Young man wearing a T-shirt and trousers sits on the floor holding a toy cuddly chicken with his right arm. There is a baby duck image behind his left arm that is pointing to his head, and a goose in front of his right leg.

Comedy Review: Oliver Pol – Featherbrained

The only information I have on Oliver Pol is his self-description as a “youngish, tallish stand-up comedian.” But it promised to be “a fun, weird hour performed with irrepressible, limb-flailing energy,” and he absolutely delivered. Pol’s style is a bundle of nervous and enthusiastic energy. He often moves his body in odd shapes across the […]

Review: Joe Daymond’s Comedy Mixtape

The Comedy Mixtape lineup, hosted and curated by Joe Daymond, was billed as a stand-up showcase built like a perfect set list, comedians you already rate mixed with rising stars you’re about to fall in love with. The night kicked off with DJ Randy from Mai FM spinning classic Hutt bangers. Joe described the aim […]

To adults stand in business suits. One has an orange intheir mouth, the other raising a pencil to their head.

Comedy review: Ginge and Minge – REDEMPTION

A Night of Chaos, Laughs, and Second Chances Ginge and Minge’s REDEMPTION is a mission to save the discarded and rejected from the bottom of the bin and give them another shot. These two have been tearing up stages across Aotearoa since 2020, and their chemistry is as strong as ever. Megan, fresh off a Master […]

Blonde woman wearing a floral dress laughing while surrounded by teddy bears.

Comedy Review: Samantha Hannah – Peekaboo!

I attended Samantha Hannah’s show on Tuesday night with high expectations, and she did not disappoint. For those who don’t know her, Samantha Hannah is a Billy T Award nominee who’s been turning life’s oddities into comedy for years. In 2018, she garnered a lot of attention with her show How to Find a Husband in […]

A pākehā woman's face wearing clown makeup. A neon ribbon cascades in front of their face.

Review: Speed is Emotional

Speed is Emotional Written and performed by Jo Randerson Speed is Emotional is exactly what it sounds like: fast, funny, a little chaotic, and completely its own thing. Written and performed by Jo Randerson, the show dives headfirst into what it feels like to live with ADHD. Randerson invites anyone with a neurodivergent brain, and […]

Review: Hamlet – One Hour. Three Actors. Denmark Will Never Be the Same

As someone who’s never read or seen a performance of Hamlet, I might seem like an unlikely reviewer for TheJoMarsh’s adaptation at Bats Theatre. However, if I, with my inexperience, can easily follow and enjoy ‘Hamlet – One Hour. Three Actors. Denmark Will Never Be the Same,’ then anyone can. In this high-tech, dystopian take […]

Shadow of figure sitting down in front of two wall size projected images of an abstract image of thousands of blue coloured lines

The Grid – New Digital Art Space

Written by Nadia Freeman Wellington’s newest and potentially first digital art space opened this month, and I am deeply appreciative of the entrepreneurial spirit of Shannon Brosnahan Inglis and Delainy Jamahl. In an era when investment in the arts is dwindling, launching a venture of this scale and quality is inspiring. Initiatives like this infuse […]

soup and a scone at Arlo

Best of the Week: May 18-25

Our weekly wrap-up of what’s good,  this time featuring featuring Emma, Joanna and Tom Emma’s bests Best theatre: Farce Onion at BATS – a deeply warming joyous nonsense improvised time Best vibes: Stillwater – I only had a drink there with some mates so I can’t speak to the efficacy of their coffee or food […]

a screenshot of the Wellingtonista from 2005

A lengthy mea culpa, 20 years of history and a reboot?

If you don’t like lengthy deep navel gazing, take this tl:dr and be on your way until the next post: the Wellingtonista website has been very neglected for a number of years, and I intend to do better – perhaps you might like to contribute something too.  I was 24 when James asked me to […]

Review: Prima Facie

By Nadia Freeman Prima Facie shares an authentic story of a woman’s experience of assault and navigating the judicial system to seek justice. The nearly sell-out season demonstrates that despite the raw and challenging subject, there is a strong calling for stories like this.   Rape is a word people don’t want to say, and for […]