Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Naomi van den Broek responds to A Baby Called Sovereignty, presented as part of the Off Centre Festival at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, Saturday 4 March 2023. “We are not invisible, I know you see us” Weaver of stories, people, themes and contemporary concerns, Juanita Hepi, gives us the koha of A… Continue reading Review: A Baby Called Sovereignty – a koha, a wero, a celebration
Erin Harrington reviews Back to the Future: In Concert, presented by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra under Chief Conductor Benjamin Northey, at the Christchurch Town Hall, Saturday 4 March, 2023. Some incontrovertible facts about the 1985 time travel film Back to the Future: it smashed that year’s box office, it made the DMC DeLeorean a pop… Continue reading Review: Back to the Future In Concert – A 1.21 jigawatt experience
Erin Harrington reviews Sense and Sensibility, adapted by Penny Ashton from Jane Austen's novel, directed and choreographed by Hillary Moulder, at The Court Theatre, Saturday 11 February, 2023. I didn’t come to Jane Austen until quite late – my 30s. When I was assigned to read Pride and Prejudice in third form English I was… Continue reading Review: Sense and Sensibility – a sparking romantic romp
Erin Harrington reviews I Didn’t Invite You Here to Lecture Me, presented by Artsense Productions, at Little Andromeda, Friday 10 February 2023. The writer and producer of I Didn’t Invite You Here to Lecture Me, Amy Mansfield, clearly took some pretty good notes during her time as a university student – better than most. This… Continue reading Review: I Didn’t Invite You Here to Lecture Me – in defense of a collective experience
Erin Harrington reviews Cancel Santa, directed by Dan Bain and Greg Cooper, at Little Andromeda, Thursday 15 December 2022. Little Andromeda has spent the last few years building up audience buy-in for an annual Christmas production by presenting quality seasons of shows that have originated up north (Toys, Christ! What a Night, The Opening Night… Continue reading Review: Cancel Santa – bawdy holiday chaos
Erin Harrington reviews Rent, book / music / lyrics by Jonathan Larson, directed by Lara Macgregor, at The Court Theatre, Friday 19 November 2022. The Court Theatre has had a patchy year. Many shows were cancelled, mucked about or rescheduled, and the year’s standout production – The Māori Sidesteps, wonderful – was chronically underattended. But… Continue reading Review: Rent – vital, muscular musical theatre
Erin Harrington reviews A Boy Called Piano, presented by The Conch and directed by Nina Nawalowalo, at The Piano: Centre for Music and the Arts / Pīpīwharauroa: Kui-kui whitiwhiti ora, Friday 21 October 2022. The Conch’s stage production of A Boy Called Piano begins with a voiceover from co-creator Fa’amoana John Luafutu, accompanied by swirling… Continue reading Review: A Boy Called Piano – offering voices to the voiceless
Erin Harrington reviews The Māori Sidesteps at The Court Theatre, Thursday 22 September 2022. The Māori Sidesteps brings us to a party where everyone’s invited. This big-hearted production, presented at The Court Theatre, has been a victim of Covid rescheduling, but it’s been worth waiting for. The five performers – Erroll Anderson, Cohen Holloway, Regan… Continue reading Review: The Māori Sidesteps – a satirical blend of music and mischief
Erin Harrington reviews Back to Square One?, performed and directed by Anders Falstie-Jensen for The Rebel Alliance Theatre Company, at Little Andromeda, Thursday 25 August 2022. Truly lo-fi theatre is criminally underrated. The best works are magical and impactful, but you really have to know what you're doing to conjure something from nothing. Anders Falstie-Jensen’s… Continue reading Review: Back to Square One? – meaningful storytelling about connection (and cake)
Erin Harrington reviews Flagons and Foxtrots, written by Alison Quigan and Ross Gumbley, and directed by Kathleen Burns, at The Court Theatre, Monday 15 August, 2022. Flagons and Foxtrots is a concentrated comic dose of Kiwi nostalgia that revisits the dance halls – and the gender roles – of the 1960s. The play premiered in… Continue reading Review: Flagons and Foxtrots – fun and frothy Kiwi nostalgia
Flat City Field Notes 