New Zealand professional theatre & dance: reviews, news and your views

ASB Community Trust adds $5m to ATC theatre project [more]
ATC / AUT PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED[more]
Recently published plays reviewed in NZ Books [more]
BLOOMSDAY! JUNE 16! THIRSTY DOG! Auck [more]
The Basement as a risk share venue? FORUM
6 MAORI PLAYS ON TV 25/4 to 27/5 [more]
Read Raw 2012, 1^st Sun monthly April-Sept, Auck [more]

JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES on The Big Idea [more]

AUDITION for 'Quiver' by Gina Vanessi, 27/5 for 31/7-11/8 season, Wellington [more]
Centrepoint seeks Stage Hand 4/6-14/7, apply now [more]
Elena Stejko 'M Chekhov Acting Technique 'workshop, Wellington, 19/5, reg by 17/5 [more]
Mime & Movement intensives - Wgtn 19/5, May, BOOK NOW [more]
AUDITIONS – IMMACULATE by Oliver Lansley, 21/5 for JULY season, Wellington [more]
Communications & Marketing Team Leader, Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, apply by 28/5 [more]
SUMMER SHAKESPEARE WELLINGTON SEEKS 2013 SEASON DIRECTOR, apply by 1/6 [more]
ATC: THE NEXT STAGE FESTIVAL of new work, submit by 2/7 [more]
CAROLINE PLUMMER FELLOWSHIP in community dance, apply by 1/06 [more]
Short+Sweet Auckland, writers, directors, producers register by 6 /7 [more]

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IN SPITE OF HIMSELF at Cashmere High School, Christchurch
reviewed by Lindsay Clark 17 May 2012

Much to enjoy and ponder
They know how to claim attention, this group, and they know how to sustain it. Set cleverly in transverse fashion across the body of a school hall, with the audience facing each other across the playing space, this series of issues-based pieces keeps ideas flowing and the adolescent audience – who could not all have wanted to be there – nicely attentive. [more]

See also reviews by:
John Smythe

PAREKOTUKU MOORE IN WHO DAT SHEILA? at Cavern Club, 22 Allen St, Wellington
reviewed by Maraea Rakuraku 17 May 2012

A class act
This is a woman who knows her audience but better yet, and refreshingly, knows herself. We are observing Parekotuku Moore. Period. It’s very comforting and familiar. It’s like hanging out with a diva in the airport lounge, the whānau at the Pa or the bros leaning on a shovel. [more]

NGAIRE & NAUREEN’S PRISONTIME SPECIAL at Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
reviewed by Adey Ramsel 17 May 2012

We laugh like silly school kids
Hmmm, not sure where this one’s going. Or where it came from. I’m reminded of Blackadders line: “It started off badly, it tailed off a little in the middle and the less said about the end the better – but apart from that it was excellent.” [more]

GISH: GISH-TAKES at The Classic Studio, Auckland
reviewed by Nik Smythe 17 May 2012

Billy T meets Weird Al
easoning it’s in his cultural make-up to appropriate anything he sees fit, Gish happily mines (as in, that’s mine now) the canons of musical artists as diverse as Supergroove, Joey Scarbury, Bananarama, Harry Belafonte, the Swingers, Billy Joel, Edwin Starr, the Cranberries, the Bangles, Elton John, Dave Dobbyn, the Prentenders… the list goes on. [more]

REVOLVER: SEXY CIRCUS CABARET CLUB at Comedy Chamber, Town Hall, THE EDGE, Auckland
reviewed by Nik Smythe 17 May 2012

Remarkably raunchy and risibly rude
The first act proper is scruffy ragdoll mascot girl Maria Blacklips, flinging her limbs about with dynamic flair, again engaging the frequently utilised revolving stage. She is follow by one of the waistcoat fellows, the bearded one, ‘Beau Champagne’, who takes us through a round of deft and nimble, if wholly perfunctory, trapeze manoeuvres to a pumping dubstep soundtrack. [more]

See also reviews by:
Virginia Kennard

RAYBON KAN IS COMPLETELY UNCALLED FOR at Downstage Theatre, Wellington
reviewed by Maryanne Cathro 17 May 2012

Saved by genuine intelligence and warmth
It was a dark and chilly night as a few brave souls huddled together in Downstage to witness Raybon Kan be Completely Uncalled For. And indeed most of his humour is just that. Wherein lies its appeal. [more]

PLANTATION at Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland
reviewed by Paul Simei-Barton (New Zealand Herald online) 16 May 2012

An entertaining and engaging slice of Pacific flavoured life
Plantation, which is showcased as part of the Pacific Arts Summit, offers a lively example of the exuberant South Auckland arts culture that is flourishing in the hot-house environment of the Mangere Arts Centre. [more]

RICHARD MEROS SALUTES THE SOUTHERN MAN at Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, The Edge, Auckland
reviewed by Reynald Castaneda 16 May 2012

Meros himself deserves a salute
Cleverly interrogating our social dysfunctions with spot-on insight, Richard Meros Salutes the Southern Man is a brilliantly choreographed satire. [more]

See also reviews by:
John Smythe
Ryan Brown-Haysom (Salient);
Laurie Atkinson (The Dominion Post);
Lynn Freeman (Capital Times);
Terry MacTavish

HAYLEY SPROULL IN MISS FLETCHER SINGS THE BLUES at BATS, Wellington
reviewed by John Smythe 16 May 2012

Don't miss this Miss!
There was rapture last night at Bats, as the lights went out on actor / composer / musician Hayley Sproull's superb formidable creation, Miss Fletcher. Her hour of fretting and strutting upon the stage, and tinkling and pounding upon the piano, is as brilliantly performed as it is conceived. [more]

NICK RADO'S COMEDY BUNKER at Cavern Club, 22 Allen St, Wellington
reviewed by Shannon Friday 16 May 2012

Hilarious games and standard standup
Nick Rado starts his show about three different times. First he quizzes members of the audience about who they are and what they do for a living, pretty standard stuff, really. [more]

SARAH HARPUR IN PANTS ARE FOR LOSERS AND OTHER THEORIES at Fringe Bar, Cnr Cuba & Vivian, Wellington
reviewed by Shannon Friday 16 May 2012

A mix of material
Sarah Harpur does something I hadn’t quite seen in this festival yet. Yes, she’s a single comedienne up on stage, but there’s a strange vibration running through her show. She’s playing here with her persona onstage, and while the idea is intriguing, her show as a whole doesn’t quite come together around it. [more]

THE LAST SALOON at BATS, Wellington
reviewed by Maraea Rakuraku 16 May 2012

Western stereotype heaven
We are looking at a typical Western township cast. The big-hearted whore, sheriff, cowboys, saloon bar-keep, love interest and a bad-ass who may or may not love the big-hearted whore or the love interest. Ok, where is the sheriff? Who’s the bad-ass? Who's the love interest? Ok, here’s an Indian. Still, no Sheriff. Surely, the Indian isn’t the bad-ass? [more]

"I don't agree at all. It certainly wasn't your standard smutty-joke filled, differnce between men & women..." - GreenLaughs   [read full comment]

"I am delighted, Hobbs, if the final night was a great improvement on the opening night. Having not yet mastere..." - John Smythe   [read full comment]

"I dissagree with you John. I attended the last night and had a great time.If only more reviewers could have se..." - hobbs   [read full comment]

"You hit the nail on the head. You are way out of the demographic. Guy Williams is at the forefront of the n..." - Josh Thomson   [read full comment]

"You're welcome + My apologies, I meant cab drivers; I was confusing them with the Asian desk lady at the drive..." - nik smythe   [read full comment]

"I was part of the small audience last night and came away recognising there had been quite a few first night n..." - Graham Atkinson   [read full comment]

"Hey Nik! Thanks for the plug, buddy. Much appreciated. Although I don't recall doing anything on Asian Drivers..." - Jamie Bowen   [read full comment]

"Wow! What a damming review. NOTHING positive to say! How do I become a reviewer? Because I manag..." - Maria   [read full comment]

"Every Actor in the country must be respected and should be given what he/she deserves because i believe being ..." - larry gregory   [read full forum post]

"Ah yes, DG - another great speech! This one helped me get into NIDA back in the day: http://shakespeare.mit.e..." - John Smythe   [read full comment]

"Lovely review, made me wish i was there, and reminded me of my woeful ignorance, and Richard II's - "I wasted ..." - David Geary   [read full comment]

"So Maraea went to this to review it in good faith with no preconceptions and was totally honest in her own res..." - Editor   [read full comment]

16 May 2012 - Audition for 'Quiver' by Gina Vanessi Directed by Gavin Rutherford Season at Bats, July31st – August 11 Auditions on Sunday, 27 May 2012 10:00 until 14:00 Circa Theatre Rehearsal Room 2   [more]

15 May 2012 - Centrepoint Theatre: Stage hand position available Centrepoint Theatre (Palmerston North) is offering one lucky person the opportunity to be apart of an innovative, New Zealand Premiere, production.   [more]

14 May 2012 - ASB Community Trust Contributes $5 Million to Visionary New Theatre Project Auckland Theatre Company is delighted to announce ASB Community Trust will contribute $5m to the new theatre proposed for the Wynyard Quarter. The contribution takes the total pledged to the new theatre $21.7m. The total amount needed to build the new 600 seat venue is $35.1m.   [more]

14 May 2012 - University and Theatre partnership provides distinct future for NZ arts Auckland Theatre Company (ATC) and AUT University are pleased to announce New Zealand's first comprehensive theatre and university partnership. The partnership will be focussed on supporting the business of theatre through education.   [more]

14 May 2012 - THE PECULIAR BUSINESS Laurie Atkinson reviews new play script publications for NZ Books: Katydid - Lucy O’Brien | No 8 Wire: Eight Plays, Eight Decades - Playmarket | Plays 2: London Calling: Blue Sky Boys/John, I’m Only Dancing/Waterloo Sunset - Ken Duncum | Hurai - Harry Love   [more]

14 May 2012 - AUDITIONS – Immaculate by Oliver Lansley Monday, 21 May 2012, 09:00 until 17:00 You're young, free and single and haven't had sex for the last eleven and a half months, then one morning you wake up pregnant, and here is the Angel Gabriel on your doorstep claiming parentage. In Oliver Lansley's "Immaculate", things quickly spiral into farcical confusion ...   [more]

11 May 2012 - Elena Stejko Presents: Inspired acting. Introduction to the M. Chekhov Acting Technique Saturday 19th May 12.30pm – 4.30pm Toi Whakaari : NZ Drama School (Places Strictly Limited) Price: $85.00 "Every true artist and especially talented actors bare within themselves a deeply rooted and often unconscious desire for transformation." – M. Chekhov.   [more]

9 May 2012 - Top award for thesis on dark tourism and theatre Emma Willis who completed her PhD in the Department of English has won one of five best doctoral thesis awards from the Vice-Chancellor of The University of Auckland.   [more]