April Phillips

April Phillips is an actress, writer, singer, and producer of film and theatre. She was born in Coventry, England, but resides in Wellington, New Zealand. Her production company, Godiva Productions Limited, was named after the Lady Godiva legend of her hometown of Coventry.

Writer

Phillips holds a master's degree in Scriptwriting from the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University of Wellington. Her theatre works are represented internationally by Playmarket.^[1] and by David Spicer Productions in Australia.

Phillips writes predominantly for theatre and film but has had two radio plays recorded by Radio New Zealand.^[2] Her most successful stage play, the modern farce "STiFF", has been produced internationally.^[3][4][5][6]

Phillips has won numerous awards and film festival selections for her film and theatre scripts (see "Awards" below).

Actress

Phillips is a stage and screen actress.^[7] She is represented by Gail Cowan Management. (see "Filmography" below).

Singer

Phillips is a professional and recorded singer. In addition to singing in various bands and at jazz festivals her TV appearances include multiple performances on Television New Zealand's "Good Morning" Show and "Breakfast Show" and the TV satirical series "McPhail and Gadsby" alongside Jon Gadsby and David McPhail. She released her debut jazz album in 2004 and has since donated 100% of her income from that album to Make A Wish New Zealand. She recently recorded a follow up song called "What I'd Do For You" for Make A Wish New Zealand^[8]

Phillips also released an album of her own original pop songs called "Tempting Fate" and appears on a collaborative Nat King Cole tribute CD "Unforgettable".

Producer

Phillips' production company Godiva Productions Limited has produced various musical stage shows including the jazz play "Blue Eyes" and the Nat King Cole tribute show "Unforgettable". She was co-producer on the short films "Utu Pihikete" and "Letter For Hope". Both films have received official selections at numerous U.S. film festivals and won awards (see "Awards" below).

Filmography

Awards

• 2015 Best Shorts Film Competition Award for Excellence for the film "Utu Pihikete"
• 2014 Global Accolade Film Competition Awards for Excellence for the films "Letter For Hope" and "Utu Pihikete"
• 2014 Action on Film Festival for the films "Letter For Hope" and "Utu Pihikete"
• 2014 IndieFest Film Festival for the films "Letter For Hope" and "Utu Pihikete"
• 2013 Doug Wren Award for Achievement
• 2013 Finalist in SWANZ Awards Best Play category for “Motel”
• 2013 Winner New Zealand Writer’s Guild 5 Page Film Treatment competition for “As Seen On TV”
• 2012 Finalist in SWANZ Awards Best Play category for “SNiP”
• 2010 Michael Hirschfeld Scholarship for Scriptwriting (Victoria University of Wellington)
• 2010 Playwrights Association of NZ (PANZ) One Act Play for “Bonking James Bond”
• 2010 Radio New Zealand Drama Student Short for the radio play “In Two Minds”
• 2003 Playwrights Association of NZ (PANZ) Playwriting Competition for “STiFF”
• 2003 Stellar Award for “Best Music Production” for “Blue Eyes”
• 2002 Adam Play Reading Series – Downstage Theatre for “STiFF”
• 1996 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards – “Hens' Teeth Women's Comedy Company” – Best Female Comedy

HRH The Prince Edward

In 1983 at the age of 17, Phillips was the focus of intense international media interest^[9] when she appeared in a stage production of the play Charley's Aunt opposite His Royal Highness Prince Edward at the prestigious Wanganui Collegiate School. The Prince was a tutor at the school for two terms during his gap year. The media speculated about a romance between the pair but Phillips has always maintained that they are just friends.

References