Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Ruth Agnew reviews 9 to 5 The Musical, music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, book by Patricia Resnick, directed by Ben Freeth, with musical direction by Richard Marrett and choreography by Kira Josephson, at the Court Theatre, Friday 21 November, 2025. There’s something that strums the right strings in Dolly Parton songs. Opening the show with… Continue reading Review: 9 to 5 The Musical – an incredible toe-tapping escapist musical powered by the strength of women
Erin Harrington reviews Wolf Play, written by Hansol Jung, directed by Kathleen Burns, at the Court Theatre, Saturday 18 October, 2025. Award-winning translator and playwright Hansol Jung’s Wolf Play, first performed in 2019, explores the murky real-life world of unregulated "second chance" adoption, the consequences of white saviourism, and the tangled nature of family. Korean… Continue reading Review: Wolf Play – an affecting but inconsistent play about finding your pack
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
Ruth Agnew reviews The Early Early Late Show, presented by the Court Jesters in the Wakefield Family Front Room at the Court Theatre, Tuesday 23 September 2025. The Early Early Late Show (EELS) is something of a school holiday fixture, with the first version performed in 2007 in the Court Theatre at the Christchurch Arts… Continue reading Review: The Early Early Late Show – a beloved, brilliantly executed school holiday fixture
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?
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
Ruth Agnew reviews Kōpū, written by Tuakoi Ohia, directed by Amber Curreen with musical direction from John Gibson, produced by Te Rehia Theatre and staged at the Court Theatre, Thursday 17 July 2025. Unpeg yourself from the patriarchy! Kōpū begins with the instruction to “leave your white feminism at the door”, and with that baggage… Continue reading Review: Kōpū – a fierce, impressive celebration of femininity
Erin Harrington reviews The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition, based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg, book by Kyle Jarrow, directed by Tim Bain, with musical direction by Caelen Thomas and choreography by Hillary Moulder, at the Court Theatre, Wednesday 2 July, 2025. The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition is the Court Theatre’s first school holiday production… Continue reading Review: The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition – a delightfully unhinged glitter bomb
Flat City Field Notes 