March 6, 2007

Fringe Wrap. Rather than attempt a wrap myself – hell, you’ve heard enough from me – I thought I’d start this Forum topic by way of inviting audience members, particpants,…

Fringe Wrap. Rather than attempt a wrap myself - hell, you've heard enough from me - I thought I'd start this Forum topic by way of inviting audience members, particpants, locals, visitors

March 6, 2007

Theatreview 2.0? This site is ace.  But I feel like I need something else. Any plans to include interviews, investigative pieces or other feature-type content?

Theatreview 2.0? This site is ace.  But I feel like I need something else. Any plans to include interviews, investigative pieces or other feature-type content?

March 4, 2007

Comments, Forums and Watering Holes…I noticed that these comments by David Lawrence and Moya Bannerman (below) had dropped off the radar due to being attached to a review rather than…

Comments, Forums and Watering Holes…I noticed that these comments by David Lawrence and Moya Bannerman (below) had dropped off the radar due to being attached to a review rather than posted on the discussion forums, so I thought I'd re-post them here

March 2, 2007

Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festivals in Schools funding crisis. The Feature article  on the Sheilah Winn Festivals of Shakespeare in Schools includes the following: Who should pay for what?

Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festivals in Schools funding crisis. The Feature article  on the Sheilah Winn Festivals of Shakespeare in Schools includes the following: Who should pay for what?

February 26, 2007

What have you seen in the Fringe? My own score is pretty pathetic so far this year – due to high work commitments and general exhaustion, I’ve missed a lot…

What have you seen in the Fringe? My own score is pretty pathetic so far this year - due to high work commitments and general exhaustion, I've missed a lot of other stuff I would have like to have seen.

February 12, 2007

Project Funding. Helen Clark’s much-touted cultural recovery package of 2000 has been good for recurrently funded organisations. But in the years since there has been no significant increase in project…

Project Funding. Helen Clark's much-touted cultural recovery package of 2000 has been good for recurrently funded organisations. But in the years since there has been no significant increase in project funding. Yet this is where the cutting edge is.

February 10, 2007

Hotel Follys. Site-specific.co.nz link site at www.hoteltheatre.co.nz took me to a page of plush marketing and colourful display. But is this really Fringe?

Hotel Follys. Site-specific.co.nz link site at www.hoteltheatre.co.nz took me to a page of plush marketing and colourful display. But is this really Fringe?

January 28, 2007

The pleasures of Parker. Dean, I mean. And my pleasures, not his. With a dramatist, screenwriter, journalist, historian, teller of tales and joyous, if acerbic, wit such as he, why…

The pleasures of Parker. Dean, I mean. And my pleasures, not his. With a dramatist, screenwriter, journalist, historian, teller of tales and joyous, if acerbic, wit such as he, why not give him a regular spot to comment on theatre, film, tv, storytelling, the theatre of absurd we call political life in NZ and whatever else takes his fancy?

November 22, 2006

chappie tripps…What a marvellous list of shows and people that have been nominated for this years awards. As someone who nerdishly hounds the theatres around Wellington, I was delighted

chappie tripps…What a marvellous list of shows and people that have been nominated for this years awards. As someone who nerdishly hounds the theatres around Wellington,

October 20, 2006

When is a premiere a premiere? Quoting advertising for Otago Festival of the Arts: “My Heart is Bathed in Blood – The Fortune Theatre presents the première of Michelanne Forster’s…

When is a premiere a premiere? Quoting advertising for Otago Festival of the Arts: "My Heart is Bathed in Blood - The Fortune Theatre presents the première of Michelanne Forster's new play, My Heart is Bathed in Blood…" I have also seen advertising heralding this production as the world premiere. The point I wish to make is that I saw a production of this play in November 2004.

October 16, 2006

Masterclass. I don’t want to comment about the play but about John Smythe’s gratuitous comment that it was staged after “many years of National Party indifference to the arts”

Masterclass. I don't want to comment about the play but about John Smythe's gratuitous comment that it was staged after "many years of National Party indifference to the arts"

September 24, 2006

The Rivals and the Circa model. You can’t argue with bums on seats. I am reliably informed that THE RIVALS at Circa – which closes tonight – will have played…

The Rivals and the Circa model. You can't argue with bums on seats. I am reliably informed that THE RIVALS at Circa - which closes tonight - will have played to over 5,000 patrons and averaged almost 70% capacity. (These figures were offered mid-last week, when there were about 10 performances to go to complete the 32-show season.) This answers, then, my question: why this play now?

September 4, 2006

Sultan’s Elephant. Has anyone been following the latest Royal de Luxe?

Sultan's Elephant. Has anyone been following the latest Royal de Luxe?

August 30, 2006

Essential viewing on Rialto. The Rialto Channel run a brilliant series called ‘Inside the Actors Studio’. I just watched the episode featuring William H. Macy, and man was it good.

Essential viewing on Rialto. The Rialto Channel run a brilliant series called 'Inside the Actors Studio'. I just watched the episode featuring William H. Macy, and man was it good.

August 14, 2006

Ian McMinn. “Funny he never married”, yes, Ian would have appreciated that very much. A man with a wicked sense of humour and a soul of compassion and love.

Ian McMinn. "Funny he never married", yes, Ian would have appreciated that very much. A man with a wicked sense of humour and a soul of compassion and love.

July 28, 2006

The Goat. Should a columnist who is an avowed non-theatre goer comment through hearsay on a play’s theme? I refer to Rosemary McLeod’s article in the DomPost last week

The Goat. Should a columnist who is an avowed non-theatre goer comment through hearsay on a play's theme? I refer to Rosemary McLeod's article in the DomPost last week

June 2, 2006

Trouble in Tahiti – New Zealand productions? I posted this over at the New Zealand Opera Society website, with no responses, so perhaps someone here may be able to help:…

Trouble in Tahiti - New Zealand productions? I posted this over at the New Zealand Opera Society website, with no responses, so perhaps someone here may be able to help: ...

May 24, 2006

Spanish Theatre Artist to visit NZ. From June 20 to July 5 2006, the Magdalena Aotearoa Trust will host a visit by Spanish theatre artist Rosa Casado. She will give…

Spanish Theatre Artist to visit NZ. From June 20 to July 5 2006, the Magdalena Aotearoa Trust will host a visit by Spanish theatre artist Rosa Casado. She will give lectures, workshops and performances in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. An independent creator and performer based in Madrid

May 14, 2006

A director’s role, rights and responsibilities. Three recent productions have raised questions about the role, rights and responsibilities of directors. [Warning: Don’t read on if you’d rather not know what…

A director’s role, rights and responsibilities. Three recent productions have raised questions about the role, rights and responsibilities of directors. [Warning: Don't read on if you'd rather not know what happens in The Underpants.]

May 10, 2006

Local content in the New Zealand International Arts Festival 2006. For every NZ International Arts Festival there is huge competition to score a commission to create a local production. Only…

Local content in the New Zealand International Arts Festival 2006. For every NZ International Arts Festival there is huge competition to score a commission to create a local production. Only a few of those who apply get to pitch their idea at the 'show and tell' session, and only a handful of them get the go-ahead.

May 10, 2006

May a critic challenge programming decisions? The following exchange came off my review of The Fundraiser at Centrepoint. Does anyone else have thoughts on this?

May a critic challenge programming decisions? The following exchange came off my review of The Fundraiser at Centrepoint. Does anyone else have thoughts on this?