Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Charlotte Thornton reviews Folk Tales, presented by Rollicking Entertainment for the Lyttelton Arts Festival, at the Lyttelton Arts Factory, Sunday 19 July 2026. Let’s talk about the apocalypse. It’s hard to say if we’re properly in it now, or still dodging it Matrix-style, but this year has seen a distinct mood shift. Blues and folk… Continue reading Review: Folk Tales – a much-needed cuddle in dark times
Charlotte Thornton reviews Pierre & Randy’s Gameshow Roulette, presented at Lyttelton Arts Factory as part of the Lyttelton Arts Festival, Satuday 18 July 2026. Back in March, I reviewed The Gigantic Gay Late Night Game Show at The Court Theatre during its Rainbow Festival. It featured Dan Pengelly as sassy, French-accented compére Pierre, Criss Grueber… Continue reading Review: Pierre & Randy’s Gameshow Roulette – a great show lost in its crowd
Jordon Jones reviews Great Comic Writing, presented by Joe Bennett as part of the Lyttelton Arts Festival, at the Lyttelton Arts Factory, Sunday 12 July 2026.A week ago, I went to Lyttelton Arts Factory to hear Joe Bennett in discussion about Shakespeare's Greatest Comedy. This last weekend, both of us returned to the same place… Continue reading Review: Great Comic Writing – an incisive, insightful masterclass in wit and wordplay
Charlotte Thornton reviews Stars Lyttelton, presented by Shay Horay and friends as part of the Lyttelton Arts Festival, at The Loons, Saturday 11 July 2026. TV used to be awesome. On ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes, a regular person would get awkwardly interviewed before disappearing into a cloud of smoke and re-emerging dressed as a… Continue reading Review: Stars Lyttelton – the best talent quest in town
Erin Harrington reviews the Feminist Clown Posse Annual Gala, at Lyttelton Arts Factory as part of the Lyttelton Arts Festival, Tuesday 7 July, 2026. The joyful takeaway message from the third annual Feminist Clown Posse gala is hooray for the idiots, and hooray for idiocy - idiocy for freedom, idiocy sprung of anger, idiocy in… Continue reading Review: Feminist Clown Posse Annual Gala – changing the world one fail at a time
Jordon Jones reviews Shakespeare's Greatest Comedy, by Joe Bennett, presented at Lyttelton Arts Factory as part of the Lyttelton Arts Festival, Sunday 5 July 2026. Thanks to the Lyttelton Arts Festival, which kicked off last week, I had the pleasure of going along to see local legend Joe Bennett discuss the Bard in Shakespeare's Greatest… Continue reading Review: Shakespeare’s Greatest Comedy – wit, energy, and infectious enthusiasm
Karen Healey reviews Hooves & Chooks, a double bill at the Lyttelton Arts Factory, presented as part of the Lyttelton Arts Festival, Friday 3 July 2026. This joyous double-bill night of comedy dance and cabaret, opens the 2026 Lyttelton Arts Festival on a cold Canterbury night. Hooves, from Rebound Dance, led by Fleur de Thier,… Continue reading Review: Hooves & Chooks – smart comedy by clever people
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)
Flat City Field Notes 