Review Archive
Gail Pittaway has reviewed theatre and music theatre for Theatreview, the Waikato Times and NZ Opera News for more than a decade. She lectures in Drama and Performance, Creative Writing and Storytelling, Myth and Ritual in the School of Media Arts at the Waikato Institute of Technology and is also a regular book reviewer for a Radio New Zealand’s ‘Nine to Noon’ programme.
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD
Hamilton
04/06/2014 - 07/06/2014
"Historic resonances ring loud..
ASIAN INVASION Plays from the Other Side of Aotearoa
Palmerston North, Hamilton, Wellington, New Zealand wide, Auckland
05/05/2014 - 04/07/2014
"Helping to grow more tolerance, kindness, and understanding..
"Borrow or steal a school uniform to gate crash a performance near you..
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THE PIANIST
Nelson, Tauranga, Wellington, Hamilton, Edinburgh, Scotland, Auckland, Kerikeri
21/10/2013 - 23/04/2015
"Exceptionally skilled performance with an extra helping of panache..
"Bravura Recital..
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Andy Clay’s Book of Love
Hamilton, Auckland
19/05/2009 - 21/02/2014
"The mysteries and madness of the human condition..
"A novel comedy..
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MIX & MATCH
Hamilton, Auckland
06/11/2013 - 21/02/2014
"Pure entertainment from experts..
"Surreal sketches amusing enough..
MISS FLETCHER SINGS THE BLUES
Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington
15/05/2012 - 21/02/2014
"An excruciating delight..
"Traditional issues feel fresh and novel..
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BATTLE OF THE BASTARDS
Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland
17/02/2013 - 19/02/2014
"Delights, surprises and delivers the goods..
"Clever and engaging bastards..
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THE TWISTED TALES OF BABA YAGA
Hamilton
10/10/2013 - 11/10/2013
"Mythic mash-up engages with weird energy and dreamlike ambiguity..
PHANTASOS
Hamilton
03/10/2013 - 05/10/2013
"Weird Dreams..
SCOTTISH HIGHLAND CLEARANCES
Hamilton
30/09/2013 - 02/10/2013
"From destruction to a new start with new blood in a new land..
IN ABSENTIA
Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton
20/03/2013 - 26/08/2014
"Deeply affecting..
"Elegant and eloquent..
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THE HISTORY BOYS
Hamilton
30/08/2013 - 07/09/2013
"New land gives new life to old land play..
INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE
Hamilton, Cambridge
16/05/2013 - 08/06/2013
"Enriching..
Boomers Behaving Badly
Wellington, Hamilton
28/05/2010 - 27/02/2013
"Boomer blooms with talent and wit..
"Slightly self-mocking songs and stories..
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HAIRSPRAY – The Broadway Musical
Hamilton
22/02/2013 - 09/03/2013
"Irresistibly upbeat..
THE TEMPEST
Hamilton
18/02/2013 - 24/02/2013
"Spirit captured in steampunk style..
"Clarity amid the murk..
SNOW WHITE AND THE PIRATES
Hamilton
16/02/2013 - 23/02/2013
"Fun family entertainment..
RABBIT HOLE
Hamilton
06/11/2012 - 10/11/2012
"Touching and uplifting..
"Engaging exploration of humanity..
Flights of Absurdia
Hamilton
17/10/2012 - 20/10/2012
"Green tea for the imagination..
I’M FINE THANKS
Hamilton
04/10/2012 - 06/10/2012
"Product entertainingly placed..
DRACULA
Hamilton
29/08/2012 - 08/09/2012
"How madness and evil become the norm..
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Hamilton
16/08/2012 - 25/08/2012
"Low comedy and high drama..
Double Portrait: Finding Frances Hodgkins
Waikanae, Hamilton, Wellington
27/11/2009 - 07/07/2012
"A passion to paint against all odds..
"Handstand on Hodgkins a revelation..
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