Review Archive
Nik Smythe has a Diploma in Applied Drama from Northland Polytechnic, Whangarei (1992). He wrote and performed theatre, music and poetry during the nineties; also worked for the Moving Image Centre as an administrator and presenter.
Father of one teenager, and son of John Smythe’s twin brother, Nik has written for Theatreview since 2006.
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
Auckland
09/03/2012 - 31/03/2012
"Pinter’s Party a refreshing outing..
"Solid instability..
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Auckland
24/02/2012 - 06/03/2012
"Shakespeare very much at home in the post-war years..
"Well-paced charmer..
Show Pony
Auckland
24/02/2012 - 25/02/2012
"The SHOW PONY effect..
"‘Avin’ a laff with universally personal shtick..
THE ARTEFACT PROJECT
Auckland
22/02/2012 - 25/02/2012
"Immaculate preliminaries undermined by demonstrative performance and implausible epiphany..
THOUGHT/ACTION: THE DEATH OF AGENCY
Auckland
19/02/2012 - 19/02/2012
"Quietly raw, challenging and non-confrontational..
DARK STARS
Auckland, Wellington, Melbourne, Australia
10/02/2012 - 10/03/2013
"Unpolished but genuine..
"Dignity sacrificed in the quest for fame..
More reviews
The Twits
Auckland
02/12/2011 - 18/12/2011
"Pair of twits has children of all ages chuckling..
"Madcap Anarchic Absurdity i.e. Dahl..
7 Days – LIVE
Auckland
26/11/2011 - 26/11/2011
"Like on the telly: good for a laugh or three..
Instant Anatomy
Auckland
18/11/2011 - 03/12/2011
"Glorious soap-opera cliché..
Making a Killing
Auckland
18/11/2011 - 26/11/2011
"Farce with potential aplenty..
"Zany, convoluted, black comedy thriller..
Unitec Graduation Plays 2011: Quad Bill
Auckland
11/11/2011 - 19/11/2011
"Double Feature B..
"Double Feature A..
Tartuffe
Auckland
03/11/2011 - 26/11/2011
"Raunchy reworking makes clever splash..
"A veritable frottage of the senses..
Glorious
Auckland, Wellington
16/08/2011 - 12/11/2011
"Cleverly constructed, well-performed, frequently amusing escapism..
"Play it again..
More reviews
Jamie Bowen in Munfred Bernstein’s Cabinet of Wonder
Auckland, Wellington
03/05/2011 - 22/10/2011
"Treasure trove of silliness..
Man Bits
Auckland, Hamilton
09/03/2011 - 08/10/2011
"Emotionally insightful and visually creative multilayered comedy..
"Knitting and sharing man stuff..
Love After Dark
Auckland
04/10/2011 - 15/10/2011
"Radically different outcomes from identical beginnings..
Fasitua Amosa is Ruufless 2.0
Auckland
04/10/2011 - 08/10/2011
"Serious food for thought amongst the chuckles and belly laughs..
Strange Resting Places
Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, (not a specified venue), Nelson, Edinburgh, Scotland
18/03/2007 - 25/08/2014
"Beautifully constructed, creative and engaging..
"Humour, pain and profound insight shared..
More reviews
The Wizard of Oz
Auckland
10/09/2011 - 18/09/2011
"A timeless classic well wrought..
Raising the Titanics
Auckland, Christchurch
23/06/2010 - 17/09/2011
"Feel good crowd pleaser..
"An irresistible charmer..
More reviews
The Only Child
Auckland
26/08/2011 - 17/09/2011
"Aussie riff on Ibsen throws all in the tub..
"Cathartic journey through grief..
THE FACTORY – A Pacific Musical
Edinburgh, Scotland, Auckland
13/08/2011 - 25/08/2014
"Pacific voices asserted..
"A sweet and rhythmic ride with pure Samoan soul..
More reviews
Intimacies: Sweet Thing & I’d Rather Be The Pope
Auckland
09/08/2011 - 14/08/2011
"Sinclair boldly pushes the limits..
"Watchable if somewhat abstruse black comedy..