REVIEW: Tampocalypse (Te Pou)

May 29, 2018

[Tampocalypse now needs a Redux] “At the end of the world, not everything stops.” So claims Embers Collective, a daring new production company set up by Unitec grads, Ashleigh Hook and Rebekah Dack, the dynamic director-producer duo behind Tampocalypse, which concluded Te Pou Theatre’s Rangatahi development season 2018. The show’s tagline couldn’t be more fitting. Tampocalypse gives us a world […]

REVIEW: Welcome to the Murder House (Indian Ink)

May 28, 2018

Brigitte Knight gives her verdict from the Wellington premiere of Indian Ink Theatre Company’s latest work. [Cell Block Vaudeville] Jacob Rajan returns to the stage for the world premiere of Welcome to the Murder House, a satirical black comedy spun from threads of historical fiction. Co-created with Justin Lewis, the work was commissioned by the South Coast Repertory Theatre based […]

REVIEW: Pool (No Water) (The Basement)

May 24, 2018

[Unreliable Narrators] A successful artist invites her less accomplished and bitter “friends” for a reunion, resulting in a terrible accident involving the titular pool. Her newly comatose body then becomes the subject and object of the group’s newfound success. The result is a searing examination of exploitation and jealousy in the art world. British playwright Mark Ravenhill, most famous for […]

REVIEW: Inner Dialogue (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 24, 2018

[Tears of a Clown] A man walks into a doctor’s office and says, “Doctor, I’m depressed.” The doctor says, “Treatment is simple. The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him, that should cheer you up.” The man bursts into tears and says, “But doctor, I am Pagliacci.” Who makes the clowns laugh? It’s a variation on […]

REVIEW: Matt Okine: The Hat Game (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 23, 2018

[A Fine Balance] With his laid-back presence and intelligent humour, Matt Okine’s latest show is a highly watchable evening of stand-up. With just the right brand of Australian colloquialism, Okine’s manner translates well to our Kiwi stages without unnecessary pandering. In between the jokes Okine masterfully weaves something like a rags to riches story into the tapestry of his material. […]

REVIEW: Guy Williams: I Wanna Hear what I Have to Say (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 19, 2018

[One Guy on Stage] Guy Williams is a household name that most Kiwis recognise by now, particularly being of Jono and Ben fame. His comedy career spanning almost a decade has been nothing short of impressive, making him a regular at the NZ Comedy International Festival in Auckland and Wellington. Hence expectations were high at opening night.  But for some reason we […]

REVIEW: Brendan Green: My Mates Dave (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 19, 2018

[Mate!] If you’ve been paying attention to the NZ Comedy, bets are you’ve heard of Brendon Green. His list of credits is pretty impressive – he’s written for TV’s 7 days and The Project, he’s written and performed multiple stand up shows that have toured NZ and internationally, and he has also mentored upcoming young comedians in the Class Comedians […]

REVIEW: Donna Brookbanks: You Do You Babes (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 18, 2018

[Put Your Hands Up] Auckland seems to be teeming with strong female comedians this year. Donna Brookbanks is a prime example: not only funny, but incredibly multifaceted. Nominated for this year’s Billy T award, Brookbanks is back with her ‘sort of’ inspirational comedy show You Do You Babes. Brookbanks isn’t here to mess around; from the moment the doors open […]

REVIEW: Melanie Bracewell: Melodrama (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 18, 2018

[Green Light] Melanie Bracewell is quickly carving out a path in the NZ comedy scene with her impressive list of credits at only 22 years old. You might know her from The Project, 7 Days or from her time on Radio Hauraki, and in 2018 Bracewell is stepping onto the stage for her hour-long comedy festival show: Melodrama. Bracewell is […]

1 2 3