Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Erin Harrington chats with Lizzie Tollemache through the wonders of the internet about their new performance work, on why sharing (in rehearsals) is caring, and how Creative NZ can learn something from defence lawyers. Lizzie's show The NeuroSpice Girls is particularly interesting for the way that it’s looking to challenge traditional approaches in its creation,… Continue reading Interview: Lizzie Tollemache on making neurospicy theatre
Naomi van den Broek on learning to be a clown under the tutelage of comedian Tessa Waters - including the work, joy and importance of creating feminist communities in comedy and performing arts. Sometime in 2023 I was added to a Facebook group with the name Feminist Clown Posse (FCP) and an amazing profile pic… Continue reading Behind the Curtain at Clown Club (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love to Bomb)
Ruth Agnew reviews Space Invaders, written and performed by Nicola Brown, at Little Andromeda, Saturday 7 September, 2024. Nicola Brown is an Ōtepoti comedian who wants to bring pelvic organ prolapse out of the dark and into conversation. Her award winning solo show, Space Invaders, invites audiences to discuss subjects rarely spoken raised in polite… Continue reading Review: Nicola Brown: Space Invaders – an intimate, brilliant, comedy hour that might just save your life
Erin Harrington reviews The Tempestuous: A Shrew'd New Comedy by Will Shakespeare and Penny Ashton, at Lyttelton Arts Factory, 9 August 2024. Surely at some point we get to call Penny Ashton a national treasure? Her terrific new one-woman musical comedy The Tempestuous, co-written with one W. Shakespeare, certainly reiterates that she’s one of the… Continue reading Review: The Tempestuous – hot pink comedy meets the Bard’s best bits
Erin Harrington reviews The Brothers Rapture – A Holy Hip-Hop Cabaret, written by Corey M. Glamuzina, with music by Matt Hadgraft, at Little Andromeda, Friday 24 May, 2024. Harold the Giraffe has nothing on Fathers Foley and O’Dea. The Brothers Rapture – A Holy Hip-Hop Cabaret presents a Behind the Music-style account of the rise… Continue reading Review: The Brothers Rapture – a verbally-dextrous comedy musical that might save your soul (and sexual health)
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 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 Appleton Ladies' Potato Race, by Melanie Tait and directed by Anthea Williams, at The Court Theatre, Tuesday 8 August, 2023. In a review some years ago I described a show’s comedy and appeal as ‘broad’, and someone involved in the production got exceptionally cross with me. I meant it in our… Continue reading Review: The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race – rural social mores get mashed
Erin Harrington reviews Ray Shipley's standup hour 50 Shades of Ray at Little Andromeda, 15 April 2023. Hello, nice audience member, are you an anxious person? Probably. If so, Billy T-nominated comedian Ray Shipley’s latest comedy hour, 50 Shades of Ray, is a safe space. If not, keep it to yourself and let your introvert… Continue reading Review: 50 Shades of Ray – a comic safe space for the anxious
Margaret Agnew reviews Cinderella, by Gregory Cooper, directed by Kathleen Burns, at The Court Theatre, Tuesday 11 April 2023, assisted by junior reviewers Felicity and Lilly (both age 10). Overheard in the foyer (as we eat pizza and chips and partake in some colouring-in) before the show – Mum talking to kids wearing plastic tiaras:… Continue reading Review: Cinderella – Stepsisters before misters
Flat City Field Notes 