Review: FA’AAFA and Big J Stylez

These were possibly my most anticipated shows of this year’s Fringe.  FA’AAFA is presented by FAFSWAG, an Auckland based collective of artists who celebrate LGBTQ Pacific Islander culture. I’ve seen the photos, watched the interactive documentary, and read about their work so I was excited to see them in this year’s Fringe. Big J Stylez […]

Review: Future Playground

Future Playground  is a series of booths in Shed 6 which explore digital artistry. There are VR videos, games and experiences along with augmented art*,  light sculptures, and even a musical meditation to try. (Sadly I didn’t have time to try SUBPAC Sound Meditation. Everyone trying it looked very peaceful.) There are a limited number […]

Preview: Fringe shows to 11 March 2018

The Fringe Festival has officially started (YAY) and here is some publicity for shows that sent us their publicity. (Also check out the following – u can heal my life, Big J stylez, FA’AAFA , Sound and Fury: Live Art party. ) Pardon me Alan Turing on at BATS Theatre to 4 March 2018 Thousands of gay […]

Review: Rushes

Circa Theatre has been transformed into a series of performances areas featuring music, video, and contemporary dance. The audience follows the performers as they move through different spaces until we all end up at the same stage. Rushes is a fascinating and contradictory experience. It’s exciting to see Circa opened up even though it’s hidden […]

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 […]

WOAP 17: Concrete, Glasshouse, Hillside

How are we all going with Wellington on a Plate then? As we tweeted today, there’s no less than three alternatives to the official site in order to help you navigate your way to a burger (One, two, three). Maybe they’ll be incorporated next year? In the meantime, here’s what I’ve been eating Lock Stock […]

WOAP 17: wine and whisky

It’s day five of this year’s Wellington on a Plate and the city seems to be buzzing. So let’s get down to it. Here’s two events I went to on Saturday. Tapas & Tastings with Matahiwi Wines at Avida Bar Woodfire & Whisky at Sterling Tapas & Tastings I wrote about this last year, which maybe […]

WOAP 2017: Portlander

The Portlander at the Rydges Wellington is well-known for its beef – they are a steak restaurant after all. So of course their newish head chef decided to do a chicken burger for Wellington on a Plate, because it was his chance to do something different. I was lucky enough to be invited in to […]

Film : Where There Is Life

The task of caring for his terminally ill wife Margaret falls squarely on the broad shoulders of Stephen Lee. He would not have it any other way. Wellington film maker Gwen Isaac’s observational documentary was shot over the four years following Eastbourne woman Margaret’s diagnosis with motor neuron disease. We watch as the focus of the […]

Preview: The Mooncake and the Kūmara

Layered with myth and fable, The Mooncake and the Kūmara is a moving story about a mixed-up, Māori-Chinese love affair that sprouts among rows of potatoes. Told in a mixture of English, Māori and Cantonese, the play is showing in Wellington as part of the Kia Mau Festival. Māori-Chinese playwright Mei-Lin Te Puea Hansen talked […]