Review Archive

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[Editor’s note: Dr James Wenley is the editor and founder of TheatreScenes, a platform for reviews and commentary on Aotearoa theatre. https://people.wgtn.ac.nz/james.wenley ]

Welcome to the review archive.

Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.

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MANIFESTO 2083

Auckland, Dunedin, Nelson, Wellington, New Plymouth, Christchurch

29/09/2015 - 02/09/2017

"Thought-provoking and well-produced..

"Totally subversive and utterly intriguing..

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SWING

Auckland, Christchurch

10/09/2015 - 19/09/2015

"Swing when you're winning..

"Captivating, endearing, heart-warming tale..

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SHORT+SWEET THEATRE NZ 2015 THEATRE WEEK 1

Auckland

08/09/2015 - 12/09/2015

"What has happened to the Short+Sweet Festival?..

"Deserves a bigger audience..

ERNEST RUTHERFORD: EVERYONE CAN SCIENCE!

Auckland, Taranaki, Nelson, Christchurch

28/05/2013 - 19/10/2017

"Delightful, clever, wonderfully interactive and thought-provoking..

"Beautifully structured, utterly engaging, packed with gags..

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ALL YOUR WANTS AND NEEDS FULFILLED FOREVER

NYC, USA, Wellington, Auckland

20/05/2014 - 19/09/2015

"Unfurling lightbulb moment..

"Sharply comedic quest..

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LYSISTRATA

Auckland

01/08/2015 - 23/08/2015

"Focus on inoffensive offensive farce..

"Make love... and theatre... not war..

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THE DELIBERATE DISAPPEARANCE OF MY FRIEND, JACK HARTNETT

Auckland

24/07/2015 - 08/08/2015

"Musical thriller intrigues..

"Why should we care about Jack?..

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EIGHT GIGABYTES OF HARDCORE PORNOGRAPHY

Auckland

18/06/2015 - 11/07/2015

"Go hardcore or go home..

"Download Incomplete – Error Occurred..

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DUST PILGRIM – A Tale of Freedom

Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wellington, Invercargill

04/06/2015 - 03/05/2018

"An audio-visual treat that respects the intelligence of its audience..

"Dusty yes, but fresh and original..

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THE BEST POSSIBLE ALBUM PARTY THAT ANYBODY HAS EVER BEEN TO

Auckland

26/05/2015 - 30/05/2015

"For Realness..

"More than just hilarious stereotype humour and virtuoso musical parody..

FALLOUT: The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior

Auckland

20/05/2015 - 30/05/2015

"Deserves a more thorough investigation..

"Is this the right way to remember …?..

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SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN

Wellington, Auckland

15/04/2015 - 24/05/2015

"What a glorious evening..

"Cloudy, with a chance of Glorious Feeling..

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BREATH: Three SAMUEL BECKETT short works

Auckland

08/04/2015 - 18/04/2015

"Faithful..

"Life is Krapp..

BITTER SWEET

Auckland

16/01/2015 - 17/01/2015

"The right mix..

"Vibrant diversity..

Spiegelworld EMPIRE

Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch

21/10/2014 - 15/02/2015

"Much to like..

"Spiegeltent home to slick, professional pick‘n’mix..

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HAURAKI HORROR

Auckland

04/12/2014 - 20/12/2014

"Silly Seas..

"Ridiculous romp encapsulates the silly season..

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The Paper Cinema’s ODYSSEY

Nelson, Dunedin, Auckland

16/10/2014 - 01/11/2014

"Sophisticated theatrical magic..

"Dionysus would approve..

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THE FEAST 2014

Auckland

28/10/2014 - 01/11/2014

"Unique explorations of craft, imagination, style and taste..

"Soup for the Imagination..

IF I ONLY HAD A HEART

Auckland

21/10/2014 - 25/10/2014

"Almost offensively safe..

"Affairs of the Heart..

YO FUTURE

Auckland

16/10/2014 - 25/10/2014

"Uncertain Futurecast..

"Unapologetically conceptual..

EVERYTHING IS SURROUNDED BY WATER

Wellington, Auckland, Palmerston North

10/02/2014 - 14/10/2017

"Everything is Surrounded by Storytelling #1..

"An unusual and bittersweet experience..

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THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Wellington, Auckland

12/09/2014 - 19/10/2014

"Bloom and grow forever..

"Von Trapps in tune with 21st Century..

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WILD BEES

Auckland

16/09/2014 - 20/09/2014

"12:00 PM Wednesday Sep 17, 2014 Trade union battle brilliantly captures foray into brave new world..

"Political Swarm from Elections Past..

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Wellingon City Council
Auckland City Council