Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Erin Harrington reviews CSO & Rova Present: The Music of Hans Zimmer, conducted by Benjamin Northey, at the Douglas Lilburn Auditorium, the Christchurch Town Hall, Friday 14 August 2026. Hans Zimmer is perhaps the most distinctive, inventive and celebrated film composer of the last few decades. His work combines intellectual rigour, emotional depth and creative… Continue reading Review: The Music of Hans Zimmer – orchestral power meets cinematic immediacy (with dad jokes thrown in for free)
Daniel Allan reviews Faust on Trial, by Josiah Morgan, Stella Cheersmith and Jonty Coulson, at Cloisters Studio, Te Matatiki Toi Ora Christchurch Arts Centre, Saturday 15 August 2026. Faust on Trial was initially developed as part of Hagley Theatre School’s theatre creation course last year - see the review of that iteration here. Word of… Continue reading Review: Faust on Trial – a restaged cage match offers thought-provoking indie theatre (and no winners)
Pieta Hextall reviews Lawrence Arabia and CSO, conducted by Sarah-Grace Williams, orchestrated by Alex van den Broek, at the Douglas Lilburn Auditorium, Christchurch Town Hall, Saturday 8 August 2026. As a devotee of both classical orchestras and indie music, Saturday’s performance by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) alongside Lawrence Arabia offered a perfect fusion of… Continue reading Review: Lawrence Arabia and CSO – a perfect fusion of indie and orchestral worlds
Charlotte Thornton reviews Judy's Encore - The Return of a Star, performed by Ali Harper, produced by Ben McDonald, at the Court Theatre, Tuesday 11 August 2026. Let’s follow the lead of Judy’s Encore and begin at the end. The show concludes with a voiceover calling Judy Garland “the eternal star” – this is actually… Continue reading Review: Judy’s Encore – The Return of a Star – a star is reborn in this well-made tribute
Charlotte Thornton reviews Defending the Caveman, written by Rob Becker, directed by Ross McKellar, produced by Ben McDonald and Theater Mogul, at the Court Theatre, Tuesday 11 August 2026. Defending the Caveman is the longest-running solo play in Broadway history. It was written by American comedian Rob Becker in the era of Men Are From… Continue reading Review: Defending the Caveman – a charming performance of a dated show
Ruth Agnew reviews The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by Kathleen Burns, produced by TheatreWise, at the Papa Hou Black Box Theatre, Thursday 6 August 2026. Full disclosure: I am a freak for words. If you want to get on my good side, a decent game of Scrabble makes me weak at the… Continue reading Review: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – an absolutely outstanding production
Erin Harrington on the lack of South Island investment in Creative New Zealand's Arts Organisations and Groups (AOG) funding round, including the news that South Island organisations collectively received less than 10% of the total funding offered, and that Christchurch theatre Little Andromeda and the Dunedin Arts Festival have been defunded entirely. Hello, world There’s… Continue reading If you don’t look you can’t see, or, the consequences of Southern invisibility in national arts funding
Nick Harte reviews de Castro-Robinson, Mahler, Berlioz, presented by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Northey, at the Douglas Lilburn Auditorium in the Christchurch Town Hall, Saturday 1 August 2026. Eve de Castro-Robinson’s Hour of Lead (2024) takes its namesake from the Emily Dickinson poem which reads: After great pain, a formal feeling comes… Continue reading Review: de Castro-Robinson, Mahler, Berlioz – a triptych of works circling heartbreak, grief and the macabre
Breeze Robertson reviews the Royal New Zealad Ballet's Winter Season at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Friday 31 July 2026, RNZB’s Winter Season triple bill was somewhat of a whiplash tour through the evolution of ballet - from the tutus and tights of the traditionally classical Birthday Offering, through the playful contemporary quartet Ultra Folly, and… Continue reading Review: Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Winter Season – a triple bill that’s pretty, playful and political
Naomi van den Broek reviews Dear Stalker, written and performed by Harriet Moir, at Little Andromeda, Friday 24 July 2026. Dear Stalker is a tight, frank, and riotously hilarious stand up hour about the trials and tribulations of looking for love, from comedian Harriet Moir. It opens with a David Attenborough-esque voice over introducing us… Continue reading Review: Dear Stalker – a bloody funny show that works the audience like a pleasure device
Flat City Field Notes 