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.
VANCE FONTAINE in COMMAND PERFORMANCE
Auckland, Wellington, New Plymouth
08/04/2012 - 23/08/2013
"Amazing talents..
"A commanding performance..
More reviews
IAN MCKELLEN ON STAGE – with Shakespeare, Tolkien and you!
New Zealand wide
05/05/2012 - 24/06/2012
"A genial, waggish giant of the theatre..
"A rare opportunity, not to be missed..
JOSEPH HARPER in MARCHING TOWARD DEATH WITH WOBBLY LEGS LIKE A VELOCIRAPTOR
Wellington, Auckland
03/05/2012 - 11/05/2012
"A generous giving of self..
CONSTANTINOPLE
Auckland, Nelson, Wellington, Tauranga
02/03/2011 - 26/10/2013
"Serious silliness delivered with a goofy humility..
"Crazy, zany and off the wall slapstick..
More reviews
TJ MCDONALD in MY LIFE HAS BEEN A SERIES OF POORLY MADE DECISIONS
Wellington, Auckland
01/05/2012 - 19/05/2012
"Relaxed, casual, self-effacing yet quietly confident..
JAN MAREE: HAIRY TODAY, GONE TOMORROW!
Auckland, Wellington
01/05/2012 - 19/05/2012
"'Lost and Found' odyssey of self-discovery amuses and moves..
BOMBS AWAY! A MUSICAL
Auckland, Wellington
01/05/2012 - 19/05/2012
"Who you [not] gonna call?..
"Goodies-grade silly..
More reviews
IN SPITE OF HIMSELF
New Zealand wide, Christchurch
30/04/2012 - 30/06/2012
"Innovative and challenging work plants seeds of further enquiry..
"Much to enjoy and ponder..
More reviews
A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer: Writings To Stop Violence Against Women and Girls
Wellington
28/04/2012 - 30/04/2012
"A curiously uplifting 'entertainment'..
THAT'S SO GAY
Wellington
26/04/2012 - 28/04/2012
"Prejudice explored..
"Some good discussion-starters but could be more entertaining..
LUCRECE: An Adaptation of Shakespeare’s the Rape of Lucrece
Wellington
19/04/2012 - 11/05/2012
"Sensitive and challenging subject explored with great integrity..
HAIR – the rock musical
Wellington
18/04/2012 - 21/04/2012
"A fabulous and timely flashback..
OTHER PEOPLE’S WARS
Wellington
17/04/2012 - 28/04/2012
"Play questions our involvement in war..
"If you want shock and awe, don't miss it..
A SHORTCUT TO HAPPINESS
Wellington
14/04/2012 - 26/05/2012
"Latest offering hits spot in search for happiness..
"Good chemistry..
More reviews
LIVE AT SIX
Wellington
13/04/2012 - 28/04/2012
"Dream media roles..
"YouTube, TV news make fine theatre..
More reviews
NUCKING FUTS
Wellington
12/04/2012 - 21/04/2012
"Expected more..
"Comedy a quirky and unusual piece..
More reviews
THE SEED
Melbourne, Australia
22/02/2012 - 04/04/2012
"A young woman's perspective on generations of male violence..
These are the Skeletons of Us
Auckland, Wellington
09/08/2011 - 05/04/2012
"Skeleton without structure..
"Refreshing change with a love story told backwards..
More reviews
LOSER
Wellington
20/03/2012 - 24/03/2012
"Low Comedy..
"Couldn't see the play for the acting..
New Zealand International Arts Festival 2012
Wellington
24/02/2012 - 18/03/2012
"Theatre Wrap Up: Homegrown fare right up there in the highlights..
RAOUL
Wellington
14/03/2012 - 18/03/2012
"Silent master at work, but the show went on too long..
"Exotic yet somehow familiar: fantastic fun..
LEO: The Anti-Gravity Show
Wellington, Auckland, New Plymouth, Christchurch, Wairarapa, Nelson, Tauranga
13/03/2012 - 20/01/2019
"SEE IT!..
"A show of supreme intelligence..
More reviews
THE MĀORI TROILUS AND CRESSIDA - TOROIHI RĀUA KO KĀHIRA
Auckland, Wellington, London
09/03/2012 - 24/04/2012
"Remarkable, aggressive, thoughtful..
"Language no barrier to universality and tragicomic richness..
More reviews
