Review Archive
Involved in theatre from adolescence and at uni, and briefly professional, Richard was diverted into radio.
As a presenter he previewed and reviewed performances from the wider Manawatū region on local stations, and for a time contributed on RNZ National.
Richard has also reviewed professionally over the past three decades for Manawatū newspapers the Guardian, Tribune and (until kiboshed last year by Covid) Manawatū Standard while keeping his hand in as an occasional community actor.
During the subsequent years he has been prominent as an awards assessor/adjudicator attending around 30 regional productions a year, recognising, rewarding and championing the achievements of local community performers and performance groups.
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
THE WAR ARTIST
Palmerston North
14/03/2014 - 12/04/2014
"Compelling fitting tribute..
"Surprising depths..
AS YOU LIKE IT
Palmerston North
06/03/2014 - 15/03/2014
"Awash in environmental ambience..
THEY SAW A THYLACINE
Wellington, Palmerston North, Auckland
03/02/2014 - 22/02/2014
"They also came and conquered..
"Powerful performance of a moving story..
More reviews
DARK DEEDS
Palmerston North
30/01/2014 - 01/02/2014
"Entertaining, offbeat intrigue..
"Unreal alternatives..
STOCKCARS: The Musical
Palmerston North
02/11/2013 - 14/12/2013
"A bit rough, rude, crude and raw but with plenty of roar..
"Corruption in sport and local body politics..
PENINSULA
Palmerston North
20/07/2013 - 24/08/2013
"Fluent, funny, intelligent, evocative, multi-layered story-telling..
"A smooth assurance and a richness of interactions..
DANCING TILL WE DROP
Wellington, Palmerston North
17/04/2013 - 27/04/2013
"Substantial if ephemeral fare clearly explored and expressed..
"Absorbing, thought-provoking, often compelling, always adventurous..
MANAWA
Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North
15/09/2012 - 14/03/2013
"Vital, intelligent, fluent, funny, gutsy, hard-hitting and impressively realised..
"Striking contrasts..
More reviews
The Tempest
Palmerston North
01/03/2013 - 09/03/2013
"Attractive and captivating..
"Playful use of Steampunk..
He Reo Aroha
Palmerston North, Wellington, Otaki, Christchurch, Auckland, Feilding
09/03/2010 - 14/03/2013
"Dexterity, intelligence, warmth, passion, humour, and a fine musicality..
"A magical piece of theatre..
More reviews
THE MOTOR CAMP
Palmerston North
03/11/2012 - 15/12/2012
"More to these archetypical characters than first meets the eye..
"Clever psychology within high entertainment..
WELL HUNG
Palmerston North
08/09/2012 - 13/10/2012
"Still edible if a little gamey..
"Retro cop caper a joyfully reconstructed jaunt..
AT THE WAKE
Palmerston North
28/07/2012 - 25/08/2012
"A fine new play..
"Insightful, compelling and humorous piece about life, love and loss..
Party with the Aunties
Dunedin, Nelson, , Feilding, Wellington, New Plymouth, Paekākāriki, Christchurch
09/04/2011 - 14/11/2019
"The classic Kiwi shindig, theatricalised..
"A fabulous night that leaves you feeling joyful..
More reviews
ENLIGHTENMENT
Palmerston North
09/06/2012 - 14/07/2012
"Damned good, skilful storytelling..
"Fluctuating emotional dynamics in high quality production of a seriously good play..
YOU CAN ALWAYS HAND THEM BACK
Palmerston North
14/04/2012 - 26/05/2012
"Left wishing for something a little more profound..
"Good value..
MICHAEL JAMES MANAIA
Wellington, Palmerston North, Auckland, Dunedin
25/02/2012 - 16/02/2013
"Play’s power unchanged..
"Takes no prisoners..
More reviews
Much Ado About Nothing
Palmerston North
09/03/2012 - 17/03/2012
"Wonderfully fluent 'Ado' makes a real splash..
Hits of 83
Palmerston North
05/11/2011 - 17/12/2011
"Clever concept needs more work..
"Ingenious production of thin plotlines..
The River
Palmerston North
02/11/2011 - 12/11/2011
"Epic quality to elaborate, multi-faceted river saga..
The Thirty Nine Steps
Palmerston North
10/09/2011 - 08/10/2011
"Clever Dicks in melodramatic derring-do..
"Thriller comedy balance enjoyably achieved..
Le Sud
Palmerston North
16/07/2011 - 27/08/2011
"‘Sud’ missile on target as an irrepressible comic fantasy..
"Often very funny romp nearly always entertaining..
Flipside
Palmerston North
28/05/2011 - 02/07/2011
"A wealth of understanding of human nature..
"Raw and rugged, dramatic, compassionate and uplifting love song of the sea..
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