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.
Established in 1992 and sponsored by law firm Chapman Tripp, the prestigious awards were a highlight in Wellington's art and social calendar. The presentations also recognised important contributions to the arts and the community. The winners were selected by a panel of Wellington theatre critics. In 2014 Chapman Tripp ended their 22 year sponsorship due to a shift in their corporate social responsibility programme.
The main theatres in Wellington such as BATS Theatre, Circa Theatre, and Downstage Theatre each had 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 (Laureate Award, Arts Foundation of New Zealand 2007), Miranda Harcourt, Susan Wilson, Nathaniel Lees, Cathy Downes, Ross Jolly and Rachel Teaomarama House.
Best Actress winners include Jennifer Ludlam, Katherine McRae, Carmel McGlone, Grace Hoet and Madeleine Sami.
Best Actor winners include Ray Henwood, Tim Balme, Grant Tilly, Dave Fane and Peter Hambleton. In 2006, acclaimed Maori actor George Henare (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, Briar Grace-Smith, Hone Kouka, Hori Ahipene and Kirk Torrance.
1992 awards Award Winner Bats Production of the Year A Dangerous Game Circa Production of the Year Joyful and Triumphant Costume designer of the Year Prunella Wilde in The Glass Menagerie Director of the Year Susan Wilson in Joyful and Triumphant Downstage Production of the Year Death and the Maiden Female Actor of the Year Jennifer Ludlam for Lysistrata and Daughters of Heaven, both at Downstage Female Actor in a Supporting Role Diedre O'Connor for a triple role in The Comedy of Errors at Circa Lighting Designer of the Year Tony Rabbit in Death and the Maiden at Downstage Male Actor of the Year Brian Sergent for The Homecoming at Circa, and A Dangerous Game at Bats Theatre Male Actor in a Supporting Role Andrew Laing in The Glass Menagerie at Circa Most Original Production Hide 'n' Seek by Hori Ahipene and Hone Kouka at Taki Rua-Depot Most Promising Female Newcomer Nancy Brunning for Nga Wahine at Taki Rua-Depot Most Promising Male Newcomer Tim Spite for Backstage with the Quigleys at Bats, and Blue Remembered Hills at Circa NZ Playwright of the Year Robert Lord for Joyful and Triumphant Production of the Year Joyful and Triumphant at Circa Theatre Set Designer of the Year Prunella Wilde in The Glass Menagerie at Circa Theatre Significant Contribution to Theatre George Webby (Director of NZ Drama School for 14 years, chairman of the Downstage Theatre Trust) Taki Rua-Depot Production of the Year Hide 'n' Seek
1993 awards Award WinnerBats Production of the YearVerbatim Circa Production of the Year A Doll's House Costume Designer of the Year Kate Hawley Downstage Production of the Year Glengarry Glen Ross Lighting Designer of the Year Paul O'Brien Most Original Production of the Year Ophelia Thinks Harder director Jean Betts Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year Lara Matheson Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year Andrew Scott New New Zealand Play of the Year Farewell Speech by Cathy Downes, adapted from Rachel McAlpine Set Designer of the Year Prunella Wilde Taki Rua Production of the Year Cracks
1994 awards Award WinnerBats Production of the YearCity of Hands Circa Production of the Year Angels in America Costume Designer of the Year Dorita Hannah, for Nga Tangata Toa (Taki Rua) Director of the Year Susan Wilson, for Angels in America Downstage Production of the Year Lovelock's Dream Run Female Actor of the Year Denise O'Connell in The Sisters Rosensweig (Circa) Female Actor in a Supporting Role Adele Chapman in Nora Lighting Designer of the Year Phil Blackburn, for Angels in America (Circa) Male Actor of the Year Grant Tilly, in Angels in America Male Actor in a Supporting Role Brian Sergent in I Hate Hamlet (Circa) Most Original Production of the Year City of Hands, director Stephen Bain (Bats) Most Promising Female Newcomer Hera Dunleavy in Beautiful Thing (Circa) Most Promising Male Newcomer Bradley Carroll, in Lovelock's Dream Run New New Zealand Play of the Year Nga Tangata Toa by Hone Kouka (Taki Rua) Production of the Year Angels in America (Circa) Set Designer of the Year Andrew Moyes for Angels in America (Circa) Significant Contribution to Theatre Circa Theatre Council Taki Rua Production of the Year Nga Tangata Toa
1995 awards Award WinnerBats Production of the YearThe Iron Mistress Best Short Play of the Year Nga Pou Wahine by Briar Grace Smith Circa Production of the Year Arcadia Costume Designer of the Year Donna Jefferis Director of the Year Nathaniel Lees for Think of a Garden Downstage Production of the Year Takitoru Female Actor of the Year Katherine McRae Female Actor in a Supporting Role Sima Urale Lighting Designer of the Year Phil Blackburn Male Actor of the Year Stephen Lovatt Male Actor in a Supporting Role Stephen Gledhill Most Original Production of the Year Takitoru, directed by Jan Bolwell, Keri Kaa, Sunny Amey Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year Rachel House Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year Simon Ferry New New Zealand Play of the Year Saving Grace by Duncan Sarkies Production of the Year Think of a Garden, directed by Nathaniel Lees Set Designer of the Year One of nominated designers John Parker, Amanda Yates, Justine Clark, Dorita Hannah Significant Contribution to Theatre Richard Campion Taki Rua Production of the Year Think of a Garden
1996 awards Award WinnerBats Production of the YearBlack Monk Circa Production of the Year Three Tall Women Costume Designer of the Year John Verryt for King Lear Director of the Year Cathy Downes for Tzigane Downstage Production of the Year King Lear Female Actor of the Year Dorothy McKegg in Tzigane Female Actor in a Supporting Role Geraldine Brophy in Tzigane Female Comedian or Group of the Year Hen's Teeth Collective Lighting Designer of the Year Martyn Roberts for Black Monk Male Actor of the Year Bruce Phillips in Broken Glass Male Actor in a Supporting Role Roy Ward in The Visit Male Comedian or Group of the Year Sugar & Spice Most Original Production of the Year Too High The Son by Stephen Bain with France Hervé & Tim Spite Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year Nicola Kawana in Mo & Jess Kill Susie Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year Jason Te Kare in Flat Out Brown Outstanding New New Zealand Play of the Year Tzigane by John Vakidis Outstanding Short Play of the Year Mo & Jess Kill Susie by Gary Henderson Production of the Year Tzigane directed by Cathy Downes Set Designer of the Year Dorita Hannah for The Visit Significant Contribution to Theatre Rona Bailey Taki Rua Production of the Year Te Reo Māori season
1997 awards Award Winner Actress of the Year Michele Amas in The Herbal Bed Actress in a Supporting Role Perry Piercy in Taking Sides Actor of the Year Tim Balme in The Ballad of Jimmy CostelloActor in a Supporting RoleBruce Phillips in The Herbal Bed BATS Production of the Year Krishnan's Dairy Circa Production of the Year Taking Sides Costume Designer of the Year Debz Ruffell for Lady Windermere's Fan Director of the Year Roger Morton for Kvetch Downstage Production of the Year The Ballad of Jimmy Costello Lighting Designer of the Year Martyn Roberts for Mouth Most Original Production of the Year Bent directed by Jacqueline Coats Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year Jane Gratkowski in Agamemnon and Sally Stockwell in Taking Sides Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year Scott Wills in Mojo Outstanding New New Zealand Play of the Year Purapurawhetu by Briar Grace Smith Outstanding Short Play of the Year Small Man On a Blue Background by Sean Allan Production of the Year Krishnan's Dairy directed by Justin Lewis Set Designer of the Year Andrew Foster for The Lead Wait Significant Contribution to the Theatre Constance Kirkcaldie Sound Designer of the Year Chris Ward for The Lead Wait Taki Rua Production of the Year Purapurawhetu
1998 awards Award Winner Actress of the Year Alice Fraser in Amy's ViewActor of the YearDavid Fane in Sons Costume Designer Paul Jenden for Dirty Weekends Director of the Year Cathy Downes for Closer Lighting Designer Lisa Maule for Home Fires Most Original Production of the Year Dirt - Bret McKenzie, Jeremy Randerson, Jackie van Beek, Gentiane Lupi, Jason Whyte Most Promising Female Newcomer Helen Jones in The Farm Most Promising Male Newcomer Robbie Magasiva in Sons Outstanding New New Zealand Play Sons by Victor Rodger Outstanding New Writer Victor Rodger, Sons Outstanding Performance Anna McPhail in Wolf Lullaby Outstanding Performance Helen Moulder in Vita and Virginia Outstanding Performance Jennifer Ludlam in Vita and Virginia Production of the Year Closer directed by Cathy Downes Set Designer Tony Rabbit for A Christmas Carol Significant Contribution to Theatre John McDavitt, former director of Playmarket Sound Designer Nigel Scott for An Unseasonable Fall of Snow
1999 awards Award Winner Actress of the Year Madeleine Sami in BareActor of the YearKen Blackburn in Waiting for Godot Costume Designer of the Year Paul Jenden for A Dragon in a Wagon Director of the Year Ross Jolly for Waiting For Godot Lighting Designer of the Year Jennifer Lal for Mapaki Most Original Production of the Year Flood directed by Tracey Monastra & Emma Willis Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year Madeleine Sami in Bare Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year Daniel Gillies in The God Boy Outstanding New New Zealand Play of the Year Bare by Toa Fraser Outstanding New Writer of the Year Toa Fraser for Bare Outstanding Performance Jacque Drew in Danny and the Deep Blue Sea Outstanding Performance Tim Balme in Much Ado About Nothing Outstanding Performance Bruce Phillips Julius Caesar Production of the Year Much Ado About Nothing directed by Miranda Harcourt Set Designer of the Year Andrew Thomas for Much Ado About Nothing Significant Contribution to the Theatre Sheilah Wynn Sound Designer of the Year Gavin McLean for Automaton
2000 awards Award Winner Actress of the Year Helen Moulder in WitActor of the YearTim Spite in Flipside Costume Designer of the Year Janet Dunn for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Director of the Year Colin McColl for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Lighting Designer of the Year Lisa Maule for Haruru Mai Most Original Production of the Year Seeyd Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year Tandi Wright in A Midsummer Night's Dream Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year John Katipa in Haruru Mai Outstanding Composer of Original Music Gareth Farr for Wit Outstanding Performance Madeleine Sami in No 2 Outstanding Performance Rachel House in Woman Far Walking Peter Harcourt Award for Outstanding New Writer of the Year James Griffin for Serial Killers Production of the Year Flipside directed by Simon Bennett Set Designer of the Year Andrew Thomas for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Sound Designer of the Year Peter Edge for Flipside Supporting Actress of the Year Tandi Wright for Rutherford Supporting Actor of the Year Peter Hambleton in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead The Absolutely Positively Outstanding New New Zealand Play of the Year No 2 by Toa Fraser
2001 awards