Review: Ze: queer as fuck!

A monologue of self discovery from a genderqueer, kinky, femmesexual, polyminded, gay-divorcee. From the opening sequence through to the end, this well constructed show fulfills the programme promise that “by the end of this show you will know more about me than most people care to learn and hopefully something about yourself.” Through seven pivotal […]

Review: Manifesto 2083

On July 22, 2011, Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people and injured more than 200 in Norway. Before he attacked his fellow citizens he sent out a 1500 page manifesto containing racist propaganda, philosophical reflections, bomb manuals, interviews he conducted with himself and diary entries. Danish theatre makers Christian Lollike, Olaf Højgaard and Tanja Diers […]

Review: The basement tapes

After her Grandma’s death a woman is tasked with cleaning out the basement of her house. As she sifts through what seems like every single thing her Grandma ever owned she discovers a tape recorder. Then she finds a box of tapes – some of which work, and some which don’t. As she listens to the […]

Review: Jekyll and Hyde

Famous French* company A Slightly Isolated Dog (so French, so famous) is back with Jekyll & Hyde. It’s about a very good man – Dr Jekyll – who indulges his very bad side – Mr Hyde – by drinking a potion. Only it’s not long before he doesn’t need to drink the potion for his dark […]

Review: The Undertow

The Undertow is a massive theatrical epic presented by 35 performers from Te Rākau Theatre. Written by Helen Pearse-Otene and directed by Jim Moriarty it follows the story of seven generations of Wellingtonians – Māori and Pākehā – as they carve out a life in Ōwhiro. Each of the four plays explores the experience of […]

Preview: Theatre shows on this week

  It’s all singing and dancing this week at Circa and BATS. (Just what I need to get me through my second to last week at work before the holidays tbh.) Scarlet and Gold continues at Circa Theatre as does Roger Hall’s “Jack and The Beanstalk”. (My review of Scarlet and Gold here. I haven’t […]

Wellington Theatre Awards 2016

The Wellington Theatre Awards were held at Te Whaea on Sunday night. Hosted by James Nokise with support from Allan Henry and music provided by Hayley Sproull it was an evening celebrating the last year of professional theatre in Wellington. Linda Wilson from Circa Theatre was recognised for her contribution to Wellington theatre with the […]

Preview: The Better Best Possible Album Party That Anybody Has Ever Been Two

I’m pretty excited that Album Party is the first show to benefit from BATS Theatre and The Basement Theatre (Auckland) working together to support the best new emerging shows to tour to both cities. A concert, a comedy gig and a play all rolled into one, The Better Best Possible Album Party That Anybody Has […]

Review: Scarlet and gold

This play dramatises the real events of the 1912 Waihi goldminers’ strike which started in March and went through to November.  It follows the fortunes of the strikers’ families and parallels the struggle with the Suffragette movement in England. Playwright Lorae Parry focuses much of the script on the women in the strikers’ families. (There […]

Review: Making Friends Collective double bill

Stand up love  Freddy is a comedian and has a drinking problem. Ana wants him to stop. Their relationship has problems but they love each other. Isn’t that enough? I find the messy set – a bed with a couch backed on to the bedhead plus living items strewn around – appealing, reflecting as it does the […]