It’s Festivals time!

It’s almost that glorious point in Wellington’s calendar when the New Zealand Festival  (23 February – 18 March), the Performance Arcade (23-25 Feb, 1-4 March) the Pride Festival (24 February – 10 March) and the NZ Fringe Festival Wellington  (2-24 March) are all on at the same time. I love it for the exciting mix […]

Review: The Father

André lives in his flat where Anne, his daughter, visits him. He’d rather his daughter Elise visited but she’s busy with her art work. Or is she? And who is Pierre? And why does Laura keep coming around? This show explores reality and perception in a family situation which is familiar to many people. What […]

What’s on this week?

Here’s a round up of what shows are on this week. At Circa Theatre… Anahera, on at Circa Theatre to 7 October 2017 A contemporary domestic thriller (in the style of Broadchurch) about a struggling kiwi family. Liz and Peter Hunter have it all. A great marriage, successful careers, a beautiful house and two wonderful children. Until […]

Review: That Bloody Woman

Kate Sheppard, “the leading light of the New Zealand women’s suffrage movement” tells her story in this rock musical by Luke Di Somma and Gregory Cooper. Directed by Kip Chapman, (with Jennifer Ward-Lealand this season’s Rehearsal Director) the show is terrific.  All the elements of the best musicals are here – a well constructed dramatic […]

Preview: Anahera

Anahera is the new play from Emma Kinane. Described as an “enthralling mix of an intense missing child drama and a behind-closed-doors look at New Zealand’s social services” it’s a contemporary domestic thriller about a struggling Kiwi family and how one woman making a stand could make all the difference. A finalist in last year’s Adam […]

Preview: The Wholehearted

Massive Company is bringing The Wholehearted to Wellington in September. An honest portrayal of the extreme power of love, it was developed through conversations with their local community, asking them to share their personal stories of affection and dedication. The result is a heart-warming devised theatre work that spans generations, genders and cultures. Massive Company’s […]

Preview: Caging skies

Opening tomorrow night at Circa Theatre is the world premiere of Caging Skies. It’s a “haunting story of love and obsession that explores truth and lies at both political and personal levels.” “Johannes, a zealous member of the Vienna Hitler Youth, discovers a fateful secret – his family is hiding a young Jewish woman, Elsa, […]

Preview: The Swimmer

“The Swimmer” is a story of love between two young women who are both professional swimmers. Despite their love for each other their story is not simple. Anna’s mother is deeply involved in her life and she works tirelessly to shape her daughter to be the successful swimmer she never was. She will do anything to make sure […]

Review: One Night Only

“The world’s most famous boy band, FourEver, is nearly ready to take the stage for their only New Zealand show. All that stands in their way is each other, their fans, the media, and the ghosts of their dodgy past.” Stella Reid directs this Young & Hungry play by Finnius Teppett. In her Director’s note she describes […]

Preview: Young & Hungry

For 24 years Young & Hungry and BATS Theatre have been providing young people with a platform to perform, produce and create great theatre. With the Playwrights’ Initiative producing three new kiwi plays a year and the annual Festival of New Theatre at BATS – Y&H feeds the theatrical hunger and quenches the creative thirst […]