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.
THE MOUNTEBANK
Wellington
04/09/2014 - 12/09/2014
"An audience left mystified – and not in a good way..
"A bit of a fizzer..
A PUBLIC READING OF AN UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY ABOUT THE DEATH OF WALT DISNEY
Wellington
30/08/2014 - 27/09/2014
"Not the happiest place on Earth..
"All a bit of a slog..
DESTINATION BEEHIVE
Wellington
29/08/2014 - 20/09/2014
"Parody breaks up political stodge..
"The hottest ticket in town..
Public Service Announcements: ELECTION SPECIAL
Wellington
26/08/2014 - 06/09/2014
"Full of humour, energy and commitment..
"Constantly smile-inducing..
SHADOWS OF ALGORA
Wellington
12/08/2014 - 16/08/2014
"More to explore; more fun to be had?..
EAMONN MARRA in MAN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
Wellington
05/05/2014 - 16/08/2014
"We leave feeling informed, affirmed and warmly human..
"Gen Y Thinker and Patient Punters..
CONSTELLATIONS
Wellington
26/07/2014 - 23/08/2014
"Glimpses of other universes..
"Variations on a relationship..
AN AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE
Wellington, Auckland, New Plymouth, Christchurch, Nelson
26/07/2014 - 17/10/2017
"“What was the point?”..
"Excellent in concept and execution..
More reviews
BILL MASSEY’S TOURISTS
Wellington, Dunedin, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Gisborne, Christchurch, Palmerston North
24/07/2014 - 12/10/2018
"Powerful and deeply moving..
"Presented with sincerity, integrity and polish..
More reviews
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
Wellington
19/07/2014 - 23/08/2014
"Sterling acting in opera-like drama..
"The corrosive effects of passions denied..
UNCLE MINOTAUR
Wellington
18/07/2014 - 02/08/2014
"Highly imaginative and thought-provoking..
SECOND AFTERLIFE
Wellington
18/07/2014 - 13/06/2015
"A play that will meme something to young people..
"Truly dynamic must-see production..
More reviews
OUR PARENTS’ CHILDREN
Wellington
18/07/2014 - 02/08/2014
"The good bits are excellent..
SHIPS
Wellington
09/07/2014 - 19/07/2014
"A playwright to watch..
THE DRAGON OF DOOM!!
Wellington
08/07/2014 - 19/07/2014
"A good message neatly told in a lively production..
THE ROAD THAT WASN'T THERE
Wellington, Auckland, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Nelson, Wairarapa, Tauranga, Hawea, Invercargill
12/02/2013 - 01/08/2020
"Magical storytelling with one problematic element..
"Combines all the very best parts of theatre and storytelling..
More reviews
GRANDAD’S LUCKY STORM
Wellington
05/07/2014 - 19/07/2014
"Rally round rascally pirate..
"Plenty in it for all age groups..
THE FROG PRINCE
Wellington
05/07/2014 - 19/07/2014
"Rally round prissy prince..
"Intelligently crafted entertainment..
PŪTŌRINO HILL
Wellington, Auckland
01/07/2014 - 19/07/2014
"Period piece a cutting take on realities of modern New Zealand..
"A profound work of considerable theatrical dexterity..
More reviews
KISS THE FISH
Nelson, Napier, Auckland, Gisborne, Christchurch, Whangarei, Wellington, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Hamilton, Kerikeri, Dunedin
10/08/2013 - 26/07/2015
"Resounding applause..
"The joke of human progress revealed..
More reviews
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Wellington
24/06/2014 - 28/06/2014
"Zeal pushes comedy towards farce..
"Ranges from competent to excellent..
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH MUST DIE
Wellington, Dunedin
19/06/2014 - 14/03/2015
"Erratic journey to highly amusing places..
"A batch of laughs..
More reviews
AS YOU LIKE IT
Wellington
17/06/2014 - 26/06/2014
"Muddled approach to the golden world..
"Very likeable indeed..
