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.
TAUTAI
Auckland, Lower Hutt
13/04/2010 - 02/05/2013
"Packs a socio-political wallop simply by telling the truth..
"Inspired Pacific-New Zealand theatre at its best..
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SEASONS
Wellington
11/04/2009 - 12/10/2013
"A wonderland of learning and entertainment..
"Fresh and inspiring delights..
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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..
THE GREAT PIRATICAL RUMBUSTIFICATION
Wellington
20/04/2013 - 04/05/2013
"A play to inspire play..
SQUIDBOY
Nelson, Auckland, Wellington, Edinburgh, Scotland, Tauranga
06/03/2013 - 27/10/2013
"Crafty construction and a rare charisma..
"Squidboy has heart, it's fine-tuned art..
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BANGKOK
Wellington
16/04/2013 - 27/04/2013
"Dramatic contrivances obscure the play’s heart and soul..
ROMEO AND TUSI
Wellington, Packs a socio-political wallop simply by telling the truth, Lower Hutt, Auckland
17/01/2013 - 07/09/2013
"1000% energy, attack and commitment..
"Big hearts and enthusiasm – but is the play dated?..
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COROnation STREET ON STAGE!
Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Nelson
01/04/2013 - 28/04/2013
"Exercise in reduction thrills fans..
"Many memorable moments somewhat marred..
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TRIBES
Wellington
06/04/2013 - 04/05/2013
"Plenty of substance and some strong performance elements..
"Demands attention..
LIFE. AFTER.
Wellington
04/04/2013 - 13/04/2013
"Real spirit of sisterhood..
"Some questions answered, others not..
THE CLOUDS
Wellington
02/04/2013 - 13/04/2013
"A happy birthday thanks to new take on ancient satirical comedy..
"Satire and surprises aplenty..
MIKE AND VIRGINIA
Wellington
23/03/2013 - 20/04/2013
"Entertaining mix of subjective engagement and objective appreciation..
ELIXIR
Wellington
21/03/2013 - 28/03/2013
"Be puzzled, amazed, entertained …..
KAPUT (AUS)
Christchurch, Wellington
18/03/2013 - 20/01/2019
"A classy piece of hullabaloo..
"Acrobatic, funny and good with his audience..
DUCK, DEATH AND THE TULIP
Wellington, Nelson, Tauranga, Edinburgh, Scotland, Christchurch, Auckland, Invercargill, Napier
18/03/2013 - 27/10/2018
"A theatrical gem for all ages..
"Delightful performance built on a serious fact of life..
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The Magic Chicken
Auckland, Wellington, Nelson
09/07/2012 - 16/03/2013
"Meticulously timed brilliance..
"Delicious clowning, miming and puppeteering..
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THE MAN THE SEA SAW
Wellington
11/03/2013 - 23/03/2013
"Clowning by numbers..
THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES
Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland, New Plymouth
09/03/2013 - 06/09/2015
"Uplifting, edifying, impressive..
"Gentle and meandering..
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MY BOYFRIEND GOT A BEATLE HAIRCUT
Wellington
09/03/2013 - 16/03/2013
"Insightful edification..
SKY DANCER
Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland
11/03/2013 - 14/11/2013
"Bold step not fully achieved..
"Fantastical, haunting, astounding..
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NEVERBEFORE: A Colony for Urban Change
Wellington
06/03/2013 - 09/03/2013
"Promising ‘play’ loses its way..
STAND UP FOR CHARLIE
Wellington
05/03/2013 - 09/03/2013
"Stylistic mash-up subverts potential..
DUSKY MAIDENS AND NOBLE SAVAGES
Wellington, Porirua
05/03/2013 - 08/03/2013
"Sharing equal space..
