Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Erin Harrington reviews Kid Jesties, at Little Andromeda, Saturday 7 November 2026. One of the weird things about improvised work is the better it is, the more likely you might be inclined to think that it’s just a bunch of charismatic, funny people being naturally quick and clever rather than professionals building on years’ worth… Continue reading Review: Kid Jesties – dynamite improvised theatre that’s big, silly and delightful
Erin Harrington reviews Wonder, presented by Sahara BreeZe productions, written by Sarah and Blaise Barham, directed by Pedro Ilgenfritz, at Little Andromeda, Thursday 5 November 2026. Wonder is having a hard time. She is stressed out at work and concerned for her health, but most pressingly she is in an intractable situation with the things… Continue reading Review: Wonder – an imaginative new work with humour, compassion, and some very bossy household items
Erin Harrington reviews Bride of Hyde, written by Bryn Sparks, directed by Dan Bain, at Little Andromeda, Wednesday 28 October 2026. The new play Bride of Hyde mashes together two classics, Robert Louis Stephenson’s The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (and its various adaptations) and My Fair Lady (the best-known adaptation of… Continue reading Review: Bride of Hyde – a satisfying gothic horror about becoming something new
Charlotte Thornton reviews Sweet William or Born to be Bard, presented by Enchanting Productions, written and composed by Neill Pickard, directed by Louise Glossop, at The Piano, Friday 16 October 2026. William Shakespeare is almost as popular a character as the characters he created. He’s beloved on screen: a romantic lead in the Best Picture-winning… Continue reading Review: Sweet William or Born to Be Bard – strong vocal performances elevate a long-lost local musical
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
Ruth Agnew reviews Heartbreak Hotel, created by EBKM, written by Karin McCracken, directed by Eleanor Bishop, at the Court Theatre, Wednesday 16 October, 2026. There are so many things to love about Heartbreak Hotel, the latest offering from Eleanor Bishop and Karin McCracken’s trailblazing creative partnership, EBKM. Love, loss and scientific factoids are explored in… Continue reading Review: Heartbreak Hotel – must-see, heart-stopping theatre that weaves extraordinary stories out of our ordinary experiences
Creon Upton reviews Da Da Honk Honk The The Dry Cleaning of Père Ubu, presented by Free Theatre, directed by Peter Falkenberg, at The Pump House, Thursday 8 October 2026. One of my most memorable gigs of the past decade was Delaney Davidson playing at St Stephen's Church in Onewhero in 2017. Tickets were available… Continue reading Review: Da Da Honk Honk The The Dry Cleaning of Père Ubu – a witty and wild cabaret that’s whatever you want to make of it (and that’s okay)
Ruth Agnew reviews Invisible to the Naked AI, a work in progress show performed by Nicola Brown, at Little Andromeda, Saturday 3 October 2026. Dunedin has lots of hidden, underrated treasures - The Museum of Natural Mystery, Lan Yuan Chinese Garden, the Dead Souls Bookshop, and my new favourite, comedian Nicola Brown. Luckily for those… Continue reading Review: Invisible to the Naked AI – an unapologetically funny show about not fading away
Moata Tamaira reviews A Court of Horny Roses, presented by Rollicking Entertainment at the Lyttelton Arts Factory, Friday 18 September 2026. What do you get if you bring a theatre full of Romantasy fans (and the Romantasy-curious) together, act out a chaotic, abridged version of a wildly popular Sarah J. Maas novel, and give them… Continue reading Review: A Court of Horny Roses – My Comical Romantasy
Erin Harrington reviews Teenage Dick, by Mike Lew, directed by Pelenakeke Brown, at the Court Theatre, Saturday 12 September 2026. Richard III is one of Shakespeare’s great villains: a “deformed, unfinish’d” noble “not shaped for sportive tricks” who decides that if he can’t be the face then he’ll be the heel, and damn anyone who… Continue reading Review: Teenage Dick – Gen Z zingers meet dirty politics as Richard III goes to high school
