The Wellingtonista

Random stuff about Wellington since 2005

Music

NZSO Shed Series: “Juxtaposition”

by Tom Ackroyd June 4, 2018

My first trip to the new Shed 6 was a few weeks ago to see contemporary music outfit Stroma. They were playing a sampler of modern art music, stretching from Ravel and Schoenberg, through Boulez and Berio, to more recent work by Gillian Whitehead and David Lang. Music writer Alex Ross was our tour guide, […]

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NZSO – The Shed Series

by Martha Craig May 29, 2018

Not everyone is digging the orchestra in the concert hall, although let me just say that the NZSO tribute a few weeks ago to Torvill and Dean’s standout Bolero performance in 1984 was bloody powerful. Generally the concert vibe appeals to one kind of crowd and the standing in a shed gig appeals to another. […]

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A Concrete Legacy

by Tom May 7, 2018

Many of you will know that most of the Karori Teachers’ College campus, designed by the late Bill Toomath, is threatened with demolition by its new owners, Ryman Healthcare. I don’t know enough about the previous VUW/WCC ownership shenanigans to comment on that side, and the practicality of maintaining its role as a community asset are […]

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Review: That Bloody Woman

by librarykris September 14, 2017

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 […]

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Preview: The Māori Sidesteps

by librarykris June 12, 2017

The newest and naughtiest Maori showband on the Aotearoa entertainment scene plays at BATS Theatre during the Kia Mau Festival. Self described as “Funny Māoris with funny songs” this show is more of a gig than a theatre piece for the actors involved. Band member Jamie McCaskill talked about the origins of the group and what they do. “Rob Mokaraka, […]

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A new taonga for Ngā Taonga

by Mr Goulter April 30, 2016

The 2014 amalgamation of our Film, Television and Sound Archives into Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision saw its nomenclature justified this week with the unveiling of an aural taonga for the ages. On the 35th anniversary of Wellington Access Radio’s arrival on air, broadcast material dating back throughout the station’s lively history has been added […]

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The Cuban Brothers are ready for Cuba St but is it ready for them‽

by Herbertimo January 29, 2016

On Friday, 5 February San Fran on Cuba St is being swept up in an “unstoppable, infectious force of nature” when The Cuban Brothers take the stage in Wellington for the first time in five years. Combining “sexy, soulful music with jaw-dropping b-boy action and riotous comedy” The Cuban Brothers are born entertainers, who will have you […]

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It’s almost Arts Festival season!

by librarykris January 22, 2016

Wellingtonians rejoice for it is almost ARTS FESTIVAL SEASON! From the beginning of February through March we’ll be able to enjoy work in development, new and experimental acts, and some of the best stuff from around the world. First one to start is the Fringe Festival.  As they say on the website “Our festival is open access […]

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Review: The last five years

by librarykris December 4, 2015

Cathy is an actress. Jamie is a writer. Both of them are at the beginning of their careers when they meet. Five years later after success for both of them they are breaking up. Their individual stories are told from different point of the relationship. Cathy’s story starts at the end of the relationship and […]

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Pacific Heights – Airborne

by noizyboy November 13, 2015

Wellington-based Devin Abrams (aka DJ Reno and one of the founding members of Shapeshifter), has just put out the latest single under his Pacific Heights moniker. The lovely looking video features some heavy eye makeup, a ghostly figure and a vaguely concerned looking Devin wandering around a graveyard. Of course. ‘Airborne’ (featuring the vocal talents […]

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