REVIEW: Dope (Te Pou)

May 14, 2018

[A Trip Worth Taking] Drug use and addiction are popular theatrical topics, but tend toward the extremes of experience. Daniel Tomlin’s play Dope presents a relatable and nuanced view, revolving around a family and their friends on the Shore in Mairangi Bay. It’s the first time smoking weed for the little brother (Miles Ford), following in the footsteps of his […]

REVIEW: Such Stuff as Dreams (Te Pou)

May 8, 2018

[Schizophrenic armadillos] The lights come up revealing a man half covered in cardboard. Our protagonist, Alfie (Chris Rex Martin), starts to regale us with facts about armadillos. This explains what he is wearing. This sets the tone for the next hour – referencing Shakespeare and Milton, Such Stuff as Dreams is a lyrical, moving, often surreal, informative and entertaining show […]

REVIEW: Beneath Skin and Bone (Te Pou)

April 21, 2018

[Mana Wahine] Beneath Skin and Bone (BSAB) is set in a world where waiata and music is shunned, and our protagonist Poto (played by Trae Te Wiki) finds herself in a new city, running away from the constant chatter of her whanau. With a little intervention from the spiritual world, Poto is forced to face her fears, her family’s past […]

REVIEW: Herstory (Te Pou Rangatahi Season)

February 16, 2018

[Strength in Sharing] Herstory is the opening show of the Rangatahi Festival at Te Pou Theatre. Under the direction of Zandra Ah-Jay Maepu and support of The Creative Souls Project, the show combines eight emerging actresses as they each share their stories through monologues, poetry, dance and song. Alana Tele and Kirilayla Dhillon both explore their cultural identity through their […]

REVIEW: The Moa Show: Jamie McCaskill (NZ International Comedy Festival)

May 6, 2016

[More Moa] I’ve never seen Jamie McCaskill do a solo show before but boy was it worth the wait.  From the unassuming entrance (no fanfare, no “put your hands together”, no “and now on stage…”) he walked on,  as though he was an audience member looking his seat,  and then just started talking.  Having spotted his dad and pops in […]

REVIEW: The Vagina Monologues (Te Pou)

February 12, 2016

[Make V-Day Count] Two years after its premiere in 1996, The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler resulted in the launch of V-Day (February 14), a global movement aimed at ending violence against women. This month is Auckland Pride Festival, and this week, all around the world, The Vagina Monologues have opened. Comprised predominantly of third year students and graduates from […]

REVIEW: Sister Anzac (Stark Theatre)

September 4, 2015

Women at war [by Sharu Delilkan] We’ve all seen numerous theatrical incarnations this year commemorating the centenary of WWI but one heralding women is definitely a departure from the norm. And that’s exactly what sets Geoff Allen‘s show Sister Anzac apart from the otherwise male dominated war stories. Inspired by Allen‘s grandfather A. S. Allen’s experience of ANZAC nurses on […]

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