NOVEMBER 27, 2009
For immediate release
Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards

The nominations have been announced for the 2009 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards, considered to be the one of the most significant events for Wellington City's vibrant arts community.

The Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards well be held at the St James Theatre, December 6, 2009.

Wellington theatre critics have narrowed down the year's best and brightest theatre shows from 100 eligible productions to three nominees in each category.

Also presented on the night will be the Mayor’s Award for Significant Contribution to the Theatre. Last year’s recipient was Sunny Amey (QSM).

The Trustees of the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards Trust have signalled an exciting change from previous years. The awards ceremony will be held at the St James Theatre from 6pm Sunday December 6 with the awards to be announced in the main theatre, followed by buffet dinner and entertainment.

Celebrated chef Ruth Pretty will provide a buffet meal, and Will Ricketts' (Phoenix Foundation, Wild Bill Ricketts) band The Canapés is the entertainment.

Tickets for this unmissable event on the Wellington theatre calendar are available by calling Mark Westerby on
04 498 6311 or emailing mark@theproducer.co.nz

2009 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards
6pm December 6, 2009. St James Theatre, Wellington
Tickets $85 (incl. buffet meal and beverages): 04 498 6311, mark@theproducer.co.nz

2009 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards
Nominees list

MONTANA AWARD FOR MOST ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
Faust Chroma - Free Theatre Christchurch
Frogs Under The Waterfront - Bard Productions
The Intricate Art Of Actually Caring - The Playground Collective

DOWNSTAGE THEATRE AWARD FOR THE MOST PROMISING MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Paul Harrop - Postal
Ralph McCubbin Howell - A Most Outrageous Humbug
Jack Shadbolt - The Intricate Art Of Actually Caring

CIRCA AWARD DONATED BY TACT FOR THE MOST PROMISING FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Sara Allen - Death And The Dreamlife Of Elephants
Sophie Hambleton - Rock 'n' Roll
Sophie Roberts - Wolf's Lair

TOI WHAKAARI: NZ DRAMA SCHOOL & VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON AWARD FOR THE MOST PROMISING NEW DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Eleanor Bishop - The Intricate Art Of Actually Caring
Charlotte Bradley - A Most Outrageous Humbug
Paul Stephanus - Frogs Under The Waterfront

THE THEATRE AWARDS TRUST AWARD FOR COSTUME DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Gillie Coxill - The 39 Steps
Dawa Devereux - A Most Outrageous Humbug
Paul Jenden - Becoming The Courtesan: A Remarkable Seduction

GROUSE LIGHTING AWARD FOR LIGHTING DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Ulli Briese - Collapsing Creation
Jennifer Lal - The Blackening
Adam Walker - Death And The Dreamlife Of Elephants

WETA WORKSHOP AWARD FOR SET DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Tony De Goldi - The Blackening
Brian King - Collapsing Creation
Tracey Monastra - Death And The Dreamlife Of Elephants

WESTERN AUDIO ENGINEERING AWARD FOR SOUND DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Stephen Gallagher - The Blackening
Thomas Press - Wolf's Lair
Andrew Simpson - A Brief History Of Helen Of Troy

CONSTANCE SCOTT KIRKCALDIE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMPOSER OF MUSIC
Gareth Farr - Blood Wedding
Erika Grant, Isaac Smith & Amanda Mclean – Bedlam
Tane Upjohn-Beatson - A Most Outrageous Humbug

PETER HARCOURT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NEW PLAYWRIGHT OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY BATS THEATRE & TAKI RUA PRODUCTIONS
Arthur Meek - Collapsing Creation
James Nokise - The Minister's Son
Lucy O'Brien - Postal

THE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY OUTSTANDING NEW NEW ZEALAND PLAY OF THE YEAR
Biography Of My Skin - Stuart McKenzie
Collapsing Creation - Arthur Meek
The Intricate Art Of Actually Caring - Eli Kent

THE ORBIT CORPORATE TRAVEL AWARD FOR SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Michelle Amas - Rock 'n' Roll
Carmel McGlone - Blood Wedding
Amy Tarleton - Hedda Gabler

CHAPMAN TRIPP AWARD FOR SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Christopher Brougham - Collapsing Creation
Wesley Dowdell - Whero's New Net
Simon Vincent - Year Of The Rat

Seven nominees for these four categories
EAT WELLINGTON ACCOLADE FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
ST JAMES THEATRE CHARITABLE TRUST ACCOLADE FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
CHAPMAN TRIPP AWARD FOR ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
THEATRE AWARDS TRUST AWARD FOR ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Erin Banks - A Brief History Of Helen Of Troy
Geraldine Brophy - Blood Wedding
Jed Brophy - The Blackening
Stuart Devenie - Hatch or The Plight Of The Penguins
Catherine Downes - Collapsing Creation
Peter Hambleton - Collapsing Creation
Miranda Harcourt - Biography Of My Skin

THE MUSEUM HOTEL AWARD FOR DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Leo Gene Peters - Death And The Dreamlife Of Elephants
David O'Donnell - Collapsing Creation
Tim Spite - Biography Of My Skin

CHAPMAN TRIPP AWARD FOR PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
Collapsing Creation - Conditional Productions and Downstage Theatre
Death And The Dreamlife Of Elephants - a slightly isolated dog and BATS Theatre
The Intricate Art Of Actually Caring - The Playground Collective

ENDS