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Wellington theatre excellence was celebrated and honoured at the 18th annual Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards ceremony held at the Wellington Opera House on Sunday December 5.

The Arrival was the major winner on the night – winning awards in all six categories it was nominated in, taking The Brancott Estate Award for Most Original Production and the Chapman Tripp Award for Production of the Year 2010.

The first Critic’s Wild Card Award was given to Capital E’s END GAME and father and daughter actors Peter and Sophie Hambleton both received prominent acting awards – Peter winning a The Emerging Artist Trust Accolade for Outstanding Performance in The Letter Writer and Sophie won The Chapman Tripp Award for Actress of the Year for her role in Katydid.

Wellington Mayor, Celia Wade Brown, presented her first Mayors Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre to prominent art advocate Richard Cathie. Cathie has a long involvement in the arts and arts advocacy. Amongst many appointments, he was the founding chair of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. He was awarded the honour of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the arts industry.

BATS Theatre was celebrated, recognising the Theatre’s 21st Birthday. BATS founders Simon Bennet and Simon Elson received a standing ovation from the auditorium, as BATS was acknowledged as significant contributors in the Wellington Theatre scene.

The Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards wish to sincerely thank all the sponsors, the theatres, the theatre community and the wonderful audiences for making 2010 the busiest and one of the best years yet!

The Award Winners for 2010 are:

Critics Wild Card  
END GAME Kenny King and Rebekah Sherrat    

Brancott EstateAward for Most Original Production of the Year  
The Arrival  Red Leap Theatre Company    

Downstage Theatre Award for the Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year  
Paul Waggott  Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Block Head    

Circa Award Donated by Tact for the Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year  
Ella Becroft  The Arrival  

Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School & Victoria University of Wellington Award for Most Promising Director of the Year     Charlotte Bradley  Katydid  

The Theatre Awards Trust Award for Costume Designer of the Year  
Elizabeth Whiting  The Arrival  

Grouse Lighting Award for Lighting Designer of the Year    
Jennifer Lal  The December Brother  

Weta Workshop Award for Set Designer of the Year  
John Verryt  The Arrival    

Absolutely Positively Outstanding Award for Sound Designer of the Year  
Gll Eva Craig  The December Brother  

Constance Scott Kirkcaldie Award for Outstanding Composer of Music  
David Ward  The Guru of Chai  

Peter Harcourt Award for Outstanding New Playwright of the Year Sponsored by Bats Theatre & Taki Rua Productions  
Lucy O'Brien  Katydid  

Playmarket / Capital E National Theatre for Children New New Zealand Play of the Year  
The Guru of Chai  Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis    

The Orbit Corporate Travel Award for Supporting Actress of the Year    
Darlene Mohekey Shipwrecked! An Entertainment:   

Chapman Tripp Award for Supporting Actor of the Year  
Christopher Brougham Dead Man's Cell Phone    

Emerging Artists Trust Wellington Accolade for Outstanding Performance  
Peter Hambleton  Letter Writer    

Showcast Accolade for Outstanding Performance  
Christopher Brougham  Me and Robert McKee  

Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Actress of the Year   
Sophie Hambleton  Katydid     

The Pro Actors and Gail Cowan Management Award for Actor of the Year  
Jacob Rajan  The Guru of Chai    

The Museum Hotel Award for Director of the Year  
Julie Nolan  The Arrival    

Chapman Tripp Award for Production of the Year  
The Arrival  Red Leap Theatre Company    

The Mayor’s Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre  
Presented by the Mayor of Wellington 
Richard Cathie