Review Archive
Lexie has been active in the professional performing arts since 1970, joining the Theatre Corporate company under Raymond Hawthorne in 1976 where she remained as a member of the company until April 1979. Following seasons at The Fortune and at Centrepoint she formed her own company based at Whanganui’s Four Seasons Theatre specialising in performances of New Zealand works in schools for young people as well as main bill productions.
Moving then to Kirikiriroa Hamilton and later to Ōtautahi Christchurch, Lexie formed Troupers Live Theatrix based at The Arts Centre of Christchurch and, while continuing to tour schools, she created many main bill productions and, until 1998, ran a small theatre school.
Lexie also trained as a dancer, initially with John Casserley (contemporary) in the 1960’s, Dorothea and Bryan Ashbridge (classical ballet) in the 1970’s, and she often worked with Russell Kerr in a range of roles at Southern Ballet in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Lexie was a member of the Christchurch Theatre Trust Board for eight years, acted in numerous productions at the Court Theatre, completed four terms on the NZ Theatre Federation National Executive and eight years as Deputy Chair of the Christchurch Community Arts Council.
Following funded travel to the UK, EU, US, and Canada to study Shakespeare production, she settled in Auckland and took up the role of Business Manager at Auckland University’s Maidment Theatre. After eight years in this role Lexie was appointed Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology leading the Event Management academic programmes until 2016 when she added the role of Academic Equity Leader to her portfolio.
Lexie began her reviewing work with the Whanganui Chronicle in 1980 and has since reviewed for The Listener, The Christchurch Star, The Christchurch Press (five years) and for www.gaynz.com. She has reviewed for Theatreview since 2009 and has been Associate Editor (Auckland) since 2022.
Lexie is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (London), has a master’s degree with first class honours in Creative and Performing Arts (MCPA) from The University of Auckland, a Diploma in Education, and Diploma in Teaching from Massey University, and was named a University of Canterbury Outstanding Graduate 150th Anniversary in 2022 and a University of Canterbury Notable Alumni in 2021.
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
I Didn't Invite You Here to Lecture Me
Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland
13/10/2022 - 29/05/2025
"A fine actor, a great writer, and laughs galore. You should go...
"Hilarious interactions with eight different lecturers..
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Speed is Emotional
Auckland
17/04/2025 - 03/05/2025
"Courageous and innovative, a unique journey through ADHD with songs. Recommended...
MR RED LIGHT
Wellington, Blenheim, Dunedin, Nelson, Auckland
15/10/2019 - 30/03/2025
"The smarts of Crowder & Bland create innovative, surprise-filled theatre - yet again..
"Bursting with magical, theatrical moments..
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Black Grace – This Is Not A Retrospective
Auckland
22/03/2025 - 22/03/2025
"Visionary director Ieremia (and friends) deliver gold on Black Grace's 30th anniversary..
Animal
Auckland, Wanaka
19/03/2025 - 30/03/2025
"Internationally acclaimed - capricious, whimsical, riotously funny, and clucking fabulous..
ration the Queen’s Veges
Auckland
23/02/2025 - 14/03/2025
"A true story told with charm, clarity and honesty, totally recommended..
SMASHED – The Nightcap
Auckland
11/03/2025 - 23/03/2025
"Boisterous, anarchic, a small accordion orchestra … and marshmallows. Cabaret at its vivid best..
a mixtape for maladies
Auckland
04/03/2025 - 23/03/2025
"Transported by glimpses of the past, the guise of the podcast delivers us deep into the stories..
"Music, memory and family - a simply outstanding production..
From Another Woman
Auckland
27/02/2025 - 01/03/2025
"Beguiling writing, great direction, and an absolutely exquisite performance...
Pretty Legal
Auckland
19/02/2025 - 22/02/2025
"Excellent script and top-quality performances make for a great night out..
Panti Bliss in 'If These Wigs Could Talk'
Auckland
19/02/2025 - 23/02/2025
"A seamless narrative, unique, outrageous, serious & riotous, all at the same time..
Hugo's Rainbow Show
Auckland, Wellington
01/02/2025 - 02/03/2025
"A reminder that love and acceptance will always be stronger than intolerance..
"An outstanding solo performance, a subtle & magical family show, with breathtaking costumes..
How To Art
Auckland, Wellington
12/11/2024 - 01/03/2025
"Offers a great deal more than slip-on-a-banana-skin slapstick..
"Relentlessly funny and splendidly performed by the best bananas in the art business...
Raru e Maruakaītā
Auckland
01/11/2024 - 02/11/2024
"Powerful imagery and great performances in this traditional Kūki Airani fable...
SLIP - Rebecca Jensen
Auckland
19/10/2024 - 20/10/2024
"Jensen is outstanding, her performance magical and her choreography rich and subtly nuanced..
THE IDENTITY PROJEKT
Auckland
19/10/2024 - 20/10/2024
"Audience on their feet for the whole 60-minute show – it was actually 90 but no-one was counting...
RUA - The New Zealand Dance Company
Auckland
17/10/2024 - 18/10/2024
"New Zealand Dance Company presents a powerful double bill by two of Aotearoa’s best..
IN/TENSE - Alexa Wilson
Auckland
18/09/2024 - 17/10/2024
"Fear and vulnerability, not as weaknesses, but as powerful, generative forces that connect us..
REALM of TEARS - Rewa Fowles and Renee Wiki
Auckland
13/10/2024 - 13/10/2024
"Evocative, delicate at times, angry at others, with exciting idiosyncratic dance structures..
PŪHEKE - Louise Pōtiki Bryant
Auckland
12/10/2024 - 12/10/2024
"Prolonged applause and gratitude for profoundly rich fare..
PĪATA - Tūrongo Collective & Anne Plamondon
Auckland
10/10/2024 - 13/10/2024
"Conceived with purity, performed with power and elegance, deeply satisfying...
Rutene Spooner's Be Like Billy?
Christchurch, Rotorua, Auckland, Gisborne, Nelson, New Plymouth
25/03/2023 - 12/06/2025
"Aroha that holds joy and pain, reverence and reflection..
"A Question for the Times..
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Ngā Rorirori
Auckland, Wellington
12/09/2024 - 22/09/2024
"Great dance, awesome music, mistaken identities, wacky hijinks, cutting satire, and a happy ending..
"Fills the room with mauri and juicy ahua..
