Review Archive
Ewen Coleman, awarded the QSM in 2024, has been involved in theatre as a director and producer for more than 40 years.
He has served on several committees in various positions including secretary, president and treasurer. He has been a member of the Wellington District Theatre Federation since the 1970s and has held all executive committee member positions. He has been a member of the Wellington Repertory Theatre since 1976, was made a Life Member in 1989 and is the current Secretary. He has been involved in the executive committee of Theatre New Zealand and the Association of New Zealand Drama Adjudicators. He was made a Life Member of Theatre New Zealand in 1996.
He travels to direct shows for societies and runs technical workshops to help hundreds of actors. Mr Coleman has been a trustee and current Treasurer of Theatre Archives New Zealand since 2007. He was also theatre reviewer for the Evening Post then the Dominion Post for 30 years.
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES and other memories of childhood
Wellington
28/11/2015 - 20/12/2015
"A delightful Christmas tale..
"The enduring pleasure of being read to..
THE KEYS ARE IN THE MARGARINE: a verbatim play about dementia
Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington
19/06/2014 - 14/11/2015
"Touching look at life with dementia..
"Deeply absorbing..
More reviews
EVITA
Wellington
07/11/2015 - 21/11/2015
"Exceptionally professional Evita..
"Experience the power..
ALL OUR SONS
Wellington
06/11/2015 - 14/11/2015
"Recognising our fundamental humanity..
"Many moments to savour..
More reviews
DEAD MEN’S WARS
Wellington
22/10/2015 - 31/10/2015
"Ensemble makes Wars a tale worth watching..
"Elusive theme undermines it..
THE GENIE, THE LAMP AND ALADDIN
Wellington
29/09/2015 - 10/10/2015
"Engages and involves the young..
"A live and lively antidote to electronic media..
THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA
Wellington
26/09/2015 - 10/10/2015
"Slick, confident and lively..
"All the right ingredients..
HIRAETH
Nelson, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Auckland, Wellington, Wairarapa, Christchurch, Wanaka
19/09/2015 - 07/11/2015
"Feel-good theatre..
"We are the river..
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THE BOOKBINDER
Wellington, Dunedin, Nelson, Hamilton, Wanaka, Tauranga, Wairarapa, Christchurch, Invercargill, Edinburgh, Scotland, Gisborne
19/02/2014 - 10/10/2019
"Intrinsic magic mesmerises..
"Makes you see the world with fresh eyes..
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THE QUIET ROOM
Wellington
24/09/2015 - 03/10/2015
"Emotional rollercoaster sensitively captured..
"An enriching experience..
THE TRAVELLING SQUIRREL
Wellington
05/09/2015 - 02/10/2015
"Robert Lord’s The Travelling Squirrel gets a much-needed resurrection at Circa..
"Reality revealed through fantasy with delectable flair..
THE WHITE GUITAR
Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland, Hamilton, Gisborne, Rotorua, Napier, Tauranga, Nelson
01/09/2015 - 21/10/2016
"The truth of the Luafutu family also sets us free..
"Incredible story earns respectful ovation..
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THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER
Wellington
04/07/2015 - 18/07/2015
"A school holiday treat..
"Interactive fun with good values..
THE SWORD IN THE STONE
Wellington
07/07/2015 - 18/07/2015
"Uninspired..
"A magic-free zone..
the beautiful ones
Wellington
27/06/2015 - 11/07/2015
"Unique and innovative mash-up of genres..
"Formidable talent in search of a theme-rich story..
LONG AGO, LONG AGO
Wellington
23/06/2015 - 27/06/2015
"A true human experience of fantasy and reality made real through subtle artistry..
"Lyrical, poetic, hard-hitting and emotional..
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Wellington
10/06/2015 - 20/06/2015
"Brought to life with great gusto..
"Easily digestible but thought-provoking..
TOGETHER ALL ALONE
Wellington
07/04/2015 - 18/04/2015
"Highly entertaining..
"Uncanny, light-hearted, brutal, witty …..
TWO MORTALS
Wellington
01/04/2015 - 18/04/2015
"A lot of life in a play about death..
"Engaging and intriguing..
