The Wellingtonista

Random stuff about Wellington since 2005

Gryphon theatre

Review: Popcorn

by Emma Maguire June 10, 2021

Wellington Repertory Theatre’s newest offering is Popcorn, Ben Elton’s play. The dialogue is witty, the scripting tight and the themes prescient despite being written in 1996. Set in the home of a exploitation cinema director, Bruce Delametri, Popcorn takes place over one night as the legendary Mall Murderers invade Bruce’s house after he wins an […]

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Review: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

by Emma Maguire April 2, 2021

There’s something so delightful about going into a theatre show completely blind. I knew nothing about this play, had read nothing about it, all I knew was the charming aesthetic of the publicity photos and the fact that this was a New Zealand premiere. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is a true telling of the perpetuity of love […]

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Review: Yesterday, in space

by librarykris March 19, 2019

The good spaceship Yesterday is the first rocket ship to launch from Aotearoa New Zealand and we get to come along for the ride! Her new crew are determined to show us a good time. What a pity they’re stuck in the middle of professional rivalries, confusing personal relationships, and an asteroid belt… All those […]

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Review of Paying for it and Easy living

by librarykris February 17, 2017

Paying for it: an insider’s guide to the NZ sex industry The Prostitution Reform Act was passed in 2003 but apparently sex work is still a controversial job choice. As one of the speakers says “It seems like never is a good time to talk about sex work. “ So it’s really neat that several […]

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NZ Fringe Festival reviews x 3

by librarykris February 18, 2016

Reviews for three neat shows in the Fringe Festival. Seeing the city: a tasting menu by Ania and Kim Upstill, at 17 Tory street, final showing 19 February 2016 We are greeted at the door by Ania Upstill and invited to wash our hands. She directs us on to Pippiajna Tui who shows us to […]

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Review: Vladimir the Crow: Whispering Ghoul

by librarykris February 17, 2016

A bare stage greets us at the Gryphon Theatre.  It seems bigger than usual with a soundscape that hints at vast desolate spaces where the only thing alive is the whistling wind. Then noise! Lights! And a tattered creature that stutters out from the wings as if glimpsed by lightning flashes. Vladimir the Crow is […]

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Fringe Festival 2014 – Brooks & Brown in Literally Anything

by Sue Tyler February 26, 2014

We sent along intrepid theatre goer and Yarn Celebrity  Tash Barneveld to check out a new Fringe Show by Brooks & Brown. He’s what she thought.   ‘Brooks & Brown are a brand new transTasman duo who have no idea what their show is going to be about.’ Christine Brooks and Rik Brown have worked together only […]

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