Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Erin Harrington responds to three rehearsed play readings at the Festival of New Theatre: Ella West's Mrs Parker, Ana Mulipola's My Mum Stitches, and Andrew Todd and Cathasaigh Ó Fiannachta’s The Consummate Professional, presented in partnership with Rollicking Entertainment at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Sunday 11 October 2026.Making theatre is amazing, and it is hard.… Continue reading Rehearsed readings at the Festival of New Theatre: three very different plays, done three ways
Naomi van den Broek reviews The Pearl Fishers, presented by NZ Opera with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Bayl, directed by Stephen Barlow, at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Wednesday 14 October, 2026. Production photography below by Andi Crown. The drama wasn’t just on the stage for this production of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers,… Continue reading Review: The Pearl Fishers – sumptuous and elegant, with drama onstage and off
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
Charlotte Thornton reviews & Juliet, presented by G&T Productions, directed by Hamish Mouat, choreography by Destiny Anderson, music and lyrics by Max Martin and friends, book by David West Read, at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Saturday 30 May 2026. Was 2019 a long time ago? Chronologically, no. Culturally, yes. 2019 saw the West End premiere… Continue reading Review: & Juliet – A girlboss by any other name
Ruth Agnew reviews Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, presented by Showbiz Christchurch, directed by Stephen Robertson, musical direction by Richard Marrett, based on the novel by Roald Dahl, with book by David Greig, music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Thursday 23 April 2026. Charlie and… Continue reading Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – wonderfully sweet performances in a sometimes bitter musical
Breeze Robertson reviews Macbeth, presented by the Royal New Zealand Ballet, choreographed by Alice Topp, with music by Christopher Gordon, at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Wednesday 18 March 2026. Bravo RNZB, Macbeth the contemporary ballet was a courageous concept, brilliantly executed. With social media influencers instead of witches, boardroom politics instead of royal intrigues, and… Continue reading Review: Macbeth – courageous, contemporary, and the future of ballet
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
Sophie Ricketts reviews Chicago, book by Fred Ebb & Bob Fosse, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, produced by Ben McDonald, directed by Michael Hurst, choreography by Shona McCullagh, musical direction by Paul Barrett, at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Sunday 17 August 2025. It was awesome to see the Isaac Theatre Royal full… Continue reading Review: Chicago – an enthralling, razor-sharp production of an enduring classic
Erin Harrington reviews Giacomo Puccini's La bohème, presented by NZ Opera with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, directed by Bruno Ravella, conducted by Dionysus Grammenos, at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Wednesday 2 July, 2025. Puccini’s story of artistic optimism and doomed love La bohème is a certified crowd-pleaser – the sort of canonical work that has… Continue reading Review: La bohème – an inspired post-war take on an opera classic
Lisa Allan reviews MAMIL 2: GOMIL - Grumpy Old Man in Lycra, performed by Mark Hadlow, written and directed by Gregory Cooper, presented by The Professional Theatre Company at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Monday 10 February, 2025. The Isaac Theatre Royal invites us onto the stage to be seated for the latest Gregory Cooper /… Continue reading Review – MAMIL 2: GOMIL (Grumpy Old Man in Lycra) – A grumpy old class act
