Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Chris Archer reviews Noteworthy: Celebrating 150 Years of University of Canterbury, presented by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in conjunction with UC, conducted by Mark Menzies, MCed by Oscar Days and Alexandra Watson, Saturday 26 August 2023 at the Christchurch Town Hall. This concert, described by one of the UC student MCs as a ‘concert featuring… Continue reading Review: Noteworthy – 150 Years of UC – a celebratory smorgasbord of music
Erin Harrington reviews the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra's concert Matariki Around the World, led by creative director Juanita Hepi and conductor Nathaniel Griffiths, at the James Hay Auditorium, Wednesday 5 July 2023. There is something very moving about the way that Matariki is being enthusiastically embraced on a national scale as something unique to this place,… Continue reading Review: Matariki Around the World – musicial storytelling about the things that connect us
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 Ad Parnassum - Purapurawhetū, and Naomi van den Broek reviews Th’Orchard Dreamers Chapter 2 and Pōhutukawa, all performed at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora as part of their Matariki programming, 8 June - 9 July 2022. “Ngā toi is for everyone”, notes the introduction to The Arts Centre Te Matatiki… Continue reading Review: Matariki at The Arts Centre – Ad Parnassum -Purapurawhetū, th’Orchard, and Pōhutukawa
Claudia Jardine reviews As of 34, a night of music from Jason Pemberton and Friends, at The Loons, Lyttelton, Saturday 4 June, 2022. It’s a bright autumn day in Ōtautahi, and my plans for the long weekend are turning out as I might have suspected they would. I make it to Muscle & Bone at… Continue reading Review: As of 34 – Jason Pemberton and Friends – virtue-pop in the temple of friendship
Naomi van den Broek reviews The Isolation Mixtape, Vol. 2, directed by Ben Freeth for the Blackboard Theatre Collective, at The Piano Pīpīwharauroa: Kui-kui whitiwhiti ora , Friday 30 July 2021. The Isolation Mixtape Vol.2 is this year’s offering from Blackboard Theatre Collective, following on from an endeavour that came out of lockdown in 2020.… Continue reading Review: The Isolation Mixtape Vol.2 – creative, gutsy, and bold new music
Naomi van den Broek and Erin Harrington review Resolve at Space Academy, Thursday 27 May 2021. What would it sound like if we could hear the universe’s improvisations and movements as music? This question is explored in Resolve, which showcases new compositions and arrangements from jazz guitarist Heather Webb, in an evening presented as part… Continue reading Review: Resolve – stellar jazz music inspired by stardust
Erin Harrington reviews Hardcase Hori Housie, which is playing in the Bread and Circus: World Backyard Buskers Festival 2021. This review originally appeared on Theatreview as part of their festival coverage. Hardcase Hori Housie is an interactive night of song, stories and games, offered as one of three evening cabaret-style productions as part of this year’s Backyard… Continue reading Review: Hardcase Hori Housie – a night of games where everybody wins
Flat City Field Notes 