Aotearoa New Zealand professional theatre & dance: reviews, news and your views.
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SKWERT: The Reunion
Wellington
11/11/2025 - 15/11/2025
"The play’s potential has yet to be realised..
Run Coyote Run
Wellington
11/11/2025 - 15/11/2025
"Lacks polish in places but is likeable and sympathetic with a ton of heart..
Wyrd Sense
Nelson
08/11/2025 - 08/11/2025
"Fun, fanciful and fabulous – puts a smile on your face and has you laughing out loud..
Faust on Trial
Christchurch
08/09/2025 - 06/11/2025
"Ironic and witty new play proves the importance of independent and experimental performing arts...
The Dry House
Auckland
06/11/2025 - 15/11/2025
"Two sisters, one last drink: addiction, grief, and sisterhood collide in this unflinching premiere...
Songs From a Spellbound City
Wellington
05/11/2025 - 08/11/2025
"The spontaneous alchemy of improv keeps us all spellbound..
Messy
Wellington
04/11/2025 - 08/11/2025
"Frustrations, anger, volatility then unexpectedly heartwarming..
A Master of None: Brown Fala
Wellington, Christchurch
14/02/2025 - 30/10/2025
"Embraces courageous conversations, and the power of healing and unity..
"Brave and confronting, inspires joy and hope..
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The Nutcracker
Wellington
29/10/2025 - 08/11/2025
"A Kiwi Christmas fantasy: The Nutcracker reimagined under the pōhutukawa..
"Frivolity, fun, escapism – an evening in a dream world created as our own..
Heartbreak Hotel
Hastings, Wellington, Nelson, Tauranga
26/10/2023 - 01/11/2025
"Intelligence, humour and emotional precision linger like a pulse after silence..
"An original work about something we all go through, brilliantly done..
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BUCK SCOURGE: LIVING NIGHTMARE
Wellington
01/11/2025 - 01/11/2025
"Celebrates the silliness we allow ourselves with the people we love..
BY A THREAD
Napier, Nelson
21/10/2018 - 02/11/2025
"Appeals to our primal urge to be free of the earth, to soar like a bird..
"Moving, funny and exhilarating..
Liam Cooper's King of the Keys
Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland
29/10/2025 - 31/10/2025
"A wholesome, family friendly and energetic performance..
"A well put together show that does what it says on the label - it’s pure entertainment. ..
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Mr. Halloween Bachelor
Wellington
30/10/2025 - 30/10/2025
"The audience are enthralled, engaged, and attached to each character throughout..
Holding Ground / Intensional Particle
Nelson
30/10/2025 - 30/10/2025
"Responding to pressure, imbalance and the ever-present pull of change..
Out The Gate
Wellington
29/10/2025 - 29/10/2025
"Authentic, insightful, enriching: theatre that genuinely makes a difference..
The Last thing We Build
Hamilton
29/10/2025 - 02/11/2025
"Honest, often funny, and unafraid to look directly at love and loss..
The Māori Sidesteps 2025
Wellington
28/10/2025 - 01/11/2025
"Entertainment as connection: a celebration of culture, identity and togetherness..
ration the Queen’s veges
Auckland, Wellington, Nelson
14/03/2025 - 26/10/2025
"Immediate, intelligent and boldly unafraid, provoking laughter and reflection..
"An enriching rollercoaster ride of informative climbs and plunges into impressionistic action..
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TANGIHANGA
Wellington, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Tauranga
15/09/2025 - 24/10/2025
"Magnificent, all-encompassing, extraordinarily exquisite..
"A raw, beautiful requiem of whānau and grief..
More reviews
RHYS MATHEWSON’S 10TH RODEO
New Plymouth, Tauranga
10/10/2025 - 24/10/2025
"A triumph of truth and timing: raw, hilarious, and profoundly moving..
"Hilarious and thought-provoking..
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Headlines
Wednesday November 5, 2025
The 2025 PAYPA Awards
The 2025 PAYPA Awards Performing Arts & Young People's Sector celebrates Excellence Performing Arts & Young People Aotearoa (PAYPA) is delighted to announce the finalists for this year’s PAYPA Awards. PAYPA was set up in 2016 to support and champion professional artists creating performing arts work for rangatahi and tamariki. The PAYPA awards were initiated in 2022 to celebrate excellence in an often overlooked sector of the arts.
Monday October 13, 2025
AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES 2026 SEASON OFSTAGE HITS INCLUDING A WORLD-RENOWNED MUSICAL
Auckland Theatre Company is thrilled to reveal our 2026 show line-up, featuring seven enthralling productions in a season that showcases two exceptional world premieres, the return to presenting a musical, plus a wellspring of stage-hits that includes a revival of a beloved Māori work, a powerful Pasifika piece, and the continuation of a Shakespeare work at scale.
Deadlines
Monday October 6, 2025
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST New Work in Development
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST OPEN The Hannah x Auckland Live new work in development The Hannah is proud to partner once again with Auckland Live to support the development of a new Aotearoa production, and provide the space and time for a new work in development to make waves. This opportunity includes in-kind venue use of the Hannah Playhouse alongside production support from Auckland Live for the period 2026-2027.
Friday August 15, 2025
NZ Fringe 2026 Artist Registrations Now Open
We're so excited to see what you are cooking up for the 36th year of New Zealand Fringe! It's bound to be another stellar year!! Deadline for registration is Friday, 10 October 2025!
Views & Q's
Saturday June 21, 2025
Comment posted to review of END OF SUMMERTIME in Auckland
John Smythe: With Dickie sharing his experience as a newcomer to Auckland, I don't think audiences outside Auckland will have any problem understanding the play. They certainly didn't in Wellington - see: https://www.theatreview.org.nz/production/end-of-summer-time/
Sunday February 16, 2025
CatGPT reviewed by ChatGPT
Comment posted to Deb Rea’s review of CatGPT I was so astonished by the ChatGPT that I asked Deb how it came about. She replied: “I spent about a minute making sure it understood that I was talking about the show. Then it wrote one that I didn't like so I asked it to try to match L3NT1Ls personality more. Then it wrote one
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