Review Archive
John Smythe has trained and worked professionally in New Zealand, Australia then back in New Zealand as a playwright, director, screenwriter (& screenwriting teacher), actor, theatre critic and book writer.
His formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Dramatic Art from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (Sydney) and a Certificate in Screenwriting from the Australian Film Television and Radio School. He has also completed honours papers and a range of script writing courses.
Theatre directing credits in Australia include plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, and Gorki, and world premieres of plays by himself, Len Radic, David Williamson, Louis Esson, Katharine Susannah Prichard, Jack Hibberd and David O’Brien. Back in NZ he directed his own trilogy of short plays – ENTRANCING EXITS: Ms Conception; Nothing Twisted; Used Heads, at Bats Theatre, Wellington International Festival of the Arts; Faulty (sic) Towers & Blackadder’s Banquet at the Museum Hotel.
Playwright credits include Entrancing Exits (BATS Theatre), Conundra (Ensemble Productions), Swaggy Mack and his Magic Back Track (Arena Theatre), The Seven Stages of Hugh Mann (Melbourne University Theatre), Party Games (Jane St Theatre; La Mama) and Making A Play (Melbourne Theatre Company; Central Theatre), Where There’s a Will (BATS Theatre). Unproduced plays include Thelma, Weather and The Virtues of Reality.
John has also written The Peace Monster (Vintage, 1991); Downstage Upfront: the first 40 years of New Zealand’s longest-running professional theatre (Victoria University Press, November 2004) and The Plays of Bruce Mason – a survey (VUP & Playmarket, November 2015).
Amid a wide range of acting roles on stage, television and film, John has played Polonius and the Gravedigger in Hamlet twice (2006 and 2011). In 2012 and with Arts On Tour NZ in 2013 he played James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and Carl Jung in Jan Bolwell’s Dancing in the Wake. In 2015 he played Barry Scanlan in his own play, Where There’s a Will, at BATS Theatre. (Since 2000 he has also played Birdboot in an annual VUW English Dept reading of Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound.)
Before becoming the founding Managing Editor of Theatreview.org.nz in 2006, John was a theatre critic for The Melbourne Times, The Australian, Theatre Australia Magazine, The National Business Review.
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
Strays
Wellington
03/12/2025 - 06/12/2025
"Wondrously compelling if enigmatic; heartening to see such skill and creativity..
A Hardware Love Affair (Development Season)
Wellington
25/11/2025 - 29/11/2025
"Potential well worth pursuing beyond the broad brush-strokes..
NOT CHRISTMAS, BUT GUY FAWKES
Wellington
22/11/2025 - 13/12/2025
"A precious gift that enriches our understanding of what it was to be a pioneering playwright in New Zealand..
The End of the Golden Weather
Wellington
20/11/2025 - 14/12/2025
"In every sense a classic, makes the personal political, and this production does it proud..
CRUSH THE BUG
Wellington
18/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
"Apparently casual clowning that makes us think and feel..
Robin Hood: The Pantomime
Wellington
15/11/2025 - 10/01/2026
"Hits the mark as a merry, madcap treat..
"Happily mocks the state of the nation and offers an antidote to it..
SKWERT: The Reunion
Wellington
11/11/2025 - 15/11/2025
"The play’s potential has yet to be realised..
Songs From a Spellbound City
Wellington
05/11/2025 - 08/11/2025
"The spontaneous alchemy of improv keeps us all spellbound..
Out The Gate
Wellington
29/10/2025 - 29/10/2025
"Authentic, insightful, enriching: theatre that genuinely makes a difference..
The Haka Party Incident
Wellington
16/10/2025 - 25/10/2025
"Production’s focused fluidity belies the epic scale of the play..
Monument
Wellington
11/10/2025 - 09/11/2025
"‘Stunning’ Monument shines a light on women in power ..
"Will appeal across generations to women and men..
Christmas in October
Wellington
03/10/2025 - 03/10/2025
"A great concept and the best bits have been brilliant..
It's Dangerous To Go Alone
Wellington
02/10/2025 - 02/10/2025
"Ingeniously improvised at a very steady pace..
Running into the Sun
Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington
09/09/2025 - 04/10/2025
"Refreshing to watch people on stage manifesting my internal concerns..
"An immersive, subjective experience of a human rite of passage..
More reviews
Swingers
Wellington
30/10/2025 - 30/10/2025
"But is it a spectator sport? Maybe for some...
SGCNZ NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE SCHOOLS PRODUCTION 2025
Wellington
27/09/2025 - 27/09/2025
"A taonga of immense value to all of Aotearoa. Long may it live!..
GOMIL
Nelson, Christchurch, Wellington, Raumati, New Plymouth
30/11/2024 - 03/10/2025
"All elements combine to make a greater whole..
"Clever script and delightful characters superbly acted with amazing sound..
More reviews
PARTY PIGS!
Wellington
11/09/2022 - 26/09/2025
"Amiable mastery of skills, tone and manner makes it a wet day winner..
"Masters of audience connection..
SOCIAL ANIMAL
Hamilton, Wellington
23/02/2024 - 20/09/2025
"Cleverly crafted, skilfully performed: one out of the box..
"Well-written and full of humorous insights and revelations..
Over and Out
Wellington
17/09/2025 - 20/09/2025
"Is the impressive truck obscuring our appreciation of its cargo?..
Acting in Aotearoa
Dunedin
01/08/2025 - 31/12/2025
"Gems throughout, notions you may want to challenge and nuggets of gold to invest..
2:22 A Ghost Story
Wellington
13/09/2025 - 11/10/2025
"Haunting thriller delivers a final twist that lingers..
"Has more form and substance than initially meets our eyes, ears and brains..
Grass Roots
Wellington
10/09/2025 - 13/09/2025
"An entertainment that touches us, gives us pause and certainly engages..
