Review: RNZB Winter Season
Always a pleasure to find myself at the St James here in Pōneke, and the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s got something for everyone with their trio of short ballets this winter. Sir Frederick Ashton’s (1904–1988) Birthday Offering is a stellar celebration of classical ballet. First performed in 1956, with seven solo variations for the women in […]
Review: RNZB’s Macbeth
Review contains major spoilers for the RNZB’s Macbeth – the only reason I’m spoiler warning a 400 year old story based loosely off an 1000 year old historical figure is that the RNZB does include some changes in its staging that are more so implied in the text, and there’s also some things you want to […]
Review: Ghost Bros
By Talia Carlisle Creaking floorboards, howls in the night… just another Wellington storm or is there something spooky hiding in Paramount’s new venue, The Gods? I’m not entirely sure since I can’t find the place… But a ghostly maze of paths and Fringe staff lead me to the auditorium eventually, where I manage my less […]
Ten Years in Pōneke: Part Five – Somes Speedrunning
Or, hey I was supposed to finish all of these articles in 2025 but then life happened so I guess we’re doing little quests in 2026 as well. [Warning: This piece talks about disease, war and death.] Matiu / Somes Island is the ever-present spectre looming in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara, one of three islands that the harbour […]
Review: Amélie
By Talia Carlisle The wait is over. WITCH Music Theatre is back in town, bringing the candyfloss-sweet hearted magic of Amélie, our new friend at The Hannah (Hannah Playhouse) till Nov 29. Have you ever opened your favourite childhood story book or movie and wanted to dive right in? Now is your chance to dive […]
Review: Messy
Reviewed by George Niven Stepping into the Dome stage at Bats on Tuesday night felt almost like intruding. Taking my seat I felt I was brushing past Freya, the character played by writer Tara Weston-Webb, as she sat cross-legged on the floor of her room fastidiously painting brightly coloured icons in a small grid. The […]
Review: The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker’s always been one of ‘the ballets’ I’ve heard about but never seen. Learning about it via reading the The Baby-Sitters Club books as a kid and growing up dancing myself, I’ve always wanted to get the chance to experience it, and finally, thanks to this year’s Royal New Zealand Ballet Kiwi twist on […]
Review: Mr Halloween Bachelor
I’ve not seen so much body paint in a room in a while, and this time, I’m contributing to it. It’s PopRox’s Mr Halloween Bachelor at the Hannah Playhouse, a triumphant sequel to last year’s Ms Christmas Bachelorette, and the cast (and some of the audience) are fully costumed for a night of flirty frivolity […]
Review: Grifted & Talented
Reviewed by Bethany Miller Firstly, what a brilliant premise for a comedy game show. Being one of those “gifted” kids, I was taken by the name from the start – the nostalgia of a school programme for unconventional thinkers that I realise now were probably all the oddballs and undiagnosed neurospicy types. Honestly, a lot […]
Ten Years in Pōneke: Part Four – Throwing Down the Escooter Gauntlet
Or, how far can you travel on a Flamingo before it dies on you? A Pōneke Easter Experiment. Do not try this at home. It’s not wholly dangerous, but it is a little foolhardy. Mostly it’s just time consuming and will make your legs ache. I’ve been scooting ever since I was a kid. I […]