REVIEW: Rupert (Auckland Theatre Company)

June 28, 2015

Rupert Bare [by Sharu Delilkan and Tim Booth] It’s rare that a show about someone’s life is introduced by the main character as “a show about my life” but Rupert, a biography of media moghul Rupert Murdoch breaks many of the norms of theatre as he does the fourth wall. David Williamson‘s Rupert encapsulates a multitude of genres – it’s […]

REVIEW: Nga Pou Wahine (Taki Rua Productions)

June 27, 2015

Mana Wahine [by Sharu Delilkan and Tim Booth] In many ways it’s hard to believe that Ngā Pou Wahine premiered two decades ago. Yes Māori theatre has moved on, gaining more and more prominence within the New Zealand theatre tapestry, however many of the themes that the play touches upon are still relevant today. Although this show is an historic […]

REVIEW: Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography (Silo Theatre)

June 22, 2015

Download Incomplete – Error Occurred [by Matt Baker] There is a fine line between playwrights providing what is necessary outside of dialogue for practitioners to convey the meaning of their story, and prescribing the text because they cannot see it any other way. On one hand, theatrical theories, conventions, and practices can shift dramatically over the years, leading to limited explorative opportunities […]

REVIEW: Cover Lover (All You Can Eat productions)

June 18, 2015

Nothing new under The Basement Lights [by Matt Baker] 29 performers, numerous acts, and one creative mind behind it all. It’s a recipe for a potentially excessive and hubristic night at the theatre, but creator Jessie McCall has pulled together a diverse assortment of dancers, actors, and musicians under the unifying theme of artistic copyright to produce a truly entertaining evening. […]

REVIEW: Ballet Revolución (Auckland Live)

June 18, 2015

Enjoyably engaging [by Sharu Delilkan] If you go to Ballet Revolución with your dance snob’s hat on I’d advise you not to bother. But if you’re interested in having an entertaining night out with the family Ballet Revolución is definitely the one for you. Yes I agree that their attempt to incorporate classical ballet, contemporary dance and modern hip hop […]

REVIEW: I’ll Be Fine (The Basement)

June 18, 2015

Young in Trouble [by Matt Baker] B4 25 Playmarket Award nominee Ben Wilson has been inspired by seeing “young people’s stories told honestly,” and while I don’t buy the authenticity of the issues addressed in his play, “I’ll Be Fine”, the pre quarter-life crisis generation is a terrifying truth to which I’ve been exposed. The film obsessed potential scriptwriter role in […]

REVIEW: The Cave (Garnet Station Tiny Theatre)

June 13, 2015

A Satisfying Squeeze [by Andrew Parker] It seems sort of appropriate that Kate Watson’s The Cave, a show so concerned with size, plays out in Garnet Station’s Tiny Theatre – where space isn’t wildly abundant for either the players or the audience. What better setting for a drama of sexual function and dysfunction performed by actors often wielding impressively proportioned dildos? […]

REVIEW: Treats (Altitude Productions)

June 12, 2015

Substantive [by Tim George] A couple sit on a couch, enjoying the evening. A plain of glass shatters. And then, so does everything else. Written by Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) and directed by Alistair Browning, Treats is a bruising comedy about three people who want (and need) different things from each other. Dave, a journalist, has just come back from assignment in Iraq, […]

REVIEW: Dust Pilgrim (Red Leap Theatre)

June 7, 2015

The Anti-Arrival [by James Wenley] Going in, the talking point is how Red Leap have downsized from their large ensemble company, the world-building of The Arrival, and the giant creatures of Sea. Dust Pilgrim is a nimble show for a smaller venue and three performers (plus crew member), designed artistically and economically for ease of touring. Going out, the big news […]

REVIEW: Days like Today (Itchy Apteryx)

June 5, 2015

Maybe another day [by Matt Baker] The combination of Auckland Playwright Collective’s Read Raw in 2008 and The Court Theatre’s Fresh Ink new play development programme in 2010 has certainly given substance to Laurence Dolan’s play, Days Like Today, but substance is not enough for a play to make the transition from page to stage. It requires a ruthless director and […]

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