Review Archive

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[Editor’s note: Dr James Wenley is the editor and founder of TheatreScenes, a platform for reviews and commentary on Aotearoa theatre. https://people.wgtn.ac.nz/james.wenley ]

Welcome to the review archive.

Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.

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THE FACTORY – A Pacific Musical

Edinburgh, Scotland, Auckland

13/08/2011 - 25/08/2014

"Pacific voices asserted..

"A sweet and rhythmic ride with pure Samoan soul..

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KING LEAR

Auckland

01/03/2013 - 30/03/2013

"Richness of text shines in King Lear..

"Game of Thrones..

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SPRING AWAKENING – The Musical

Auckland

23/02/2013 - 09/03/2013

"Lacking in playfulness and danger with some exceptions..

"Rock & Angst..

CELERY STORIES

Auckland

22/02/2013 - 23/02/2013

"Anarchic Fairy Tales in the Dark..

"Magical spectacle and streetwise satire..

DOLLY MIXTURE

Auckland, Wellington

21/02/2013 - 12/10/2013

"Deranged laughs..

"Falls well short of its potential..

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A NIGHT TO DISMEMBER

Auckland

16/02/2013 - 02/03/2013

"Dexterous ‘Big Fish’ Yarn..

"Sweet and surreal comedy..

Swan Song

Auckland

13/02/2013 - 17/02/2013

"Swan Swimming Pool..

"Wet, Hot, Enchanting and Hilarious..

KINGS OF THE GYM

Kerikeri, Auckland, Whangarei, Wanaka, Queenstown

08/02/2013 - 19/04/2013

"Comedy 10 – Boredom Nil; political correctness on detention..

"Shock-Jock sparring in the school gym..

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MEGACHRISTMAS

Auckland

12/12/2012 - 22/12/2012

"The Dotcom Show..

"Dotcom thrills in stage debut..

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AN AWKWARD FAMILY CHRISTMAS

Auckland

20/11/2012 - 01/12/2012

"The title tells you all..

"Jolly good Christmas romp could be more..

MANCUB

Auckland

13/11/2012 - 09/03/2013

"Identity crisis in the teenage jungle..

"Lacks Bite..

13

Auckland

06/11/2012 - 10/11/2012

"Challenge accepted..

"Strong energy between actors in commendable production of ambitious play..

LIKE SMOKE IN HERE and NORMA STRONG

Auckland

06/11/2012 - 10/11/2012

"Absurd choices..

"A nihilist’s wet dream and beef on a fluffy hook..

MANAWA

Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North

15/09/2012 - 14/03/2013

"Vital, intelligent, fluent, funny, gutsy, hard-hitting and impressively realised..

"Striking contrasts..

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THE LIKES OF A LOVELESS DOGWASHER

Auckland

16/10/2012 - 20/10/2012

"Thoroughly enjoyable show enthusiastically received..

"Give this Dogwasher some love..

SHORT+SWEET Theatre, Auckland 2012

Auckland

18/09/2012 - 06/10/2012

"Gala Final..

"2012 Top 30 – Week 3..

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PRIVATE LIVES

Auckland

06/09/2012 - 29/09/2012

"My love-hate relationship with Silo’s Private Lives..

"Slick pastiche reboots Coward for modern audience..

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GODDESS and MAB’S ROOM

Auckland

04/09/2012 - 08/09/2012

"New Voice, Amplified..

"An astute eye for the human condition..

Drowning in Veronica Lake

Hamilton, Wellington, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Auckland, Dunedin

22/02/2011 - 23/02/2016

"This is what magnificent theatre looks like..

"The Fame Monster..

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INVITING CAROLINE

Auckland

24/07/2012 - 28/07/2012

"For anyone who has ever hosted a Party..

"Deftly written bad idea engagingly performed..

GURU OF CHAI

Auckland & Wellington, Wellington, Nelson, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wanaka, Auckland, NYC, USA, Christchurch, Raumati

11/02/2010 - 11/08/2024

"Guru of Chai is ‘pure theatre magic’..

"Resonant themes of love, loss and redemption leave a lasting impact..

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A SHORTCUT TO HAPPINESS

Hamilton, Hastings, Auckland, New Plymouth, Tauranga

07/06/2012 - 04/08/2012

"No Shortcuts here..

"Opening night shortcomings in journey of discovery for seniors..

TRIBES

Auckland

08/06/2012 - 30/06/2012

"Now how to express my experience?..

"Riveting, heart-wrenching theatre..

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