Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Creon Upton reviews The Passionate Puritan, devised and directed by Peter Falkenberg, presented by Free Theatre, at The Pumphouse, Thursday 16 October 2025. Every postcolonial people is unhappy in its own way, rent between a present no-one can correct and a past the settlers wouldn’t return to if they could. One feature of the unease… Continue reading Review: The Passionate Puritan – a riveting postcolonial drama unafraid to take risks
Erin Harrington reviews Kitchen Chaos, presented by Rollicking Entertainment, at the Court Theatre, Thursday 2 October 2025. Young audiences are the best to entertain, but they certainly are the toughest to please. No fear: even in the opening minutes of Kitchen Chaos, performers Lizzie Tollemache and David Ladderman clearly have the school holiday audience under… Continue reading Review: Kitchen Chaos – a winning recipe for comedy, clowning, and domestic disaster
Erin Harrington reviews The King’s Speech, written by David Seidler, directed by Benjamin Kilby-Henson, at the Court Theatre, Saturday 20 September, 2025. The King's Speech is an ideal choice for the Court Theatre, as they look to tempt old and new patrons alike to their new city theatre. David Seidler’s play, an adaptation of his… Continue reading Review: The King’s Speech – an inspirational crowd-pleaser
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?
Erin Harrington reviews Running Into the Sun, presented by a2 Company, written and directed by Ben Ashby, choreographed by Nadiyah Akbar, designed by Asha Barr, composed by Lennox Grootjans and Toby Leman, at the Cloisters Studio at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, Tuesday 9 September 2025. The story of the terrific multidisplinary work… Continue reading Review: Running Into the Sun – a freewheeling call for hope in the face of crisis
Erin Harrington reviews The Monster in the Maze, music by Jonathan Dove, libretto by Alasdair Middleton, directed by Anapela Polata'ivao ONZM, conducted by Brad Cohen, presented by NZ Opera, at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Friday 5 September 2025. It’s an impressive feat to make the wide, deep stage at the Issac Theatre Royal feel claustrophobic.… Continue reading Review: The Monster in the Maze – a stylish contemporary opera that pairs community with pros
Ruth Agnew reviews Six Characters in Search of an Author, written by Luigi Pirandello, directed by Jeremy Hinman, performed by the Court Theatre Youth Company at the Court Theatre, Tuesday 2 September 2025. "A character, sir, may always ask a man who he is. Because a character has really a life of his own, marked… Continue reading Review: Six Characters in Search of an Author – an absurdist showcase of impressive skills, talent and stagecraft
Erin Harrington reviews Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare, directed by Alison Walls, at the Court Theatre, Saturday 9 August 2025. The Court Theatre’s production of the evergreen romantic comedy Twelfth Night brings the audience into a dreamy ‘elsewhere’ in which mistaken identity, unrequited love and comic nonsense get all muddled up. A young noblewoman Viola… Continue reading Review: Twelfth Night – strong characterisation and comic action anchor a hazy production
Erin Harrington reviews The Ballad of Briar Grant, written by Jack McGee, directed by Lia Kelly, presented by Squash Co Arts Collection, at Little Andromeda, Wednesday 6 August 2025. In Jack McGee’s new play The Ballad of Briar Grant, Hayley (Phoebe Caldeiro) finds herself working in an apple orchard in the south of France after… Continue reading Review: The Ballad of Briar Grant – how do you like them apples?
Lisa Allan reviews Rubber Gloves: The Glad Rags Story, written by Jennifer Currie, at Little Andromeda, Friday 18 July, 2025. The stage at Little Andromeda in Ōtautahi Christchurch is awash with colour in the form of costumes and props and it is not long before the house lights dim and the two-strong cast of Rubber Gloves: The Glad… Continue reading Review: Rubber Gloves – the Glad Rags Story – bold and silly playfulness from the best cleaners around
Flat City Field Notes 