Review Archive
Nik Smythe has a Diploma in Applied Drama from Northland Polytechnic, Whangarei (1992). He wrote and performed theatre, music and poetry during the nineties; also worked for the Moving Image Centre as an administrator and presenter.
Father of one teenager, and son of John Smythe’s twin brother, Nik has written for Theatreview since 2006.
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
THE ROVER
Auckland
10/12/2015 - 19/12/2015
"Multi-Stylistic Mayhem..
KooKoo the Birdgirl
Auckland
11/11/2015 - 13/11/2015
"Endearingly weird..
"Intriguing, moving, playful, honest, challenging..
NORTHERN GLOW
Auckland
10/11/2015 - 14/11/2015
"Bryony Skillington..
"Outstanding immersive theatre..
THE LAST MAN ON EARTH (is trapped in a supermarket)
Auckland
03/11/2015 - 07/11/2015
"Countdown to the Apocalypse..
"Relentless panic alleviated by breath-taking vocals..
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LE NOIR – THE DARK SIDE OF CIRQUE
Auckland, Christchurch
28/10/2015 - 17/11/2015
"Making the impossible seem easy..
"A fantastical feast for circus lovers..
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THE THINGS WE DO
Wellington, Hamilton, Auckland, Palmerston North, Waiheke Island
24/02/2015 - 01/11/2015
"Capable and promising..
"Fluid segues from common to surreal..
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MY OWN DARLING
Auckland, Global
16/10/2015 - 31/05/2020
"Extracts humour from adversity with the power of poetry..
"Poetic lens gives fresh perspective on Auckland City’s secret lives..
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OFFICER 27
Auckland
22/09/2015 - 26/09/2015
"Play affirms life amid tragedy..
"Modestly intense, quietly powerful..
SHORT+SWEET THEATRE 2015 Gala Final
Auckland
20/09/2015 - 20/09/2015
"Another good year – and the winners are …..
SHORT+SWEET THEATRE NZ 2015 THEATRE WEEK 2
Auckland
15/09/2015 - 19/09/2015
"Five or six contenders..
ERNEST RUTHERFORD: EVERYONE CAN SCIENCE!
Auckland, Taranaki, Nelson, Christchurch
28/05/2013 - 19/10/2017
"Delightful, clever, wonderfully interactive and thought-provoking..
"Beautifully structured, utterly engaging, packed with gags..
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SISTER ANZAC
Auckland, Hamilton
23/07/2014 - 28/08/2016
"Silence a testament to the power of the play..
"Unmistakeable commitment..
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SUCCESS
Wellington, Auckland
04/06/2015 - 07/08/2015
"Study in failure proves success..
"High Achiever..
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RANGI AND MAU’S AMAZING RACE
Auckland
08/07/2015 - 15/07/2015
"Funny, fast-paced, educational entertainment..
ORANGUTAN
Auckland
30/06/2015 - 03/07/2015
"Not yet a Great Ape..
"Captivating wordless character study deserves to be ‘heard’ worldwide..
RUPERT
Auckland
27/06/2015 - 19/07/2015
"The razzle dazzle of media hegemony..
"Rupert Bare..
TREATS
Auckland
04/06/2015 - 13/06/2015
"Substantive..
"Something to think about and discuss..
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DUST PILGRIM – A Tale of Freedom
Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wellington, Invercargill
04/06/2015 - 03/05/2018
"An audio-visual treat that respects the intelligence of its audience..
"Dusty yes, but fresh and original..
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THE BEST POSSIBLE ALBUM PARTY THAT ANYBODY HAS EVER BEEN TO
Auckland
26/05/2015 - 30/05/2015
"For Realness..
"More than just hilarious stereotype humour and virtuoso musical parody..
LIVE LIVE CINEMA: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Auckland, New Plymouth, Christchurch, Tauranga, Dunedin, Havelock North, Nelson, Global
14/05/2015 - 27/03/2022
"Wholeheartedly worth watching..
"Most of all it is really, really clever..
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DARK SIDE OF THE AFTERNOON
Auckland
12/05/2015 - 16/05/2015
"Good Schadenfreude to You..
"A handful of LOLs..
JOEL DOMMETT - Finding Emo
Auckland
07/05/2015 - 09/05/2015
"Quietly frenzied, pointedly tangential, confessional musings..
LAURA & TOM - Snap, Crackle, Pop
Auckland
06/05/2015 - 09/05/2015
"Frequently hilarious, sometimes shocking and purposely painfully awkward..