Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Ruth Agnew reviews Fairystories, presented by Enchanting Productions at The Piano: Centre for Music and the Arts, Wednesday 10 April, 2024. Enchanting Productions has delighted audiences with prior performances including their successful company debut of Secret Garden and the impressive season of the challenging Sondheim classic, A Little Night Music. Their latest offering again boasts… Continue reading Review: Fairystories – a new musical in need of more magic
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
Erin Harrington reviews Something Rotten! book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, directed by Benjamin Kilby-Henson, with musical direction by Richard Marrett, at the Court Theatre, Saturday 25 November 2023. The Court Theatre has a long tradition of presenting big budget summer musicals that seek to… Continue reading Review: Something Rotten! – a boisterous, witty musical that’s anything but
Naomi van den Broek reviews Next To Normal, music by Ton Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, directed by Hayden Tee, with musical direction by Richard Marrett, at the Court Theatre, 17 June 2023. Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning pop/rock musical Next To Normal is a show centered on a woman’s struggle with, and… Continue reading Review: Next To Normal – a demanding production about mental illness, family and connection
Erin Harrington reviews Free Theatre’s production of the avant-garde musical Woyzeck, directed by Peter Falkenberg, at The Pump House, 544 Tuam Street, Friday 14 April, 2023. Free Theatre’s production of Woyzeck is an adaptation of Robert Wilson, Kathleen Brennan and Tom Waits’ musical adaptation, first performed in 2000, of Georg Büchner’s fragmentary, unfinished 1836/7 play.… Continue reading Review: Woyzeck – an avant-garde musical about misery
Erin Harrington reviews Rent, book / music / lyrics by Jonathan Larson, directed by Lara Macgregor, at The Court Theatre, Friday 19 November 2022. The Court Theatre has had a patchy year. Many shows were cancelled, mucked about or rescheduled, and the year’s standout production – The Māori Sidesteps, wonderful – was chronically underattended. But… Continue reading Review: Rent – vital, muscular musical theatre
Claudia Jardine reviews A Little Night Music, directed by Louise Glossop for Enchanting Productions, at The Great Hall, The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, Friday 10 June 2022. American composer Stephen Sondheim passed away late last year, and anyone who ever took singing lessons knew about it. His signature songwriting style has witty lyrics,… Continue reading Review: A Little Night Music – searching for romance
Erin Harrington reviews Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Benjamin Henson, at The Court Theatre, Saturday 20 November 2021. Cult sci-fi horror musical Little Shop of Horrors is one of those rare works of musical theatre that’s effectively smash-proof: it’s smart, consistently funny, frequently in circulation, worthy of repeat viewings, and desperately enjoyable. The Court… Continue reading Review: Little Shop of Horrors – vibrant, camp escapism
Naomi van den Broek reviews The Isolation Mixtape, Vol. 2, directed by Ben Freeth for the Blackboard Theatre Collective, at The Piano Pīpīwharauroa: Kui-kui whitiwhiti ora , Friday 30 July 2021. The Isolation Mixtape Vol.2 is this year’s offering from Blackboard Theatre Collective, following on from an endeavour that came out of lockdown in 2020.… Continue reading Review: The Isolation Mixtape Vol.2 – creative, gutsy, and bold new music
Erin Harrington reviews Moana JR. at The Court Theatre, 11am, Saturday 10 July 2021. Broad public acknowledgement and celebration of Matariki has really kicked up a few notches this this year, helped along by the announcement of a regular winter public holiday. A time for reflection and renewal, it's also a celebration of Māori star… Continue reading Review: Moana JR. – a musical celebration of finding your way
Flat City Field Notes 