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 Big HOO HAA! PŌNEKE
Wellington
17/02/2023 - 18/02/2023
"The vocal enthusiasm of the large crowd of improv enthusiasts attests to the quality of this format and its execution..
DARK RADIO
Wellington, Dunedin
17/02/2023 - 19/03/2023
"Playful Pastiche on Mass-Paranoia in Spy-Thriller..
"Offers a safe space to experience paranoia and contemplate how it erupts and spreads in our world..
Wonderful
Dunedin, Wellington
10/11/2022 - 19/03/2023
"In the grand tradition of Theatre of the Absurd..
"Subtly absurdist perceptive satire full of things to leave us wondering..
More reviews
THE TEMPEST
Wellington
11/02/2023 - 26/02/2023
"The calm before The Tempest, with humour..
"A clearly expressed, visually interesting and stimulating celebration of Summer Shakespeare’s 40th year..
RARU E MARUAKAĪTĀ
Wellington
01/02/2023 - 04/02/2023
"Transports us to an exotic yet familiar rendition of flawed human experience ..
PINOCCHIO The Pantomime
Wellington
26/11/2022 - 23/12/2022
"New panto dame shines in Pinocchio – a classic fairytale with a contemporary twist..
"Full of fun and rich in resonance, guaranteed to appeal to all age groups..
OWLS DO CRY
Wellington, Hamilton
26/10/2022 - 13/11/2022
"Bold and clever show draws on Frame novel..
"A dynamic display of theatrical craft that amounts to less than the sum of its parts..
More reviews
HALF OF THE SKY
Global, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Auckland
20/10/2022 - 12/09/2023
"Fantastic writing, great direction, superb acting..
"A treat to be gifted such simple yet stunning storytelling..
More reviews
MACBETH
Auckland, Wellington
21/09/2022 - 09/10/2022
"Opening the gates of hell..
"Brooding set perfect for stars..
More reviews
THE WASP
Wellington
01/10/2022 - 29/10/2022
"Truly unmissable – yet unpredictable..
DROP DEAD GORGEOUS – A Drag Murder Miss-tery
Wellington
20/09/2022 - 24/09/2022
"High-heel drama keeps audience and guest detective guessing..
"A game of intrigue with dramatic twists and a satisfying double climax..
Krishnan’s Dairy
Auckland, Wellington, Raumati
26/08/2009 - 21/09/2022
"As fresh, remarkable and astonishing as ever..
"An enduring, honest and mesmerising milestone in New Zealand theatre..
More reviews
THE SHIT KID
Wellington, Dunedin
22/02/2022 - 17/09/2022
"Sharni’s tale recreated with a wonderfully variegated physicality and fluent vocal delivery..
"A cheerful, cheeky show with a distinctly Kiwi flavour..
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TITLE AND DEED
Wellington, Dunedin
14/09/2022 - 24/03/2023
"Exquisitely crafted fragments..
"Steven Ray captivating in TAHI Festival play..
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JOY
Wellington
08/09/2022 - 10/09/2022
"Exquisitely crafted, profoundly insightful and engaging..
THE BOOK ADDICT
Wellington, Palmerston North, Nelson
30/08/2022 - 28/03/2023
"It may not be stranger than fiction, but it’s certainly better!..
"Genuine, intimate and honest with many real, raw moments..
More reviews
SKIN TIGHT
Wellington
27/08/2022 - 24/09/2022
"Muscular piece of poetry a real attention grabber..
"Enthralling to witness, enriching to ponder..
PLEASE ADJUST YOUR G-STRING
Wellington
20/08/2022 - 20/08/2022
"An intriguing, amusing and heartfelt memoir..
THE TROJAN WAR
Wellington
16/08/2022 - 20/08/2022
"Dynamic ensemble brings Homer home..
MAN LESSONS: The Live Show
Wellington, Whangarei
11/08/2022 - 14/10/2022
"A DETAILED, HONEST AND COMPELLING TELLING..
"An exceptional act of affirmation and generosity..
STORY STUDIO LIVE 2022: Aotearoa
New Zealand wide
01/08/2022 - 28/09/2022
"Proves how invaluable the performing arts can be in teaching right across the curriculum..
WEDNESDAY TO COME
Wellington
30/07/2022 - 20/08/2022
"Stellar performances in Kiwi classic..
"A revelation to those who have never seen it and a next-level experience for those who have..
BURROWERS or The Secret Society of Notable Nuisances
Wellington
14/07/2022 - 23/07/2022
"Transports us back to the perceptions of childhood..
