See more recent reviews at theatreview.org, the NZ Performing Arts Review & Directory

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HIPPOLYTUS VEILED: Accessible, contemporary and relevant
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
after Euripides 
Written by Nathan Joe 
Directed by Patrick Graham
- reviewed by Dione Joseph

Oh my wife what have you done? 

It’s not a line that playwright Nathan Joe has actually written in this inspired re-imagining of the Euripides classic but nevertheless it is the underlying, and at times overwhelming, sentiment of this epic tale.

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WELL: Towards a better understanding
BATS Theatre, The Heyday Dome, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
Based on 30+ interviews conducted and transcribed by Courtney Rose Brown, Lilli Cornwell-Young and Zoe Joblin 
Written and directed by Zoe Joblin 
Devised and performed by Courtney Rose Brown, Annabella Gamboni and Aimee Smith 
Presented by Women Aren’t Wolves Productions
- reviewed by John Smythe

All meanings of the title – Well – apply; we get a good sense of how deep the ‘black hole’ can be at one extreme and welcome the rise to a state of wellbeing. Unlike HOME and Shot Bro, however, this is more arms-length, more ‘on the outside looking in, despite our sharing the thoughts and feelings of actual mental health patients.

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016
IF THERE’S NOT DANCING AT THE REVOLUTION, I’M NOT COMING…: Politically powerful and brave
Summerhall, Edinburgh, Scotland
Created and performed by Julia Croft 
Directed by Virginia Frankovich
- reviewed by Sally Woodfield

A text message on the screen pops up: “Imagine you desire me”. 

So begins this extraordinary dance theatre work which takes us on a roller coaster as Croft challenges our thinking and ideas around women in society through the images we are fed in film and media.

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GISELLE - THE ROYAL NZ BALLET: Extremes of technical mastery and emotional impact
St James Theatre, Wellington
Choreographers: Ethan Stiefel and Johan Kobborg (after Petipa)
- reviewed by Deirdre Tarrant

This is a ballet that demands extreme technical mastery but above that it is an emotional watershed for everyone onstage. There is no rest- the emotional impact is relentless, the music surges forward, time is running out.

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GROUNDED: Anonymity of warfare
Fortune Theatre, Dunedin
By George Brant 
Directed by Jonathon Hendry
- reviewed by Barbara Frame

The Pilot, otherwise nameless, used to fly a fighter jet, raining bombs on minarets, buildings and people, powering away before the boom sounded. 

Now she’s a drone pilot, working from a base in Nevada, tailing people thousands of miles away and getting a good look at them before pressing the button.

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TURQUOISATION: FOR THE COMING STORM: Touched by Turquoisation
Te Tuhi Gallery, Pakuranga, Auckland
Mark Harvey with Daniel Strang (camera and editing) and live performers
- reviewed by Christina Houghton

Mark Harvey’s work unites performers and audience within a bolt of turquoise fabric, offering protection from what is about to come, and a promise of something to share that is not quite explained but it has something to do with touch. Bordering on being slightly uncomfortable, personal spaces become one within a shaded room that consists of a video of yet another group of local performers enacting group actions to be followed. As the performance morphs and progresses, these activities move throughout the various gallery spaces including the outer courtyard.

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016
BEARDS! BEARDS! BEARDS!: Colourful characters, catchy songs, plenty of energy, great fun!
Assembly, Roxy, Edinburgh, Scotland
Written by Ralph McCubbin Howell 
Directed by Hannah Smith 
Presented by Trick of The Light
- reviewed by Sally Woodfield

This is a wonderful gem of a show. As Beatrix seeks advice from her 'advisors', and in the process helps Aristotle, Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln solve problems of their own, she discovers she doesn't really need a beard after all.

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GROUNDED: Truly absorbing, uplifting, cathartic
Fortune Theatre, Dunedin
By George Brant 
Directed by Jonathon Hendry
- reviewed by Terry MacTavish

Fortune’s brilliant True Grit series has never yet let me down, and I am swept aloft by Grounded, which challenges, repels, and ultimately rewards us with a powerful theatrical experience. Feel-good, laugh-a-minute froth is all very well but oh, the thrill of getting to grips with something that really matters!

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WAIORA: TE Ū KAI Pō – THE HOMELAND: Moving play tells universal story of family and belonging
The Court Theatre, Bernard Street, Addington, Christchurch
Written and directed by Hone Kouka 
with waiata composed by Hone Hurihanganui
- reviewed by Charlie Gates

Waiora may be a play about the very specific struggles of a Maori family moving to the South Island, but it is so finely observed that it speaks to universal human feelings of belonging, yearning, crushed dreams and the importance of being true to your own heritage.

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WAIORA: TE Ū KAI Pō – THE HOMELAND: Retains its raw power and its depth of emotion
The Court Theatre, Bernard Street, Addington, Christchurch
Written and directed by Hone Kouka 
with waiata composed by Hone Hurihanganui
- reviewed by Erin Harrington

Taught in schools and universities, it is one of a number of benchmark contemporary Māori works, and its themes, concerns and complexities are, perhaps, significantly more familiar to some audiences than they were in the 1990s ...

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016
DAFFODILS [INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS]: Slick, honest and truly beautiful
Traverse Theatre (Venue 15), Edinburgh, Scotland
By Rochelle Bright
Arrangements by Stephanie Brown (LIPS) 
Directed by Dena Kennedy.
Presented by Bullet Heart Club and Q Theatre
- reviewed by Acushla-Tara Sutton

Two young people meet by chance, fall in love, life gets in the way and disintegrates the already flawed relationship. Heartache. A story we know. Of course there are deviations to add tension and drama but overall this is not a new story. The way the story is told is where the interest lies in this production.

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016
THE WINE PROJECT / IN THE WINE: Raw, sweaty, lusty, ugly, beautiful and not to be missed
Assembly Checkpoint (Venue 322), Edinburgh, Scotland
Choreographer/director: Sacha Copland
Java Dance Theatre
- reviewed by Acushla-Tara Sutton

Over the next hour we watch the birth of civilisation, the beauty of communal society, the inevitable shift to feudalism under aristocracy, a revolution and the rebuilding of life as humans being. Well, that’s what I see anyway.

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GISELLE - THE ROYAL NZ BALLET: A spectacular, modern performance
St James Theatre, Wellington
Choreographers: Ethan Stiefel and Johan Kobborg (after Petipa)
- reviewed by Deirdre Tarrant

This time, a new partnership takes the stage in one of the timeless ballets that provides both technical and artistic challenge at the highest level. Lucy Green and Qi Huan did not disappoint – Green has been a rising star for some time and she took the role of Giselle and made it her own.

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MOM (MEET OUR MUM): Commitment and energy lifts MOM
BATS Theatre, The Heyday Dome, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
Devised and presented by Whitireia 3rd Year Applied Arts Students 
Devising Mentor: Richard Dey
- reviewed by Ewen Coleman

The current state of the world and how it is rapidly changing is a great source of inspiration for those wanting to express their ideas about it through some form of artistic medium.

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GISELLE - THE ROYAL NZ BALLET: Intricate care for detail, texture, and form
St James Theatre, Wellington
Choreographers: Ethan Stiefel and Johan Kobborg (after Petipa)
- reviewed by Sam Trubridge

In the stunning finale, the entire corps turns on the spot with feet lifted high behind their stooped heads or drift across the stage on hopping feet. They chase Albrecht into a frenzy. At times his leaps are mirrored by the corps, with their legs sweeping wide circles in the space. RNZB guest artist Qi Huan really shows his outstanding strength and form here, with long legs and spectacularly high leaps and rondes de jambes. There is one standout moment ...

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LENNON: THROUGH A GLASS ONION: Glass act pares back the layers of Lennon
The Civic - Auckland Live, Auckland
With the music and lyrics of John Lennon, Lennon & McCartney 
JOHN WATERS with Bill Risby 
Presented by Auckland Live
- reviewed by Paul Simei-Barton

With a finely woven blend of song and interview fragments Australian John Waters takes us inside Lennon's glass onion, showcasing the brilliance of his songs and his genius for provocative conversation.

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LENNON: THROUGH A GLASS ONION: Come Together
The Civic - Auckland Live, Auckland
With the music and lyrics of John Lennon, Lennon & McCartney 
JOHN WATERS with Bill Risby 
Presented by Auckland Live
- reviewed by Sharu Delilkan and Tim Booth

The intelligently weaved dialogue which punctuates the songs gives us a tantalising glimpse of a man, his life and his music. It is a gift to those of us who grew up with those lyrics, the inventiveness and simple feistiness that defines John Lennon.

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HEALR: An intriguing exploration of the concept of wellbeing
Basement Theatre Studio, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Choreographers/Performers: Rose Philpott and Jessie McCall
Lighting design: Paul Bennett
- reviewed by Dione Joseph

Created and performed by leading dance independents, Rose Philpott and Jessie McCall, it is a sculpted and thought-provoking commentary that interrogates the many facets of wellness - and the complexities that sit beneath the surface.

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016
ONLY BONES (THOM MONKTON): Who knew kneecaps could be funny?
Summerhall, Edinburgh, Scotland
Created by Thomas Monckton and Gemma Tweedie and Finland-based physical theatre company Kallo Collective
- reviewed by Acushla-Tara Sutton

Thomas Monckton is a comedic genius and the modern King of physical theatre. He has incredible control over every inch of his body and watching him perform is both hilarious, as he perfectly hits every comedic beat, and utterly mind-blowing as he manipulates his body in such astounding ways it’s hard to even comprehend how he does it.

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LEILANI: Finding Ourselves in the Form
Q Theatre Loft, Auckland
Director: Pedro Ilgenfritz 
Script Developer: Gary Henderson 
Brought to you by Mahuika Theatre Company 
Presented by Q Theatre’s 2016 Matchbox Season
- reviewed by Jess Holly Bates

Sometimes there is nothing so magical as a girl, on a stage, sitting on a rubbish bag. 

With every funding cut scything away at our creative waistlines, the Arts are now in a position where every show must first justify its existence.

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ENIGMA: Serving the ‘copulāre ergo sum’ niche
Cavern Club, 22 Allen St, Wellington
Written / performed by Enigma 
Produced by Alexander Sparrow Productions
- reviewed by John Smythe

He declared himself to be New Zealand’s sexiest comedian in 2013 ... Now Alexander Sparrow has brought his ‘Enigma’ persona – one of the five international PUAs (Pick Up Artists) he profiled in How To Pick Up Women – back from the US of A for our further edification.

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LENNON: THROUGH A GLASS ONION: Affectionate homage triumphantly minimalist
The Civic - Auckland Live, Auckland
With the music and lyrics of John Lennon, Lennon & McCartney 
JOHN WATERS with Bill Risby 
Presented by Auckland Live
- reviewed by Nik Smythe

What does matter is the poignancy, insight and humour of his thoughts and lyrics; the simple truths this extraordinary yet proudly human person cultivated and strove toward. As Waters and Risby play and sing their own musical interpretations, it evokes a more suitably humanistic attitude than a more derivative impression might have.

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016
JAMES NOKISE IN SO–SO GANGSTA: Unexpected profundity arises from the laughter
The Stand Comedy Club 2 (Venue 5), Edinburgh, Scotland
presented by HAIR OF THE DOG PRODUCTIONS
- reviewed by Acushla-Tara Sutton

Nokise works hard to make this New Zealand-centric show relevant for the international audience and if their ongoing laughter is anything to go by he does this very well. His inclusion of local politics is also a massive hit and is integrated well into the existing material.

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016
THE SOUTH AFREAKINS: Thought-provoking and genuine
Spotlites @ The Merchants' Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland
Written and performed by Robyn Paterson 
Presented by Impi Theatre Company
- reviewed by Acushla-Tara Sutton

This is a truly spectacular performance from Robyn Paterson who expertly plays both Helene and Gordon. After the first few moments we forget we are watching only one actor on stage as Paterson easily snaps between fast-talking, prim and proper Helene and the weathered and considered Gordon.

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BARE: Beautiful, funny and real with glimpses of sad
The Dark Room, Cnr Pitt and Church Street, Palmerston North
By Toa Fraser 
Directed & Produced by Taylor Griffin & Rhian Firmin 
Presented by Simple Truth Theatre
- reviewed by Alexandra Bellad-Ellis

At first the characters seem isolated, and I think the play will be a succession of different characters, each giving us a brief window into their lives and experiences. But as the play progresses we begin to see the links between characters as several become familiar faces ...

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016
ON THE CONDITIONS AND POSSIBILITIES OF HILLARY CLINTON TAKING ME AS HER YOUNG LOVER: “The best show we’ve seen!”
Summerhall, Edinburgh, Scotland
adapted from the book by Richard Meros 
by Arthur Meek and Geoff Pinfield 
directed by Geoff Pinfield 
Presented by Theatre Beating 
Produced by Show Pony
- reviewed by Sally Woodfield

Meek’s boyish grin and charm works his way and, despite the silliness of the proposition, his clever witty delivery keeps the audience well engaged and laughing as we continue to indulge in the fantasy.

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See more recent reviews at theatreview.org.nz, the NZ Performing Arts Review & Directory

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