Toi Whakaari graduates feature large in the Chapman Tripp nominations this year!

The Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards honour Wellington’s best on and off stage talent, their contribution to the arts and the community. Established in 1992 and sponsored by law firm Chapman Tripp, the prestigious awards are the main highlight of Wellington’s art and social calendar. The annual presentations also recognise important contributions to the arts and the community. The winners are selected by a panel of Wellington theatre critics and the awards are presented at a glittering ceremony in at the Wellington Opera House, Sunday 4 December 2011.

Toi Whakaari graduates number 18 of the total of 52 nominees, and congratulations also to Teina Moetara, Head of Context and Practice, whose show Hear To See (written with Sara Brodie), which ran at Capital E over March 2011, has been entered in two categories: Brancott Estate Award for Most Original Production of the Year and Constance Scott Kirkcaldie Award for Outstanding Composer of Music (Richard Nunns).

Toi graduate actors, in particular, dominate the nominations for Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year, Supporting Actress of the Year, and the Outstanding Performances and Actor/Actress of the Year categories: and Toi directors also feature largely – two out of the three competing – for Director of the Year.

The full list of Toi nominees:

Brancott Estate Award for Most Original Production of the Year
Hear to See – Capital E National Theatre for Children (written by Sara Brodie and Teina Moetara, Toi Whakaari’s Head of Context & Practice)

Downstage Theatre Award for the Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year
Simon K Leary – Mates & Lovers
James Tito – Awhi Tapu

Circa Award Donated by TACT for the Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year
Chelsea Bognuda – Eight

Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School & Victoria University of Wellington Award for Most Promising Director of the Year
Jason Te Kare – I, George Nepia (also nominated for Director of the Year and Production of the Year)

Grouse Lighting Award for Lighting Designer of the Year
Nathan McKendry – Awhi Tapu

Park Road Post Production Sound Designer of the Year
Thomas Press – Awhi Tapu

Constance Scott Kirkcaldie Award for Outstanding Composer of Music
Miriama Ketu-McKenzie – I, George Nepia

Peter Harcourt Award for Outstanding New Playwright of the Year

Sponsored by Bats Theatre & Taki Rua Productions
Sophie Roberts and Chelsie Preston-Crayford – Broken China

The Playmarket / Capital E National Theatre for Children – Outstanding New New Zealand Play of the Year
I, George Nepia – Hone Kouka

The Orbit Corporate Travel Award for Supporting Actress of the Year
Sophie Hambleton – When the Rain Stops Falling
Jane Waddell – August: Osage County

Chapman Tripp Award for Supporting Actor of the Year
Simon Vincent – Our Man in Havana

(Seven Nominees for these four categories:)
Emerging Artist Trust Wellington Accolade for Outstanding Performance
eCaster Accolade for Outstanding Performance
Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Actress of the Year
The ProActors and Gail Cowan Management Award for Actor of the Year
Michelle Amas – August: Osage County
Laurel Devenie – On The Upside-Down of The World
Jennifer Ludlam – August: Osage County
Jarod Rawiri – I, George Nepia

The Museum Hotel Award for Director of the Year
Leo Gene Peters – Awhi Tapu (also nominated for Production of the Year)
Jason Te Kare – I, George Nepia (also nominated for Production of the Year)

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