New Zealand theatre reviews, performace reviews and performing arts directory



New Zealand professional theatre & dance: reviews, news and your views
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Photo by Brittany Symon

CNZ To Invest In National Touring [more]
MATARIKI DEVELOPMENT FESTIVAL 2014 [more]
Open Letter from The Clitlective [more]
FREE THEATRE RETURNS TO THE ARTS CENTRE (ChCh) [more]
JUNE at The Hannah Playhouse, 25/6 [more]
THEATRE REVIEWING DISCUSSED [more]

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The Festival of Performing Objects, Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa, in August, submit by 12/7 [more] 
Q PRESENTS 2015 Applications now open! Apply by 5pm, 18/7 [more]
Playmarket: Plays For The Young, submit by 31/7 [more]
FLY BATS HOME update + fundraising deadline 1 August [more]



Latest Theatre and Performance Reviews
THE MERCY CLAUSE at Centrepoint, Palmerston North
reviewed by John Ross 29 Jun 2014
Endlessly unsettling
Without giving too much away, one can say that despite one’s early misgivings, the play works out far more effectively and cleverly than the earlier scenes suggested it might, although some ends are left loose. What future can there be for Tom and Rachel’s marriage? [more]


BLOOD BROTHERS at Court Theatre, Bernard Street, Addington, Christchurch
reviewed by Lindsay Clark 29 Jun 2014
Deeply human and durable
A good tale is always worth retelling, especially a musical version and especially if the playwright, composer and lyricist is Willy Russell, who always has something worth saying. It is a long way from the 1844 novella The Corsican Brothers by Alexandre Dumas but the 1983 variation on the theme of twin boys, here Michael and Edward Johnstone, separated at birth and raised in starkly contrasting conditions, provides all the tensions of entertaining melodrama as well as a focus for more thoughtful observation. [more]


Photo by Brittany Symon
SHAKESPEARE'S PROBLEMS at The Lucha Lounge, 1 York St Newmarket, Auckland
reviewed by Robbie Nicol 28 Jun 2014
Keeping the Bard’s words breathing
t’s not polished, it’s heavily abbreviated, and it’s by no means the clearest performance of Shakespeare you will ever see, but Shakespeare’s Problems is fun in a rough and ready way that just works. I feel a little uncomfortable when I first arrive. All seating is audience seating, and the actors are already wandering about in character. I don’t know what to say to them, and sometimes they don’t seem sure what to say to me. [more]


MANA WAHINE at Civic Theatre, Rotorua
reviewed by Amy Chakif 28 Jun 2014
The best of collaborations
Wiriwiri and pukana thread through the dance that is sometimes ethereal, sometimes surreal, and sometimes urban. The all-female dance company execute a rich diversity of movement; muscular, sensitive, graceful and often powerfully discordant. Dancers Maria Munkowits, Nancy Wijohn, Jana Castillo, Chrissy Kokiri and Biana Hyslop are stunning in their physicality and strength, and breath-taking in their femininity. [more]


STAND UP LOVE at Allen Hall Theatre, University of Otago, Dunedin
reviewed by Kimberley Buchan 28 Jun 2014
Curiously intimate perspective on despair
Gavin McGibbon’s Stand Up Love is the story of a fraught relationship between a declining stand-up comedian and his muted girlfriend Ana, played by Nell Guy. The play begins when red flags are already appearing in the relationship. Freddy (Orion Carey Clark) plays the stereotype of the moody comedian with a dark side, who unfortunately is not a successful enough comedian to balance out his misery. [more]


CHARANDAS CHOR: THE HONEST THIEF at TAPAC Theatre, Western Springs, Auckland
reviewed by Nik Smythe 27 Jun 2014
Timeless examination of humanity’s perennial concerns of identity, purpose, integrity and community
Local Indian theatre company Prayas has joined forces with the intrepid TAPAC to produce a full-scale ensemble production of a beloved folktale originally conceived by Rajasthan author Vijaydan Detha. Charandas Chor is a rich, funny and heart-warming fable about a proud and unusually principled thief who pledges to his guru, among other things, that he shall not lie. [more]


KISS THE FISH at Opera House, Wellington
reviewed by John Smythe 27 Jun 2014
Timeless yet topical tale told through richly exquisite ‘fusion theatre’
It is, of course, the commedia masks, beautifully hand-carved from wood in the Balinese style by Wayan Tanguuh that (along with the puppet) allow the highly skilled quartet of actors to bring the 11 characters and their stories to life with a delightful simplicity that belies the many hours undoubtedly spent discovering their essential qualities and quirks, abetted by director and theatrical alchemist Justin Lewis. [more]

See also reviews by:
 Mark Houlahan
 Nik Smythe
 Sharu Delilkan (TheatreScenes - the Auckland Theatre Blog);
 Paul Simei-Barton (New Zealand Herald);
 Simon Wilson (Metro Arts);

TAKING OFF THE BIRD SUIT at BATS Theatre (Out Of Site), Cnr Cuba & Dixon, Wellington
reviewed by Phoebe Smith 25 Jun 2014
Well-conceived co-operation
Taking off the Bird Suit at BATS Theatre (Out of Site) is an improvised scene or skit based show that is performed, produced, directed, designed and operated entirely by women. Christine Brooks, director and producer of this show, writes in her programme notes: “There are a lot of reasons why women are not on stage in the numbers that men are. As well as talking about these issues, taking action and putting some women on stage seemed like an effective way to try to work towards some change.” [more]


THE COMEDY OF ERRORS at Whitireia Performance Centre, 25-27 Vivian Street, Wellington
reviewed by John Smythe 25 Jun 2014
Ranges from competent to excellent
In the mirror-ball flecked traverse space, the feel of a 1950s dance hall is well established as we take our seats on either side of the semi-formally frocked cast, foxtrotting to the pleasant tones of Sunny Daze and the Sunbeams. The music and dancing set it at the cusp of ballroom and rock ’n’ roll when, in the growing affluence of the post-war 50s, repressive social norms are soon to be challenged. With The Comedy of Errors, his first comedy (unless you accept Titus Andronicus was written as a splatter-fest farce), William Shakespeare – in his early twenties – displays a clear understanding of the importance of jeopardy in comedy. [more]

See also reviews by:
 Laurie Atkinson (The Dominion Post);

FEFU AND HER FRIENDS at Fefu's House (127 Silverdale Rd, Hillcrest, Hamilton
reviewed by Ross MacLeod (Ross's Reviews) 23 Jun 2014
Unique experience
It may seem gimmicky to stage a play in a real house but Fefu integrates both script and performance into the space so well that the novelty never feels contrived. The plot revolves around a group of women gathering at the home of the somewhat eccentric Fefu (Lisa Louw) to discuss an upcoming presentation. What unfolds is more an exploration of character and ideas than of narrative, hopes and fears, loves and secrets gradually revealed. [more]


THE KEYS ARE IN THE MARGARINE: A VERBATIM PLAY ABOUT DEMENTIA at Fortune Theatre Studio, Dunedin
reviewed by Terry MacTavish 21 Jun 2014
Entertains and enlightens with extraordinary intimacy and power
The crowded stage of the Fortune Studio is a vivid visual metaphor for the chaos of a confused mind. There is an incongruity about the objects and furniture piled anyhow – a chair on top of a table, a telephone protruding from a drawer, pictures slipping from their frames. It is both amusing and unsettling, and makes it easy to imagine how terrifying it would be to inhabit a world where familiar objects lose their meaning. [more]


LA TRAVIATA at ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland
reviewed by Penny Dodd 20 Jun 2014
Impressive singing but lacking in chemistry
La Traviata is one of Verdi’s three greatest operas, written in 1853, based on the 1852 play based on Alexander Dumas fils’ novel La Dame Aux Camellias. Violetta, a courtesan (or prostitute, or kept woman) falls in love with Alfredo, who has admired her from afar for over a year. They fall in love and Violetta leaves her courtesan’s life in Paris to live with Alfredo in the country. Alfredo’s father, Germont, is unhappy at his family’s connection with such a woman and persuades Violetta to relinquish her son. [more]

See also reviews by:
 Sharu Delilkan (TheatreScenes: The Auckland Theatre Blog);
 William Dart (New Zealand Herald);
 Simon Wilson (MetroMag online);

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"I too saw neither 'iteration' - ('iteration'? really?) - of this play, and this confusing diatribe ensures I w..." - anon   [read full comment]

"First, I apologise for the uncorrected error in the opening para (now corrected). Second, I did not see either..." - John Smythe   [read full comment]

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News
24 Jun 2014 - THE FESTIVAL OF PERFORMING OBJECTS Dear Artists and performance / buskers The Festival of Performing Objects will take place at the Estuary Arts Centre in Orewa in the month of August. Click here to view the programme For the month of August Estuary Arts Centre will curate an Exhibition of Performing Objects supported by an extensive programme including performance, artist talks and animation workshops.   [more]

24 Jun 2014 - Q PRESENTS 2015 Applications now open! Q Presents continues to act as an exciting opportunity to work in venue partnership with Q Theatre and our experienced team to bring your ideas to life. Now in its fourth year, Q has supported a variety of works as part of Q Presents ...   [more]

23 Jun 2014 - Weds 25 JUne - Auckland arts and creative sector leaders join with Council representatives to discuss the new Draft Arts & Culture Strategic Action Plan - artists are invited   [more]

19 Jun 2014 - FLY BATS HOME – UPDATE BATS calls for community to join flight home BATS Theatre is gearing up, literally, for a return to a strengthened and refurbished building late this year and has announced a deadline of August 1st to reach a target of $25,000 through their fundraising website at www.flybatshome.co.nz . “The construction work at 1 Kent Terrace is nearing completion and BATS’ landlords are making sure it’ll be a beautiful building,” says Board Chair Victoria Spackman. “BATS is getting ready to fit out the building with all the gear required to turn it back into a theatre, but we need to raise more than $600,000 dollars to make that happen.”   [more]

17 Jun 2014 - PLAYMARKET: PLAYS FOR THE YOUNG COMPETITION DEADLINE 31 JULY 2014. Do you have an original and inventive play written for young people, whether you are new or experienced in writing for the young? We are seeking the best of all plays that fall into this category, including plays written by teachers especially for the classroom, adaptations of fairy tales and legends, and the most searing explorations of adolescence written by teenagers themselves.
   [more]

16 Jun 2014 - CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND TO INVEST $1.92 MILLION IN NATIONAL TOURING A $1.92 million initiative to encourage national touring of contemporary New Zealand theatre, dance and music has been approved by Creative New Zealand’s Arts Council. Creative New Zealand will invest $1.92 million over the next three financial years in an agency to provide national touring services and an associated fund for touring costs.   [more]

16 Jun 2014 - THE PERFORMANCE ARCADE 2015 call for proposals now open The Playground NZ is pleased to announce an open call to artists from New Zealand and around the world for The Performance Arcade 2015 programme.   [more]

16 Jun 2014 - Tawata Productions Presents MATARIKI DEVELOPMENT FESTIVAL 2014 23 June – 5 July CELEBRATING MATARIKI The Matariki Development Festival 2014 – lovingly known as MDF 2014 – returns home to Circa Theatre to celebrate the fifth year of this annual festival. MDF 2014 brings you the Development Season of 2080 the much anticipated new play by playwright AROHA WHITE. The festival line up also shares with you new writing by HONE KOUKA and MOANA ETE.   [more]