Review Archive
Dr Erin Harrington is a lecturer in English at the University of Canterbury where her teaching centres on cultural studies, visual and popular culture, theatre, and critical sexualities. She is currently developing two new theatre courses – one on the stage and stagecraft, the other on design, direction and dramaturgy – that are being rolled out at UC from 2016, and she has previously contributed to courses on contemporary drama and creative writing.
Erin has been a reviewer for Theatreview since 2010, and brings to this role experience in direction, performance, voice work and criticism, including as a dramaturg, a past member of the New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company, a director for the Court Theatre’s Young Writers Initiative, and, more recently, a judge for the regional competitions of the SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival.
She is the essays editor for the literary magazine takahē ; and, as a freelance writer and reviewer, has written for outlets such as the Christchurch gallery The Physics Room, the Playmarket Annua,l and the Christchurch Art Gallery’s Bulletin magazine. She is a regular panelist and occasional host on the comedy podcast The Nerd Degree, has featured as a speaker and panelist at film and literary festivals and related events, including the Christchurch WORD Festival and, most recently, the Stranger With My Face International Film Festival in Australia, and has appeared on Radio New Zealand National as a theatre reviewer. See: http://www.arts.canterbury.ac.nz/english/people/harrington.shtml http://www.arts.canterbury.ac.nz/english/people/harrington.shtml
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
ME AND MY NANA
Christchurch
02/11/2019 - 14/04/2024
"Me and my Nana – an adorable story about very special relationship..
"Gentle, whimsical and wholesome..
THE HAKA PARTY INCIDENT
Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Christchurch
30/03/2021 - 11/11/2023
"The Haka Party Incident – bold, ferocious, essential viewing..
"Me hoki whakamuri kia anga whakamua: Look to the past to move boldly to the future...
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Appropriate
Christchurch
06/05/2023 - 03/06/2023
"A provocative dark comedy about the meaning of inheritance..
"Consistent excellence of the acting ensures it never outstays its welcome or overreaches its thought-provoking content..
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
Christchurch
11/02/2023 - 11/03/2023
"A sparking romantic romp..
"Kiwi version of Sense and Sensibility more pantomime than period drama..
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RENT
Christchurch
19/11/2022 - 21/01/2023
"Vital, muscular musical theatre..
"Hard to imagine this production and cast being bettered..
A BOY CALLED PIANO
Wellington, Dunedin, Oamaru, Christchurch
22/11/2019 - 22/10/2022
"Offering voices to the voiceless..
"One of the great Kiwi theatre productions of our time..
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DAYBREAK ESTATE
Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland
08/02/2022 - 09/04/2022
"A fanfare to chaos..
"Relentless nihilist optimism...
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THE ADDAMS
Christchurch
11/05/2021 - 15/05/2021
"A playful film about the spooky, ooky creative process..
THE AMATEUR AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY
Christchurch
29/01/2021 - 31/01/2021
"Charming, darling..
HARDCASE HORI HOUSIE
Christchurch
22/01/2021 - 24/01/2021
"An absolute blast..
CHRIST! WHAT A NIGHT
Christchurch
10/12/2020 - 19/12/2020
"Fast and loud and very funny..
JEKYLL & HYDE
Christchurch
09/12/2020 - 15/12/2020
"Political in tone, contemporary in its concerns – and ambivalent..
HARLEQUEEN
Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin
01/03/2019 - 07/11/2020
"Celebrates transgressive female fools – and shocks us..
"Howells of laughter..
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From Scratch PAX PACIFICA
Christchurch
18/09/2020 - 18/09/2020
"An amazing, coherent organism, both free and utterly precise..
GOLDFISH GIRL
Christchurch
09/08/2020 - 09/08/2020
"Dynamic absurdist exposé of reality..
"Entertaining and fast-paced physical comedy of unease..
FRANKENSTEIN
Global
01/05/2020 - 08/05/2020
"A gorgeous and powerful production, beautifully designed throughout..
WINGS
Palmerston North, Global
02/09/2015 - 31/05/2020
"Hooked by sharp script and performances..
"Superb as sisters..
NO SCIENCE TO GOODBYE
Wanaka, Global,
07/04/2017 - 31/05/2020
"A beauty in the loneliness of disconnected characters..
"Beautiful and evocative script needs more work in production..
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Gross
Wellington, Global
22/02/2016 - 31/05/2020
"A bit like a rollercoaster and highly recommended..
"Fun and funny and smart and comforting and exciting..
Dungeons & Comedians: UNDERDOGS OF THE UNDERDARK
Global
31/03/2020 - 31/03/2020
"Funny and clever and comforting..
TROLL
Wellington, Tauranga, Christchurch, Gisborne
12/02/2017 - 04/10/2020
"A captivating old fashioned, modern fairytale..
"A near-perfect little nugget of mythic storytelling..
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DEACON THE VAMPIRE LIVE
Christchurch
14/02/2020 - 16/02/2020
"As if Lord Byron were a sulky emo with a penchant for mid-career Radiohead..
Cal Wilson GIFTED UNDERACHIEVER
Christchurch
11/02/2020 - 16/02/2020
"Appears to be casual and off the cuff but is impeccably, tightly crafted..
