It's been a standout year for New Zealand playwright Albert Belz. Not only was he just named the recipient of the prestigious Bruce Mason Playwright Award for 2006, but the production of his play, Yours Truly (pictured), at BATS Theatre earlier this year, has topped the list of Chapman Tripp Theatre Award winners, taking four awards overall: Most Original Production, Outstanding New NZ Play, and Production of the Year. It's been a standout year for New Zealand playwright Albert Belz. Not only was he just named the recipient of the prestigious Bruce Mason Playwright Award for 2006, but the production of his play, Yours Truly (pictured), at BATS Theatre earlier this year, has topped the list of Chapman Tripp Theatre Award winners, taking four awards overall: Most Original Production, Outstanding New NZ Play, and Production of the Year.This was followed closely by two Circa productions. Firstly, The Country, directed by Jane Waddell, awarded actor Heather O'Carroll Supporting Actress of the Year, Malcolm Murray with an Accolade for Outstanding Performance and Carol Smith with Actress of the Year. Death of a Salesman, directed by Susan Wilson, also garnered three awards: Accolade for Outstanding Performance forJennifer Ludlam, Actor of the Year for George Henare and Director of the Year for Susan Wilson .

The awards, founded by Chapman Tripp in 1992, celebrate and recognise the unique creative talent in Wellington. The award winners are selected by a panel of theatre critics (Laurie Atkinson, The Dominion Post; Harry Ricketts, New Zealand Listener; John Smythe, Theatreview; Lynn Freeman, Capital Times) from over 80 professional productions performed in Wellington theatres.

The award categories and winners in each category are as follows:

Mayor's Award for Significant Contribution to the Theatre
Grant Tilly

Montana Wines Award for Most Original Production of the Year
Yours Truly (Left of Centre Productions)

Downstage Theatre Award for the Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year
James Ashcroft - The Brilliant Fassah

Circa Award donated by TACT for the Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year
Rachel Forman - Fool for Love

Sovereign Award for the Most Promising New Director of the Year
Lyndee-Jane Rutherford - Love Puke

The Dominion Post Award for Costume Designer of the Year
Gillie Coxhill - The Rivals

Theatrelight Award for Lighting Designer of the Year
Martyn Roberts - Yours Truly

Weta Workshop Award for Set Designer of the Year
John Hodgkins - Master Class

Western Audio Engineering Award for Sound Designer of the Year
Matthew Lambourn - Dr. Buller's Birds

Constance Scott Kirkcaldie Award for Outstanding Composer of Original Music
Peter Daube - Stories Told To Me By Girls

Peter Harcourt Award for Outstanding New Playwright of the Year Sponsored by BATS and Taki Rua
Sonya Stewart - Wheel

The Absolutely Positively Outstanding New New Zealand Play of the Year
Yours Truly - Albert Belz

Radio Active's 89FM Caffeine and Aspirin Show Award for Supporting Actress of the Year
Heather O'Carroll - The Country

Chapman Tripp Award for Supporting Actor of the Year
Julian Wilson - The Underpants

Gibson Group Accolade for Outstanding Performance
Jennifer Ludlam - Death of a Salesman

Grouse Lighting Accolade for Outstanding Performance
Malcolm Murray - The Country

Chapman Tripp Award for Actress of the Year
Carol Smith - The Country

Gail Cowan Management Award for Actor of the Year
George Henare - Death of a Salesman

Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Award for Director of the Year
Susan Wilson - Death of a Salesman

Chapman Tripp Award for Production of the Year
Yours Truly (Left of Centre Productions)