Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Erin Harrington reviews The Messy Magic Adventure, presented by Rollicking Entertainment for the World Busters Festival at Altiora, Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, Monday 27 January, 2025. In The Messy Magic Adventure, presented as part of this year’s World Buskers Festival, we join cheerful, clown-like cleaners Spray and Wipe on what appears (at… Continue reading Review: The Messy Magic Adventure – a masterclass in family entertainment
Naomi van den Broek reviews Two Girls One Gun, created and performed by Comedy Gold, at The Great Hall, Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, as part of the World Buskers Festival, Friday 24 January, 2025. Comedy Gold describe their work as ‘genre bending’, and I think it’s an entirely apt description of what… Continue reading Review: Two Girls One Gun – a top-tier spy parody in the wrong place at the right time
Theresa Koorey reviews Sportsball, presented by Cubbin Theatre, directed by Melanie Luckman, at the Cloisters Studio at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, Saturday 31 August 2024. Entering the intimate Cloisters Studio with my 3 year old, we are greeted by an equally intimate setup of cushions and chairs surrounding them. A taped marked… Continue reading Review: Sportsball – an energetic show about play and resilience
Claudia & Nathaniel Herz Jardine, in conversation, review William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, directed by Khalil Qualls at Cloisters Studio in Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, Tuesday 20 August 2024. Claudia: JMO Theatrics’ production of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar may be the most political play you see this year. Yes, it contains factions and… Continue reading Review: Julius Caesar – a gripping political two-hander
Erin Harrington reviews Pōtaka Nautilus, presented by Good Company Arts, at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, 27 June 2024. Good Company Arts, led by Arts Laureate Daniel Belton, creates fascinating multi-modal works that combine contemporary dance, taonga pūoro, sampled electronics and strings, digital video art and virtual reality technologies. Their work Ad Parnassum… Continue reading Review: Pōtaka Nautilus – a spiralling encounter with our place in the universe
Theresa Koorey, assisted by some junior reporters, reviews Cubbin Concert, presented by Cubbin Theatre Company, at the Cloisters Studio, The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, Sunday 16 June 2024. You arrive at the cosy Cloisters Theatre in the Art Centre Precinct and straight away you know you are in for something special. With thousands… Continue reading Review: Cubbin Concert – an interactive musical show full of aroha
Erin Harrington reviews Me and my Nana, directed by Melanie Luckman, at the Cloisters Studio at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, Thursday 11 April 2024. Cubbin Theatre Company has spent the last six years developing thoughtful, well-designed performance works for that most under-served yet discerning of audiences: the very young. Me and My… Continue reading Review: Me and my Nana – an adorable story about very special relationship
When something is restaged, why not get a reviewer to revisit it? Jordon Jones re-reviews BLUE Experience, written and performed by Sophie Ricketts at Cloisters Studio, Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, Saturday 23 March 2024. I have previously reviewed Sophie Ricketts’ solo show BLUE Experience when she debuted it back in 2019; now,… Continue reading Review: BLUE Experience – a sweet and emotional revisitation
A midwinter restrospective for springtime: Erin Harrington reviews Ka Noho, Ka Mate, presented in the Great Hall as part of the Te Matatiki Toi Ora Arts Centre Matariki Festival, 14 July 2023. The Matariki performance (or gig? or lamentation?) Ka Noho, Ka Mate starts solemnly. Kaiako and rapper Kommi Tamati-Elliffe (Kāi Tahu, Te Ātiawa), producer… Continue reading Review: Ka Noho, Ka Mate – a journey in and out of grief that reminds us everything is here
Erin Harrington pokes around at the Off Centre festival, including performances of Requiem and Much Ado About Nothing, at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, Friday 3 - Sunday 5 March. For other coverage see a review of A Baby Called Sovereignty here. When The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora was severely impacted… Continue reading Review: Off Centre – Requiem, Much Ado About Nothing, and being a city
Flat City Field Notes 