REVIEW: The Good Soul of Szechuan (Auckland Theatre Company)

July 31, 2014

Brecht-Through Experience  [by James Wenley] It’s surprising to learn that The Good Soul of Szechuan* marks the first time Auckland Theatre Company have produced a play by Bertolt Brecht. Surprising perhaps because a Brechtian sensibility is very much apparent in Artistic Director Colin McColl’s signature ATC productions – recall how often he strips back the stage of the Maidment such […]

REVIEW: Putorino Hill (Taki Rua)

July 16, 2014

Hill of Memory   [by James Wenley] “More of a murky puddle than a fresh water spring” is how Whiti (Rob Mokaraka) describes trying to look back into his past. Taki Rua’s new work, Pūtōrino Hill by Chris Molloy by is a captivating memory play where the past’s reflection is a murky place indeed, revealing curses, hushed up scandals, patupaiarehe (fairies) demons. […]

REVIEW: The Selecta (Auckland Theatre Company)

July 14, 2014

Grate the Skin, Grit the Teeth, Probe the DNA  [by James Wenley] When the diversity featured in The Selecta moves up onto the mainstage, Auckland’s theatres will be a very exciting place to be. Following last year’s outstanding immersion in teen drinking culture, Like There’s No Tomorrow, Auckland Theatre Company have gone back to the three-shows-in-one-night format to showcase Gen […]

REVIEW: Sin (Outfit Theatre Company)

July 14, 2014

Seven Deadly Narrative Sins  [by James Wenley] In a secular society, what does it mean to sin? When you are encouraged to take whatever you want, who decides mortal morality? If there’s no-one there to judge you, who is there to stop you? In Outfit Theatre Company’s devised show around the seven deadly sins, what is striking is that religion […]

REVIEW: Hoki Mai Tama Ma (Te Rehia Theatre Company)

July 11, 2014

Cross-Commedia Clarity  [by James Wenley] The masks, masterfully crafted with aroha by maker Tristan Marler, are exquisite. The etched mokos glimmer with detail under the stage light. The performers tongue flicks out from under the half mask. It’s as if the ancestors, carved on the beams of the wharenui, have jumped off and sprung into fresh and blood life. It […]

REVIEW: MANA WAHINE (Okareka Dance Company)

July 3, 2014

Okareka Wows [by Sharu Delilkan] Being a bit of an Okareka Dance Company junkie I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see the Auckland debut of their new original piece Mana Wahine. And I realised that I was not the only one there to get their Okareka fix. What can I say but Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete (Okareka’s artistic […]