The Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards are the theatre "Oscars" in New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 and honour the best stage talent and productions in the capital Wellington

Wellington

Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...

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Established in 1992 and sponsored by law firm Chapman Tripp

Chapman Tripp

Established in New Zealand in 1875, Chapman Tripp is one of New Zealand's largest commercial law firms, with 52 partners and around 220 legal staff across its offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch...

, the prestigious awards are a main highlight in Wellington's art and social calendar. The presentations also recognise important contributions to the arts and the community. The winners are selected by a panel of Wellington theatre critics.

Award categories include accolades such as Production of the Year, Best Actress and Best Actor, Outstanding New Playwright as well as the best in Lighting Design, Costume, Set Design and Sound Design.

The main theatres in Wellington such as Bats Theatre

Bats Theatre

BATS Theatre is New Zealand's leading venue for the development of new theatre practitioners and plays. Most of the productions at Bats Theatre are New Zealand works...

, Circa Theatre, Taki Rua Theatre and Downstage Theatre

Downstage Theatre

The Downstage Theatre is a theatre in Wellington, New Zealand, and the country's longest running professional theatre, established in 1964.The founders at the inaugural meeting in the Wellington Public Library on 15 May 1964 were actors Peter Bland, Tim Elliott and Martyn Sanderson, with...

, each have an individual Production of the Year award for their best production during the year.

Notable Winners

Winners at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards include the most acclaimed names in New Zealand theatre. Such names include directors such as multiple winner Colin McColl

Colin McColl (director)

Colin McColl ONZM is a distinguished director in theatre, opera and television from New Zealand. He is a leading figure in the world of professional theatre in the country, winning numerous awards as well as working internationally with major national companies. McColl's career spans more than 30...

 (Laureate Award, Arts Foundation of New Zealand 2007), Miranda Harcourt

Miranda Harcourt

Miranda Catherine Millais Harcourt, ONZM is a New Zealand actress and acting coach. She is best known for her role as "Gemma" in the 1980s TV drama series Gloss, and has appeared in such films as For Good in 2003 and Fracture in 2004. Her mother is actress Dame Kate Harcourt...

, Susan Wilson, Nathaniel Lees

Nathaniel Lees

Nathaniel Lees is a New Zealand born actor and theatre director of Samoan descent. He is known for his role as Captain Mifune in The Matrix trilogy and his role as "Uglúk" in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. He has also had roles on the TV series Young Hercules, Hercules: The Legendary...

, Cathy Downes, Ross Jolly and Rachel Teaomarama House.

Best Actress winners include Jennifer Ludlam, Katherine McRae, Carmel McGlone, Grace Hoet and Madeleine Sami

Madeleine Sami

Madeleine Jane Sami is a New Zealand actress, comedian and musician.Madeleine was raised in the Onehunga suburb of Auckland, New Zealand; and attended Onehunga High School. She is of Irish and Fiji Indian heritage. Madeleine starred in the long running New Zealand soap Shortland Street from...

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Best Actor winners include Ray Henwood, Tim Balme

Tim Balme

Timothy Guy Balme is an actor and screenwriter from New Zealand. He's most famous for his roles on the long-running soap opera Shortland Street and Mercy Peak, as well as lead roles in the cult favorites Braindead and Jack Brown Genius...

, Grant Tilly, Dave Fane and Peter Hambleton.
In 2006, acclaimed Maori actor George Henare

George Henare

George Winiata Henare, CNZM, OBE is an acclaimed New Zealand actor with a distinguished career spanning more than three decades.-Biography:In 1988, he was awarded an OBE for Services to Theatre...

 (NZ Laureate Award, Arts Foundation of New Zealand 2008) received a Chapman Tripp Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Willy Loman in Circa Theatre’s Death of a Salesman. Playwrights include David Geary

David Geary

David Geary is an award winning playwright from New Zealand. He also writes for television.Geary studied acting at Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School in Wellington. He graduated in 1987. His play Lovelocks Dream Run was published by Victoria University Press in 1993. The play is studied at...

, Briar Grace-Smith

Briar Grace-Smith

Briar Grace-Smith is a playwright and screenwriter from New Zealand. Her first major play, Ngā Pou Wahine earned her the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award . Her play Purapurawhetū won Best New Zealand Play at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. In 2000, she received the Arts Foundation Laureate Award. In...

, Hone Kouka

Hone Kouka

Hone Kouka is an acclaimed 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....

, Hori Ahipene

Hori Ahipene

Hori Ahipene is an actor and director in theatre, film and television in New Zealand. He's also an award winning playwright with the Māori play Hide 'n Seek co-written with Hone Kouka.He became a well known face in New Zealand for his dramatic performances in films such as Jubilee as well as parts...

 and Kirk Torrance

Kirk Torrance

Kirk Torrance is an actor and award-winning playwright from New Zealand, best known for his role as Wayne Judd in Outrageous Fortune. He is also a former Commonwealth Games swimmer. His debut play Strata won Best New Playwright at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards...

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