Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Erin Harrington reviews Mr and Mrs Macbeth of Heathcote Valley Road, written and directed by Gregory Cooper, at the Court Theatre, Saturday 18 May, 2024. In writer-director Gregory Cooper’s energetic new comedy Mr and Mrs Macbeth of Heathcote Valley Road it’s backstage on the opening night of a high stakes national tour of the Scottish… Continue reading Review: Mr and Mrs Macbeth of Heathcote Valley Road – an uneven backstage comedy about on and offstage disaster
Naomi van den Broek reviews H.R. The Musical, presented by Artsense Productions, at Little Andromeda, Thursday 16 May, 2024. When your job is mostly “email” with a dash of “meeting”, a show entitled H.R. The Musical feels like it should be a total home run. My colleague and I, hearts open, senses of humour on… Continue reading Review: H.R. the Musical – a promising new hire in need of some professional development
Erin Harrington reviews Class Act, written and directed by Andrew Todd, at Little Andromeda, Wednesday 17 April 2024. Andrew Todd’s satisfying new black comedy Class Act might be better titled Corporate Comedy Confidential. 'Class Act', aka performers Ruby and Vincent and fresh-faced unpaid intern Caitlyn, are here to expose the inner workings of corporate comedy… Continue reading Review: Class Act – a bleak trip into the wilderness of corporate entertainment
Erin Harrington reviews Helios, created by Wright&Grainger, and 0resented in New Zealand by A Mulled Whine Productions, at Little Andromeda, Friday 12 April 2024. Helios is the latest in a series of award-winning multidisciplinary adaptations of Greek myths from UK-based production company Wright&Grainger. Performed solo by master storyteller Alexander Wright, but with help from the… Continue reading Review: Helios – masterful storytelling about following the light
Erin Harrington reviews Me and my Nana, directed by Melanie Luckman, at the Cloisters Studio at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, Thursday 11 April 2024. Cubbin Theatre Company has spent the last six years developing thoughtful, well-designed performance works for that most under-served yet discerning of audiences: the very young. Me and My… Continue reading Review: Me and my Nana – an adorable story about very special relationship
Erin Harrington reviews Every Brilliant Thing, written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, directed by Hillary Moulder, at the Court Theatre, Friday 6 April 2024. A content note to start: is it okay to call an interactive play about depression and suicide joyful? UK playwright Duncan Macmillan’s Every Brilliant Thing is a river of concentrated… Continue reading Review: Every Brilliant Thing – an intense collective experience about hope and imagination
Erin Harrington reviews Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express¸ adapted by Ken Ludwig, directed by Dan Bain, at the Court Theatre, Saturday 2 March 2024. The Court Theatre is entering its final year in the Shed in Addington before it shifts into its new premises in the central city’s Performing Arts Precinct. Director Dan… Continue reading Review: Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express – a stylish, engrossing murder mystery
Erin Harrington reviews Love; Mum, written and directed by Sela Faletolu-Fasi, with choreography from Lapana Soli, Friday 26 January 2024, at Little Andromeda. It feels a little hand-wavey to say that in the new play Love; Mum, five Pacific women share the joys, disappointments, and heartaches of motherhood. That’s because we live in a culture… Continue reading Review: Love; Mum – a love letter to mothers, sisters, friends
Erin Harrington reviews the Anthony Harper summer season of The Odyssey, staged by Noosed Octopus at the Botanic Gardens, and directed by Dan Bain, based on the epic poem Odyssey by the ancient Greek poet Homer, Thursday 25 January, 2024. The Christchurch City Council’s summer theatre productions are a welcome way to mark the end… Continue reading Review: The Odyssey – a dynamic outdoor comedy about taking the long way home
Erin Harrington reviews The Flight Before Christmas, this year's annual Little Andromeda Christmas show, written by Cally Castell and Rebekah Head, directed by Hillary Moulder, presented in conjunction with Tusk Puppets, on Tuesday 11 December 2023. Little Andromeda’s Christmas shows have become a mainstay of the holiday season. Previous productions have been knockabout scripted farces… Continue reading Review: The Flight Before Christmas – an anarchic musical that keeps the holidays weird
Flat City Field Notes 