REVIEW: At the Wake (Multinesia Productions)

November 28, 2014

In the Wake of Genius [by Sharu Delilkan and Tim Booth] Victor Rodger’s uncanny ability to write dialogue, that’s often self-censored in real life, is both refreshing and hard-hitting, which captures our attention right from the start. And this is evident as soon as Joan (Lisa Harrow) opens her mouth. The barrage of profanities that emit her gob can only be […]

REVIEW: My name is…Pilitome (Kila Kokonut Krew)

January 28, 2014

Life of P.I.> [by Sharu Delilkan] In true Pacific Island style we were greeted by noneother than the playwright himself, Vela Manusaute, when we arrived at The Martin Hautus Institute Performing Arts Centre in Onehunga to see his new show My name is…Pilitome. However I must admit that I was saddened to hear that the Kila Kokonut Krew (KKK) had […]

Looking Back: 2013 – A Theatrical Year in Review

December 28, 2013

Auckland Participates [by James Wenley] This past year I have partied with underage drinkers, appeared on the 6pm news, ran for my life from snarling zombies, and, for an all too brief moment, locked eyes with a sensuous Lucy Lawless. If there’s one big trend that has come out of Auckland’s 2013 theatrical year, it’s got to be the year of […]

Auckland Festival Dispatch: The Festival of Us

April 8, 2013

Auckland: City of Culture? [by James Wenley] I led something of a charmed existence during the 19 days of the Auckland Arts Festival. By night, I could enrich my mind and surrender my senses to the stunning array of local and international shows on offer. By day, I was En Route, working on a show that sent audience members off, […]

REVIEW: The Factory (Auckland Arts Festival)

March 8, 2013

Pacific Side Story [by James Wenley] The chance taken on Kila Kokonut’s Krew The Factory – “New Zealand’s first Pacific Musical” – should prove the biggest statement of this year’s Auckland Arts Festival. Dedicated to the parents and grandparents of the creatives and cast who moved to New Zealand from the islands, The Factory began as a modest workshop production […]

Looking forward: What’s on my theatrical radar for 2013? (Part 1)

January 20, 2013

Festival Year! [by James Wenley] Theatre always goes to ground in January. The stages may be bare, but Auckland’s theatre community are busy strutting and fretting behind-the-scenes. There’s a lot to do: Auckland Fringe 2013 is now less than a month away, and Auckland Arts Festival is right on its tail. I’ve enjoyed the break, but if, like me, you […]

REVIEW: Taro King (Kila Kokonut Krew)

August 21, 2012

KKK still Kings [by Sharu Delilkan] There was almost a carnival atmosphere when entering the Mangere Arts Centre, a setting befitting the Kila Kokonut Krew’s 10th year anniversary celebrations featuring the production that put the company on the map, Taro King. Unfortunately I don’t have the benefit of being able to compare it with the first time it was staged. […]

Looking Back: 2011 – A Theatrical year in Review

December 29, 2011

Q opens in triumph, Fringe overshadows Festival, Outfit Rise, Rugby, Rugby, Rugby, and the Death of the Theatre. [by James Wenley] Attending the recent Hackman Theatre awards, Auckland Theatre circa 2011 would appear to be in rude health. Rude being the word, hosts Nic Sampson and Joseph Moore proudly observing it was a record year of nudity on stage, from […]

REVIEW: The Factory (Kila Kokonut Krew)

August 14, 2011

Killer Kreation Knocks yer socks off [by Sharu Delilkan] The ‘Klu Kux Klan’ of Pacifica aka Kila Kokonut Krew have yet again pulled a rabbit out of the hat with another first – The Factory, New Zealand’s first Pacific Island musical. “What the hell”, I thought.  “How can it have taken until 2011 to produce a musical, with the abundance of Pacific […]