Review Archive
John Smythe has trained and worked professionally in New Zealand, Australia then back in New Zealand as a playwright, director, screenwriter (& screenwriting teacher), actor, theatre critic and book writer.
His formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Dramatic Art from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (Sydney) and a Certificate in Screenwriting from the Australian Film Television and Radio School. He has also completed honours papers and a range of script writing courses.
Theatre directing credits in Australia include plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, and Gorki, and world premieres of plays by himself, Len Radic, David Williamson, Louis Esson, Katharine Susannah Prichard, Jack Hibberd and David O’Brien. Back in NZ he directed his own trilogy of short plays – ENTRANCING EXITS: Ms Conception; Nothing Twisted; Used Heads, at Bats Theatre, Wellington International Festival of the Arts; Faulty (sic) Towers & Blackadder’s Banquet at the Museum Hotel.
Playwright credits include Entrancing Exits (BATS Theatre), Conundra (Ensemble Productions), Swaggy Mack and his Magic Back Track (Arena Theatre), The Seven Stages of Hugh Mann (Melbourne University Theatre), Party Games (Jane St Theatre; La Mama) and Making A Play (Melbourne Theatre Company; Central Theatre), Where There’s a Will (BATS Theatre). Unproduced plays include Thelma, Weather and The Virtues of Reality.
John has also written The Peace Monster (Vintage, 1991); Downstage Upfront: the first 40 years of New Zealand’s longest-running professional theatre (Victoria University Press, November 2004) and The Plays of Bruce Mason – a survey (VUP & Playmarket, November 2015).
Amid a wide range of acting roles on stage, television and film, John has played Polonius and the Gravedigger in Hamlet twice (2006 and 2011). In 2012 and with Arts On Tour NZ in 2013 he played James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and Carl Jung in Jan Bolwell’s Dancing in the Wake. In 2015 he played Barry Scanlan in his own play, Where There’s a Will, at BATS Theatre. (Since 2000 he has also played Birdboot in an annual VUW English Dept reading of Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound.)
Before becoming the founding Managing Editor of Theatreview.org.nz in 2006, John was a theatre critic for The Melbourne Times, The Australian, Theatre Australia Magazine, The National Business Review.
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
I AIN'T MAD AT CHA
Auckland, Wellington, Gisborne
20/06/2017 - 19/10/2019
"A completely stimulating theatrical experience..
"A very absorbing exploration..
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Public Service Announcements INDIGNITY WAR
Wellington
21/05/2019 - 25/05/2019
"Welcome robust political satire..
SO YOU THINK YOU KHANDALLAH
Wellington
21/05/2019 - 25/05/2019
"A sound foundation is laid..
Brynley Stent FILTHY LITTLE GOBLIN
Wellington
14/05/2019 - 18/05/2019
"A skill to be treasured..
Frickin Dangerous Bro LEGACY
Wellington
08/05/2019 - 11/05/2019
"Frickin' delightful, bro..
"Hugely entertaining satire..
THE KORU HOUR
Wellington
08/05/2019 - 11/05/2019
"Yet to reach its potential..
Tom Clarke PERRY
Wellington
07/05/2019 - 11/05/2019
"Disturbingly compelling..
White Man Behind a Desk A PARTY FOR THE END OF THE WORLD
Wellington
07/05/2019 - 11/05/2019
"An ingeniously provocative prod..
WAITING FOR GODOT
Wellington
04/05/2019 - 01/06/2019
"A play where nothing happens but everything is discussed..
"Riddled with vivid snapshots of the human condition..
CONVERSATIONS WITH DEAD RELATIVES
Nelson, Hamilton, Wellington
13/10/2018 - 11/05/2019
"An interesting journey through the past..
"A stimulating weave of familial threads..
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MoodPorn
Wellington
23/04/2019 - 04/05/2019
"Verbally and physically eloquent; utterly absorbing interactions..
PAPER SHAPER
Wellington
18/04/2017 - 17/04/2019
"Fanciful and inspiring..
"Captivating and heart-warming with environmental message..
THE CHILDREN
Wellington
30/03/2019 - 27/04/2019
"Plenty to ponder concerning personal, collective and global responsibility – and power..
THE WELL-REHEARSED AND NOT AT ALL SLAPDASH STORY OF PETE BENNETT
Wellington
21/03/2019 - 23/03/2019
"The ‘work-in-progress’ feel captures Pete’s life with chaotic flair..
SHADOW
Wellington
20/03/2019 - 23/03/2019
"A contribution towards “positive societal attitudinal change”..
CARTOONAROONY
Wellington
19/03/2019 - 22/03/2019
"A riotous exploration with potential..
WATCHING PAINT DRY
Hamilton, Dunedin, Wellington
26/10/2017 - 27/09/2108
"Physically interesting, metaphysically flightless..
"Proverbial pastime by no means boring..
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THE MAN WHO WAS THURSDAY
Nelson, Wellington
05/03/2019 - 20/03/2019
"An inspired rebuttal of anarchism that also satirises law an order..
"Concentration pays off..
KŌTUKU AND THE MOON CHILD
Wellington, Nelson, Dunedin
15/09/2018 - 31/03/2019
"Empathy and compassion..
"Two puppeteer performers create an entrancing experience..
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BOTTLED
Wellington
16/03/2019 - 18/03/2019
"Prematurely bottled?..
ONLY BONES 1.0
Edinburgh, Scotland, Wellington, Kerikeri
07/08/2016 - 04/04/2019
"Astonishing physicality — no bones about it..
"Jaw-dropping, eye-opening entertainment..
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GARRY STARR PERFORMS EVERYTHING (AUS)
Christchurch, Wellington
11/01/2019 - 15/03/2019
"A highly skilled comedic performer..
"A master of theatre, comedy, acting – and circus!..
FERRIS WHEEL
Wellington
10/02/2017 - 23/03/2019
"Feels like a quite promising rehearsal..
"Essentially delightful energy, alertness, and vulnerability..
