners over lockdown" [5] |
Community Award: The # Pivot to Digital Award | Tane Hipango, Brynne Tasker-Poland and Benny Jennings | “the sole reason that BATS was able to get into livestreaming as soon as lockdown started”. [5] |
Ghost Light Award | BATS Theatre Circa Theatre PANNZ - Auckland Live Tahi Festival Tanemahuta Gray & Meg Williams | "BATS once again proved to be a leader and safe haven in our community" "During the chaos of the March lockdown, this theatre stepped up as a community leader" "Claire Mabey is a force of nature in the Wellington arts community." "the PANNZ Online Hui Series provided us with a space to come together to share knowledge" "The Tahi Festival supported emerging artists, the development of new work, and honoured the whakapapa of solo performance in Aotearoa." "For their mahi and advocacy for the theatre and wider arts sectors" [5] |
The 2019 awards ceremony was held on Sunday 8 December at Shed 6 on the Wellington waterfront. Stella Reid was MC. [6]
Award | Winner | Notes |
---|---|---|
The Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer Award | Sam Tippet, Stage Manager Hamlet and Ransom | |
The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer Award | Tahi, New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance | |
Lighting Designer of the Year | Jennifer Lal, Pakaru | |
Sound Designer of the Year | Jason Wright, The Clearing | |
Set Designer of the Year | Sean Coyle, Pakaru | |
The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Rose Philpott and Tori Manley-Tapu, Orchids | |
The Constance Scott Kirkcaldie Award for Outstanding Composer of Music | Eden Mulholland, Orchids | |
The Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the Year | Abby Howells, HarleQueen | |
Outstanding New NZ Play | Mitch Tawhi Thomas, Pakaru | |
The Absolutely Positively Most Original Production | Captain Cook Thinks Again, Barbarian Productions | |
The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year | Jason Te Kare, Cellfish | |
The Dorothy McKegg Actor of the Year | Carrie Green, Cellfish | |
The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Madeline McNamara, The Attitudes – Refusing Performance | |
The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Karin McCracken, Yes Yes Yes | |
Excellence Award for Performance Ensemble | Pakaru, Hāpai Productions | |
Excellence Award for Theatre for Young Audiences | Story Studio Live 2019, Capital E National Theatre for Children | |
Excellence Award for Theatre for Social Change | Yes Yes Yes, Eleanor Bishop and Karin McCracken, produced by Zanetti Productions | |
Director of the Year | Jo Randerson, Captain Cook Thinks Again | |
The Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust Production of the Year | Pakaru, Hāpai Productions |
The 2018 awards ceremony was held at Te Papa on Sunday 9 December, MCed by Jo Randerson. The event had a theme honouring 125 years of women's suffrage. [7]
Award | Winner | Notes |
---|---|---|
The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer Award | Eleanor Strathern, Producer, A Mulled Whine | |
The Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer Award | Trae Te Wiki, Acting Hine Kahāwai; Writing Beneath Skin and Bone | |
The Mayoral Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre | Sue Paterson | Accepted posthumously by her son Jack Paterson. [7] |
Lighting Designer of the Year | Rachel Marlow, Wild Dogs and Peter and the Wolf | |
Sound Designer of the Year | Eden Mulholland , Meremere and Rushes | |
The Constance Scott Kirkaldie Outstanding Composer of Music | Robin Kelly, Valerie | |
Set Designer of the Year | John Verryt, Rushes | |
The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Sheila Horton, Bloomsbury Women and the Wild Colonial Girl | |
The Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the Year | Hōhepa Waitoa, He Kura E Huna Ana | |
Outstanding new New Zealand Play of the Year | D. F. Mamea, Still Life with Chickens | |
The Absolutely Positively Most Original Production of the Year | Jane Doe, Zanetti Productions | |
The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year | Rodney Bell, Meremere | |
The Dorothy McKegg Actress of the Year | Anapela Polataivao, Wild Dogs Under my Skirt | |
The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Goretti Chadwick, Still Life with Chickens | |
The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Anya Tate-Manning, My Best Dead Friend | |
Excellence Award for AV Design | Rowan Pierce, Big J Stylez and Meremere and Rushes | |
Excellence Award for Puppetry | Peter and The Wolf | |
Excellence Award for Community Engagement | Taurima Vibes, Breathe and All Good | |
Director of the Year | Malia Johnston, Meremere and Rushes | |
The Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust Production of the Year | Wild Dogs Under my Skirt, NZ Festival and FCC | "for its expert staging and cast of powerful Pasefika women" [7] |
The 2017 awards ceremony was held on Sunday 10 December at St James Theatre, Wellington, and MCed for a third year by James Nokise. The Mayoral Award was presented by Justin Lester. [8]
Award | Winner | Notes |
---|---|---|
The George Webby Most Promising Newcomer | Karin McCracken, Wine Lips, Body Double | |
The Willem Wassenaar Most Promising Newcomer | Lucas Neal, Gallatea, Yellow Face, Marine Snow | |
The Mayoral Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre | Laughton Pattrick – composer, musical director, musician, singing teacher | "whose decades of work in theatre, as a composer and as a music teacher have enriched the lives of thousands of students, theatre makers and theatre goers." [8] |
Lighting Designer of the Year | Marcus McShane, The Father, Body Double, A Doll’s House | |
Sound Designer of the Year | Lucien Johnson, Lobsters | |
Set Designer of the Year | Ian Harman, A Doll’s House, Hand to God | |
The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Cara Louise Waretini, The Night Mechanics | |
The Constance Scott Kirkaldie Outstanding Composer of Music | Alex Taylor, Dido and Aeneas: Recomposed | |
The Peter Harcourt New Playwright of the Year | Natano Keni and Sarita So, Riverside Kings | |
Outstanding New New Zealand Play | Emma Kinane, Anahera | |
The Absolutely Positively Most Original Production | Dido and Aeneas: Recomposed | |
The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year | Tom Clarke, Wine Lips/Hand to God | |
The Dorothy McKegg Actress of the Year | Neenah Dekkers-Reihana, Anahera, The Mooncake and the Kūmara | |
The Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Carmel McGlone, Lobsters | |
The Michele Amas Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Dawn Cheong, The Night Mechanics | |
Excellence Award for Design | Tanemahuta Gray, Gillie Coxhill, Nathan McKendry, Tiki Taane, Sam Trevethick, Guy Benfield, David Strong, Rowan Pierce, Dave Spark and Matthew Knight for Tiki Taane Mahuta. | For full production design [8] |
Excellence Award for Ensemble Performance | Lobsters, Borderline Arts Ensemble | |
Excellence Award for Innovative Contribution to the Industry and/or community | Te Haukāinga – Taki Rua Productions | |
Director of the Year | Jane Yonge, The Basement Tapes | |
The Jack Jeffs Production of the Year | Body Double | A STAB Commission, from Zanetti Productions [8] |
The 2016 awards ceremony was held on Sunday 11 December at Te Whaea, hosted by James Nokise. [9]
Award | Winner | Notes |
---|---|---|
Most Promising Male Newcomer | Tom Clarke, The Devil's Half-Acre | |
Most Promising Female Newcomer | Susie Berry, Jekyll and Hyde | |
The George Webby Most Promising New Director Of The Year | Stella Reid, Orphans | |
The Peter Harcourt Outstanding New Playwright Of The Year | Carrie Green, Man Parts– Dannevirke’s Greatest Female Tenor | |
The Judges’ Wildcard | Barbarian Productions | "both for their inventive and bold performances, as well as their creative community ignition and inspiration through workshops, inclusive practices and Industry talks – diligently making society better through their work." [9] |
Lighting Designer Of The Year | Rachel Marlow, Dust Pilgrim | |
Set Designer Of The Year | Poppy Serano, Dust Pilgrim | |
The Paul Jenden Costume Designer Of The Year | Sopheak Seng, The Vultures | |
Sound Designer Of The Year | Oliver Devlin, The Seven Sons of Supparath | |
Mayor's Award For Service To Theatre | Linda Wilson, Circa Theatre | "for her tireless work behind the scenes of our beloved Circa Theatre" [9] |
The Constance Scott Kirkaldie Award For Outstanding Composer Of Music | Hayley Sproull, Vanilla Miraka | |
Absolutely Positively Most Original Production Of The Year | A Trial– Barbarian Productions and Binge Culture Collective | |
Outstanding New New Zealand Play Of The Year | Rob Mokaraka,Shot Bro – Confessions of a Depressed Bullet | |
Supporting Actor Of The Year | Andrew Paterson, Orphans | |
Supporting Actress Of The Year | Anya Tate-Manning, Hudson and Halls Live | |
The Richard Campion Accolade For Outstanding Performance | Rob Mokaraka, Shot Bro – Confessions of a Depressed Bullet | |
The Grant Tilly Actor Of The Year | Chris Parker, Hudson and Halls Live | |
The Dorothy Mckegg Actress Of The Year | Hayley Sproull, Vanilla Miraka | |
Director Of The Year | Kip Chapman & Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Hudson and Halls Live in Wellington | |
Production Of The Year | Hudson and Halls Livein Wellington – Silo Theatre | "by Silo Theatre Auckland, telling a beautiful love story with humour, flamboyance and charm." [9] |
The 2015 awards ceremony was held on Sunday 6 December at Circa Theatre, hosted by James Nokise. The biggest winner was All Our Sons by Witi Ihimaera, produced by Taki Rua Productions and Circa Theatre. There were 21 categories of award, awarded as follows: [10] [11]
Award | Winner | Notes |
---|---|---|
Mayor's Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre | The Critics | "Especially noted was Laurie Atkinson (Evening Post / Dominion Post) for his 35 years service as a Wellington Theatre Reviewer" [11] |
Most Promising Male Newcomer | Andrew Paterson – The Angry Brigade | |
Most Promising Female Newcomer | Carrie Green – Conversations With My Penis | |
The George Webby Most Promising New Director | Miriama McDowell – Nga Pou Wahine | |
The Peter Harcourt Outstanding New Playwright | Helen Vivienne Fletcher – How To Catch A Grim Reaper | |
The Paul Jenden Costume Designer of the Year | Ian Harman - The Mystery of Edwin Drood | |
Lighting Designer of the Year | Jen Lal – All Our Sons | |
Set Designer of the Year | Ian Harman – Ache | |
Sound Designer of the Year | Maaka McGregor – All Our Sons | |
Most Original Production | All Our Sons – Taki Rua Productions / Circa Theatre | |
The Constance Scott Kircaldie Outstanding Composer of Music | Phil Jones – The Kitchen at the End of the World | |
Absolutely Positively Outstanding New New Zealand Play | Not in our Neighbourhood – Jamie McCaskill / Tikapa Productions | |
Supporting Actor of the Year | Jamie McCaskill – Seed | |
Supporting Actress of the Year | Brianne Kerr – Richard III | |
The Richard Campion Accolade for Outstanding Performance | Renee Lyons – Ache | |
The Dorothy McKegg Actress of the Year | Kali Kopae – Not In Our Neighbourhood | |
The Grant Tilly Actor of the Year | Rob Mokaraka – All Our Sons | |
Director of the Year | Nathaniel Lees – All Our Sons | |
Production of the Year | All Our Sons – Taki Rua Productions / Circa Theatre | |
Critics’ Wildcard | Tawata Productions | "for their tireless and inspired work creating Matariki Festival" [11] |
Outstanding Contribution to the Wellington Theatre | Timothy Gordon | "for his advocacy and leadership of the Theatre Awards" [11] |
Outstanding Contribution to Wellington Theatre | Neil Gray, of Chapman Tripp | "for his patronage and support of the Theatre Awards" [11] |
Paolo Rotondo is a New Zealand director, writer and actor of stage and screen.
The Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards were the main theatre awards in New Zealand's capital city, Wellington, from 1992–2014, and have been succeeded by the Wellington Theatre Awards.
Hone Vivian Kouka is a New Zealand playwright. He has written 13 plays, which have been staged in New Zealand and worldwide including Canada, South Africa, New Caledonia and Britain. Kouka's plays have won multiple awards at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards, the 'Oscars' of New Zealand theatre. Kouka has also worked as a theatre director and producer. In 2009, Kouka was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to contemporary Māori theatre.
Victor John Rodger is a New Zealand journalist, actor and award-winning playwright of Samoan and Pākehā heritage. Rodger's play Sons won acclaim at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards (1998) and received the Best New Writer and Most Outstanding New New Zealand Play awards. In 2001, he won the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award. Other plays include Ranterstantrum (2002) and My Name is Gary Cooper (2007), produced and staged by Auckland Theatre Company and starred a Samoan cast including Robbie Magasiva, Anapela Polataivao, Goretti Chadwick and Kiwi actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand.
Briar Grace-Smith is a screenwriter, director, actor, and short story writer from New Zealand. She has worked as an actor and writer with the Maori theatre cooperative Te Ohu Whakaari and Maori theatre company He Ara Hou. Early plays Don't Call Me Bro and Flat Out Brown, were first performed at the Taki Rua Theatre in Wellington in 1996. Waitapu, a play written by Grace-Smith, was devised by He Ara Hou and performed by the group on the Native Earth Performing Arts tour in Canada in 1996.
Riwia Brown is a New Zealand playwright. She is the screenwriter of the popular and award-winning New Zealand movie Once Were Warriors (1994). The Once Were Warriors screenplay, adapted from the book of the same name by Alan Duff, gained Brown the Best Screenplay award at the 1994 New Zealand Film and TV Awards. Brown has written for theatre, television and films.
Rangimoana Taylor is an actor, theatre director, storyteller from New Zealand with more than 35 years in the industry. He has performed nationally and internationally and was the lead in the feature film Hook Line and Sinker (2011). He was an intrinsic part of three Māori theatre companies, Te Ohu Whakaari and Taki Rua in Wellington and Kilimogo Productions in Dunedin.
Sarah Delahunty is a New Zealand writer and director who was born in Wellington. An award-winning playwright, Delahunty has written over 30 plays, often focussing on works for youth.
Ralph McCubbin Howell is a Wellington-based New Zealand playwright and actor. He was the recipient of the 2014 Bruce Mason Playwriting Award. His work The Devil's Half Acre was commissioned and produced by the 2016 New Zealand International Festival of the Arts.
Eli Kent is a New Zealand playwright and actor. Kent holds a master's in scriptwriting from Victoria University of Wellington's International Institute of Modern Letters.
Albert Alexander Amahou Belz is a New Zealand actor, writer and lecturer.
Taki Rua is a theatre organisation based in Wellington, New Zealand that has produced many contemporary Māori theatre productions. Taki Rua has been going since 1983 and has had several name changes over that time including The New Depot, Depot Theatre and Taki Rua / The Depot. The full current name is Taki Rua Productions. Since inception the mission of Taki Rua has been to showcase work from New Zealand. Because of this and the longevity of Taki Rua many significant New Zealand actors, directors, writers, designers and producers have part of the history including Riwia Brown, Nathaniel Lees, Rachel House and Taika Waititi.
Nga Tangata Toa is a 1994 play by New Zealand playwright Hone Kouka. The play has themes of revenge, family honour, and long-held secrets.
The Kia Mau Festival, previously called Ahi Kaa Festival, is a biennial performing arts festival in Wellington, New Zealand. In te reo Māori, kia mau is "a call to stay - an invitation to join us".
Rob Mokaraka is a New Zealand playwright and actor. He affiliates to Ngāpuhi and Ngāi Tūhoe.
Catherine Patricia Downes is a New Zealand theatre director, actor, dramaturg and playwright. Of Māori descent, she affiliates to Ngāi Tahu. Downes wrote a one-woman play The Case of Katherine Mansfield, which she has performed more than 1000 times in six countries over twenty years. She has been the artistic director of the Court Theatre in Christchurch and the director of Downstage Theatre in Wellington. She lives on Waiheke Island and works as a freelance actor, director and playwright.
Miriama McDowell is a New Zealand actor, director and playwright. She is a graduate of Toi Whakaari.
Jason Te Kare is a New Zealand director, playwright and actor.
Susan Accushla Wilson is a New Zealand director and actor. Wilson was one of the founders of Wellington's Circa Theatre and the Circa Council in 1976 and has had a long career at the theatre as a stage actor and director.
David John O'Donnell is a New Zealand theatre director, actor, and academic based in Wellington, New Zealand. He has taught at Victoria University of Wellington since 1999, and is as of 2021 a full professor.