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.
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..
Ladies For Hire
Palmerston North
07/11/2009 - 19/12/2009
"The ghost of Christmas present..
"Hits the spot..
Who Wants to be 100? Anyone who’s 99
Palmerston North
18/05/2009 - 30/05/2009
"Treads a tricky course..
Destination: Death
Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North
17/04/2008 - 04/03/2009
"Perfectly entertained and moved..
"A memorable slice of rural life..
More reviews
Romeo & Juliet
Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington
18/07/2008 - 24/08/2008
"Thought-provoking and emotional experience..
"All elements in harmony..
More reviews
A Very Splendid Dinner Party
Palmerston North
17/07/2008 - 19/07/2008
"Inventive immersion experience offers novel and surreal entertainment..
The Gods of Warm Beer
Palmerston North
14/06/2008 - 26/07/2008
"Ripsnorting tragi-satiric epic..
"Warm beer hits just the right spot..
Stand Up Love
Palmerston North, Wellington
27/04/2007 - 09/06/2007
"Formidable double act fascinates..
"Pain in the proverbial..
More reviews
The Farm
Palmerston North
02/06/2007 - 30/06/2007
"Funny Farm is rollicking rural yarn..
"Rapturous welcome home..
In Shakespeare Heaven 2007
Palmerston North
23/04/2007 - 24/04/2007
"Mischievous mutilation of the Bard..
Porcelain Grin
Wellington
26/02/2007 - 01/03/2007
"Quirky impressionistic performance..
"Visual surprises and delight..
The Glass Menagerie
Palmerston North
24/04/2007 - 05/05/2007
"Rewarding reinvention..
"Breath-taking up-take of a challenge..
The One After the Last Goon Show
Palmerston North
19/04/2007 - 21/04/2007
"“It does in a daft fashion work”..
"Hawes' Goon Show 'a marvellous thing'..
The Tutor
Auckland, Palmerston North
15/02/2007 - 14/04/2007
"The characters get under the skin of usual stereotypical perceptions..
"Provocative satire perceptively pillories preoccupations..
More reviews
Weighing In
Palmerston North
02/11/2006 - 16/11/2006
"The weigh of all flesh..
"Muted weight loss comedy..
After Service
Palmerston North, Wellington
12/02/2006 - 23/09/2006
"Black comedy launches new theatre venue..
"Classy Kiwi theatre..
More reviews
The Underarm
Palmerston North, Wellington
14/09/2006 - 25/11/2006
"Actors keep their eyes on the ball..
"Brothers at the crease..
More reviews
