REVIEW: The Pickle King (Indian Ink)

August 6, 2017

[Well Preserved] It’s a testament to the quality of Indian Ink’s storytelling that The Pickle King, the company’s 15-year old play, has stood the test of time. Those like myself who were unable to see its original production are given the opportunity to see a play that made one of New Zealand’s leading theatre companies who they are today. If their […]

REVIEW: Earnest (Fractious Tash and Last Tapes Theatre Company)

August 29, 2014

Earnest goes Wilde [by Sharu Delilkan and Tim Booth] It’s interesting that The Importance of Being Earnest is often performed as a ‘straight’ interpretation, which is ironic given the gay essence of the closeted homosexual playwright’s well-known work. And to be honest a key reason I was keen to see this version was its premise of a fresh innovative take […]

REVIEW: Vice (The Basement)

April 16, 2014

Perverse [by James Wenley] For the past few weeks, Jordan Mooney has been posting a series of clips promoting a range of different vices. The crazy-eyed front man has whipped himself, walked naked in the wilderness, shoved his face in a toilet bowl, and lit his hair on fire. Turns out these are child plays compared to some of the predilections […]

REVIEW: Robin Hood (Outfit Theatre Company)

December 6, 2013

Back in the Hood [by Matt Baker] Following a twelve month hiatus, The Outfit Theatre Company returns to the stage with possibly their most commercially and critically successful of enterprises; the kids’ holiday show. The ensemble nature of the company’s management has been reduced to the show’s producers; Sarah Graham and Ema Barton, seemingly in exchange for a plethora of writers; […]

REVIEW: Golden Boys (Kings of Waterview)

October 15, 2013

Ri-ri-ri-diculous [by James Wenley] What does the typical kiwi bloke look like in our country today? Golden Boys offers three possibilities: of the trio of brothers in the Thompson family, one is an All Black starter, one is an entrepreneurial businessman and rich-lister, and one is a Gay Labour politician. All have been raised by matriarch Isabella (Margaret Blay), whose […]

REVIEW: An Awkward Family Christmas (Outfit Theatre Company)

November 23, 2012

The title tells you all [by James Wenley] The ‘awkward’ brand of humour is one well known to audiences. Popularised in modern times by the Ricky Gervais School of comedy, it employs cringe, painful pauses, and a whiff of nastiness to sell its humour. Thomas Sainsbury has long done his own successful spin on the genre, and is a great […]

REVIEW: Alice (Outfit Theatre Company)

July 11, 2012

If this is a kid’s show, consider me a big one! [by James Wenley] Outfit Theatre Company have turned their devising smarts on Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland story. I’ve never been to one of Outfit’s School Holiday shows, so was very curious to see how their upstart (and often dark) style would translate for children. As we enter TAPAC […]

PREVIEW: Some Explicit Polaroids (Rebels & Robots Productions)

June 13, 2012

Encountering Explicit Emotions [by Sharu Delilkan] Having seen Andrew Ford in action on stage for the past three or four years, producer Roberto Nascimento knew that he would be ideal to play Tim as soon as he read the script for Some Explicit Polaroids. “Andrew is a very talented guy and I admire what he does. So when the opportunity […]

REVIEW: Course Related Costs (Outfit Theatre Company)

May 31, 2012

Drugs are bad, mmmkay? [by James Wenley] You just know that things are going to come crashing down in Course Related Costs, the only questions are how, and how badly. The set-up is this: After the mainstay of the student drinking budget, ‘course related costs’ has dried up, Pete, Monty and AJ have installed a P lab in their flat. […]

Theatre XMAS Madness!! A Criminal Christmas & A Krazy Kristmas

December 9, 2011

These shows won’t last, buy your ticket today! [by James Wenley] Turns out Xmas is a lot like the Rugby World Cup, whether you’re into it or not, you simply can’t avoid it – its everywhere. Xmas trees and tinsels have sprouted up everywhere. All I want for Christmas is you is on repeat. A GIANT Xmas Tree bauble has […]

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