Observations from the ground.
Flat City Field Notes offers reviews and essays about theatre, arts and culture in and around Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand.
Latest Posts
Review: Les Misérables – an electrifying production of a beloved show
Sophie Gray reviews Les Misérables, presented by North Canterbury Musicals, directed by Tom Hart, with musical direction from Gavin Hurley, at the Rangiora Town Hall, Thursday 7 May 2026. Les Misérables is a show that is so incredibly well-known and beloved, it is hard not to arrive with expectations in place. Luckily, my expectations were…
Review: Death at Murder Manor – clever improvised theatre that’s dead funny
Jordon Jones reviews Death at Murder Manor, directed by Brendon Bennetts, at the Court Theatre, presented as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival, Thursday 7 May 2026. The audience falls into a hush as the lights dim. The entrance music—a series of songs one might find in Noël Coward’s personal record collection—fades out. There…
Interview: Will Burns on theatremaking, quirky characters, and devising creative chaos
Erin Harrington talks with Ōtautahi-based theatremaker Will Burns about the history and development of three upcoming solo shows, each back for a return season in the next three weeks. Shit Finds Love is a chaotic, prop heavy show in which a silent character explores the world of dating and relationships with the help of the…
Review: The 2026 Best Foods Comedy Gala – Christchurch finally gets a terrific spread (and some comedians)
Charlotte Thornton reviews the 2026 Best Foods Comedy Gala, presented by the NZ International Comedy Festival, at the Christchurch Town Hall, Sunday 3 May 2026. North Island envy is real. The New Zealand International Comedy Festival, sponsored by mayonnaise giant Best Foods, takes place in Pōneke Wellington and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland every autumn. Down in…
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