Stephen is an actor with 33 years extensive professional experience in theatre, television and film.
He first burst onto the scene as Firpo in Ian Mune’s production of End of the Golden Weather and won best actor at NZ film awards 1992.
From 1999-2015 Stephen has performed his co-written solo theatre comedy/drama "Blowing It" throughout New Zealand; Australia; Edinburgh; England; Ireland and Berlin, to glowing reviews. He was nominated for a Chapman Tripp award for best actor in 2000.
In 2012 Stephen wrote and performed "Third Person, Tense" at the Basement theatre in Auckland.
From 2015 Stephen has played several theatres and comedy clubs throughout Australia and New Zealand as stand-up comedian Pappsy. In 2020 he took his show Stood Up to Adelaide and Auckland fringe fests.
In 2022 he has performed and workshopped Timberrr! By Damon Andrews and Matt Chamberlain, for Centrepoint and Circa theatres.
Organisation/Company
Name: Off the Leash
My Role: Actor/Writer/Producer
A new joint company featuring the works of Damon Andrews and Stephen Papps.
Their style is parred down story-telling, comedy theatre where the actor/s use their mime, mimicry and character skills to ignite the imaginations of their audience.
It is lo-fi theatre of the highest order.
Iwi affiliation
I am of Irish, English, German descent.
Rohe
I am fourth generation New Zealander.
How I got where I am today
I became a professional actor in 1989. In 1991 I was cast as Firpo in the feature film "End of the Golden Weather".
Since then I have performed in many theatre productions around the country.
Today I operate as a performer and theatre-maker.
Whānau
My family are typically kind and modest, hailing from Christchurch and Feilding - and before that ... England, Ireland and Germany.
What grounds me?
In recent times I have taken part in workshops on social anxiety and courage. Every day I look at ways to bring into my awareness ways to challenge myself in a social context.
When I am not acting in theatre, T.V, voice-work or Film I write comedy.
I also perform stand-up comedy at The Classic Comedy Club and various other comic venues in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
I write, perform comedy characters and routines for Social Media.
I study comedy of all sorts in order to keep expanding my repertoire as a performer.
Social Animal
Artform: Theatre
Development Status: In Development
Pitch Video
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
Papps is an ageing, self obsessed, actor whose girlfriend, Vicky is tired of coming second to his stuttering career. With his relationship in trouble, Papps reaches for a quick fix and buys a dog. However, Gus, the rescue greyhound, is far from the puppy Vicky always wanted. She promptly dumps Papps.
Forced to care for the unruly Gus alone, Papps is pushed to the limit. However, he begins to soften towards the daffy mutt, who introduces him to a world he never knew existed - the casual fellowship of dog walkers: There’s Tom - a man of ninety, who feels as if he's somehow missed out on life, and his mongrel, Bertie, who’s so old he feels he’s somehow missed out on death. There’s Heather, eccentric and unfiltered, she seems to find joy in every moment; and there’s the eternally pessimistic Megan, who has every happiness she could dream of, but just can’t seem to see it.
As Papps gets to know these unpretentious people and their dogs, he affects their lives and they in turn his. He learns to care for Gus and discovers unconditional love.
Then a huge international TV project rolls into town. They begin shooting in the dog park and Papps is cast in a substantial role. Suddenly there’s no time for his new friends, Gus is locked in a trailer all day, while Papps’ life couldn’t be better…
Can Papps pursue his rising star and keep his feet on the ground - especially now Vicky wants to patch things up?
Can this self-serving man make the necessary sacrifices to care for another less fortunate being? Or will the excesses of make-believe consume Papps as his ego takes flight?
Creative Team and Crew
Damon Andrews: Director/Writer/Producer.
Stephen Papps: Actor/Writer/Producer
Number of People in the Touring Party
2
Previous Seasons
N/A
Reviews and Quotes
Of "Blowing it": Whips along at a cracking pace. Papp's one-man performance - energetic, yet tightly controlled - makes the show. His huge range of facial expressions and vocal nuances, make it a surprisingly undemanding comic experience and a very entertaining one." (Shona Craven - Metro Scotland August 7, 2003)
"This wonderfully funny show... splendidly captures the energy and eloquence of Kiwi idioms. The fifteen or so characters... provide the opportunity for a series of brilliant comic turns. This is rip-roaring comedy with broad commercial appeal." (NZ Listener)
Of "Timberrr" by Damon Andrews. Stuff: “Timberrr… is clever and funny, with brilliant acting and some serious themes; brilliantly played by Stephen Papps”.
Theatreview: “What a pleasure it is to see a play rich in character, plot and theme live on stage again! All this plays out through the extraordinarily fluent comedic skills of the three actors!”
Of "Wheelers luck" by Damon Andrews, Tim Spite and Nigel Collins . Otago Daily times: “Blending elements of Dylan Thomas, the Goons, and Footrot Flats, Wheeler's Luck is the funniest thing I've seen for a long time, and the near-capacity audience shook with helpless laughter for much of the performance.”
Of "Third Person Tense". Theatreview: The first 15-20 minutes of the show are nothing short of flawless. Papps is a brilliant narrator; personable, endearing and accessible …. Papps’ wit is as sharp this show has the hallmarks of a commercial and critical success. Not to be missed.
Timberrr!
Artform: Theatre
Development Status: Tour Ready
Pitch Video
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
Taranaki, 1940
After defeating his long time rival Whata Grey, World Champion Axeman Ned Murphy is set to retire at the top of his game…
That is until a young city-slicker named Billy turns up, claiming to be his son. But could this singing and dancing, big-hearted young man really be Ned’s boy?
Ned doesn’t think so. So he tells him to bugger off.
The eternally optimistic Billy isn't going anywhere. He's determined to win his father's love - and even learn to wood chop. if that's what it takes.
Just as Ned’s guard finally begins to come down, he discovers Billy is hiding an explosive secret - one that will threaten both of their futures and force Ned to reexamine everything he believes about what it means to be a man.
Three brilliant actors play 14 characters in this physical comedy, featuring horse riding, competitive wood chopping, a town dance, two world wars and tons of heart!
Creative Team and Crew
Damon Andrews - Writer / Director
Matthew Chamberlain - Writer / Actor
Serena Cotton - Actor
Tyler Kokiri - Actor
Andrew Foster - Set Designer
Henrique Beirao - Lighting Designer
Number of People in the Touring Party
Five
Previous Seasons
Circa One, Circa Theatre, Wellington, March 26 - April 23, 2022
Centrepoint Theatre Palmerston North, July 16- Aug 13, 2022
Reviews and Quotes
“…clever and funny, with brilliant acting” - The DomPost
“The alchemy employed to bring the story to life in our hearts and minds has to be seen to be believed” - Theatreview
“…irrepressibly Kiwi comic relief. Very funny.” - Regional News
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