REVIEW: First World Problems 2.0 (Basement Theatre)

October 17, 2019

[16 Narratives] There was a palpable feeling of community spirit at the Basement Theatre on Tuesday night with the opening of First World Problems 2.0 – an anthology of sixteen short plays staged by members of the South Asian community. When the doors opened, the cast of around twenty-five actors were assembled in the playing area, energetically chatting, loudly welcoming […]

REVIEW: A Fine Balance (Auckland Theatre Company)

June 21, 2019

[A Fine Partnership] A Fine Balance is a wonderful collaboration between the Auckland Theatre Company and Prayas Theatre that successfully stages diverse stories and bodies that are not heard or seen often enough on Auckland’s mainstages. With Q Rangatira configured as theatre in the round, with seating banks on four sides, the performance begins with a woman bent low, sweeping […]

REVIEW: Dara (Prayas Theatre)

June 17, 2018

[Tales from the Taj Mahal] “What shall I do? I know not what I am, I am neither Christian, nor Jew, nor heathen, nor a Muslim.” — Dara Set during the Mughal Empire, India, 1659, Dara is Tanya Ronder’s adaptation of the original play written by Shahid Nadeem.  Based on true historic events, Dara recounts the fierce sibling rivalry and battle […]

REVIEW: The Mourning After (Prayas Theatre)

July 2, 2015

Needed Mour [by Matt Baker] New Zealand’s first full-length Sri Lankan play. A sell-out season before opening night. It’s an exciting premise to the beginning of a new branch of New Zealand-Asian theatre. Upon entering The Basement, the audience is greeted with Karnan Saba’s soundscape, both captivating and subtle, with all the originality and instant identity of a John Williams’ score, […]