Chasing the Black Dog with beer

Last night we went to the opening of the new Black Dog brewery on Cuba Street, and, spoiler alert, it was bloody delightful. All pics were supplied by the publicist because if you follow us on Twitter, you’ll know I can’t photograph for shit. A confession: I had never been to the old Black Dog […]

Review: Troll

Otto receives a photo on his phone one morning. It’s of the house he and his family moved to when he was around 13. The house where something nasty lived in the walls and came out to play… This is a mythical story about a troll (both definitions) transplanted to New Zealand in the early […]

Review: At The Wake

Robert’s mother Olivia has died unexpectedly and he’s returned from New York for her funeral. His grandmother Joan is pleased he’s back as she’s devastated by her daughter’s death. Joan has been a big part of Robert’s life since his father Tofi walked out before he was born. A little bit of courage will get […]

What’s on this week Fringe?

It’s the last week of the Fringe Festival *wails* Here is some publicity for shows. How To ____ Us on at Gryphon Theatre to 21 March 2018 Teach. Hear. Protect. Lead. Build. See. Break. Understand. Inspire. Crush. Reach. Raise. Frustrate. Tell. Accept. Scare. Trust. Hurt. Annoy. Rescue. Challenge. Embarrass. Approach. Support. Punish. Free. Change. Influence. […]

Review: Dressing up with Margot

World famous fashion stylist Margot Von Dont has returned to New Zealand with life and style advice for us. We’re upstairs above Leroy’s Bar with a small stage that resembles a talk show set. There are clothes hung on racks and spilling out of suitcases. The show starts with an announcement that’s not usually heard […]

Review: Awkward Threesome

The frame for this improvised show is: experienced improvisors Jennifer O’Sullivan and Matt Powell are joined on stage by a mystery guest. (They really have no idea who the guest is.) Once the guest arrives (on opening night it was Jonny Paul)  the audience will provide a word which will be the inspiration for the […]

Review: The Travelling Sisters and The Nose

Lucy Fox, Laura Trenerry and Ell Sachs are The Travelling Sisters. 2017 winners of Best Comedy and New Zealand Tour Ready Award at Melbourne Fringe they’re at BATS Theatre to make us snort laugh. (They don’t exactly put it like that but it’s definitely what I heard (and maybe did) at their opening night show.) […]

Review: Beau and Aero and Poet vs Pageant

Portland physical theatre company A Little Bit Off make their New Zealand debut at Te Auaha with Beau & Aero: Crash Landing. They were the San Diego Fringe Outstanding Physical Theatre award winners in 2017 and I can see why. Pilot Beau (David Cantor) is brash, overconfident and prone to getting a little too involved […]

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: My Best Dead Friend

This is a story from a summer in Dunedin in 1998 when the possibilities were endless for Anya and her best friends. They have jobs at a cafe. They have their own space to share. The Backstreet Boys are at their peak. Enriched with exquisite details about Dunedin and intercut with asides about the state […]