Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
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
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
Ruth Agnew reviews At the Wake, by Victor Rodger, directed by Tanya Muagututi'a, at the Court Theatre, Satrday 18 July 2026. Recently a friend told me we have reached the age of funerals; we have moved through the era of every weekend being crammed with 21st parties, weddings, christenings, and reached a time in our… Continue reading Review: At the Wake – A poignant account of love, loss and connection
Erin Harrington reviews the Feminist Clown Posse Annual Gala, at Lyttelton Arts Factory as part of the Lyttelton Arts Festival, Tuesday 7 July, 2026. The joyful takeaway message from the third annual Feminist Clown Posse gala is hooray for the idiots, and hooray for idiocy - idiocy for freedom, idiocy sprung of anger, idiocy in… Continue reading Review: Feminist Clown Posse Annual Gala – changing the world one fail at a time
Karen Healey reviews Hooves & Chooks, a double bill at the Lyttelton Arts Factory, presented as part of the Lyttelton Arts Festival, Friday 3 July 2026. This joyous double-bill night of comedy dance and cabaret, opens the 2026 Lyttelton Arts Festival on a cold Canterbury night. Hooves, from Rebound Dance, led by Fleur de Thier,… Continue reading Review: Hooves & Chooks – smart comedy by clever people
Erin Harrington reviews Oceania's Eleven, performed, produced and designed by Vincent Andrew-Scammell, at Little Andromeda, Thursday 25 June 2026. A few figures before the review: Creative New Zealand, which “encourages, promotes and supports the arts in New Zealand for the benefit of all New Zealanders through funding, capability building, our international programme and advocacy”, hasn’t… Continue reading Review: Oceania’s Eleven – a terrific one-man caper about the true crime at the heart of the arts
Hannah Harte reviews Stoned N Unfiltered: Pop Divas Unleashed, at Little Andromeda, Friday 12 June 2026. If you want to radiate joy for a few days, go to a drag show. You’ll encounter the most vocal, enthusiastic audiences that an often painfully stoic Ōtautahi crowd is capable of producing, loudly supporting what will always be… Continue reading Review: Stoned N Unfiltered: Pop Divas Unleashed – passionate peformers serve one of the best nights of the year so far
