Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Charlotte Thornton reviews Paul Ego: Stick, at Little Andromeda, Thursday 11 June 2026. You’ve been hearing Paul Ego’s voice for 17 years. Since 2009 he’s been a regular team captain on 7 Days and the voice of Stickman for PAK’nSAVE, bridging a gap between the underfunded arts field and the lucrative advertising industry that most… Continue reading Review: Paul Ego: Stick – appealing, breezy comedy from the dad behind the stick
Jordon Jones reviews Face/Off: Comedy vs. Poetry presented by Dave Adams and Jor Dansaren, at Little Andromeda, Saturday 6 June 2026. You might think that the question "who is funnier: comedians or poets?" would be fairly self-explanatory. But, then, you probably don't know enough poets. It's certainly a question that has inspired comedian Dave Adams… Continue reading Review: Face/Off: Comedy vs Poetry – quick wit and wordplay make for a quality grudge match
Erin Harrington reviews Nosferatu Looking for Love, created and performed by Rhiannon McCall, directed by Abby Howells, at Little Andromeda, Thursday 14 May 2026. Nosferatu is back from the dead (again). Count Orlok, better known colloquially as Nosferatu, is the vampiric star of the 1922 German expressionist film of the same name, and more besides.… Continue reading Review: Nosferatu Looking for Love – a chaotic and heartfelt hour of comic-gothic comedy
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… Continue reading Review: The 2026 Best Foods Comedy Gala – Christchurch finally gets a terrific spread (and some comedians)
Charlotte Thornton reviews Volcano: A Science Comedy Show, performed by Ben Miller, at Little Andromeda, Friday 27 March 2026. For most of us, science lessons end in adolescence. We get through the rest of our years with a few periodic table elements memorised, a bit of practical knowledge about the weather, and a firm opinion… Continue reading Review: Volcano: A Science Comedy Show – eruptions of laughter (and other such jokes)
Karen Healey reviews Someone In This Crowd Will Betray Me: A Reuben Solo Mystery, at Little Andromeda, Thursday 12 March 2026. Australian comedian Reuben Solo’s kinetic, surrealistic stand-up show is a truth within a lie within an existential crisis that’s no less affecting for also being (maybe?) entirely performative. It starts with the setting. We… Continue reading Review: Someone In This Crowd Will Betray Me – A Reuben Solo Mystery – a kinetic and surreal search for the truth (but what is truth actually?)
Charlotte Thrornton reviews Doomsday Comedy, at A Rolling Stone, Friday 6 February 2026. Legacy stand-ups love to tell us that comedy is about taking risks and being unafraid to offend. Doomsday Comedy bravely takes on a completely uncontroversial topic: religion. All of the performers, and much of the crowd, once adhered to some form of… Continue reading Review: Doomsday Comedy – comedy is tragedy plus freedom
Erin Harrington reviews Forna Cape, presented by the Court Jesters, at the Court Theatre, Thursday 18 September. The current Court Jesters’ improvised show was initially programmed as Zeitgeist, a placeholder that would allow the company to respond to whatever was floating to the top of the pop cultural soup. Forna Cape looks to our current… Continue reading Review: Forna Cape – chaotic beachside improv about hot people, pashing, and maybe true love?
Lisa Allan reviews Just Eat the Damn Sausage, written and performed by Harriet Moir, Little Andromeda, Saturday 12 July 2025. The crowd is buzzing as the final few seats in the Little Andromeda theatre fill up. Harriet Moir is on tour with her award-winning stand-up comedy show, Just Eat the Damn Sausage, having already enjoyed a successful season… Continue reading Review: Just Eat the Damn Sausage – a sizzler of a comedy show
Lisa Allan reviews PopRox Improv, at Little Andromeda, Saturday 14 June, 2025. It is Saturday night and the foyer at Little Andromeda is packed with punters who have come out in force to see the Wellington improv comedy troupe, PopRox, perform. It is not surprising to see a cohort from Christchurch’s own professional improv troupe,… Continue reading Review: PopRox Improv – a generous, playful and positive force
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