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 Pohutukawa Tree
Wellington
20/10/2010 - 30/10/2010
"Decline of Maori language gives play relevance..
"Deep exploration and profound engagement not achieved..
HOTEL
Auckland
14/10/2010 - 21/10/2010
"Well worth a visit..
Cabaret
Wellington
13/10/2010 - 13/11/2010
"Sally’s flight from life supports Life Flight..
"Life is a cabaret even in small scale..
The Birthday Boy
Wellington
09/10/2010 - 06/11/2010
"Friendship and jealousy..
"Entertainingly provocative play needs to be trusted..
Michele A’Court and Jeremy Elwood – LIVE!
Wellington
08/10/2010 - 08/10/2010
"A lively 80-odd minutes of laughter..
Deadly
Wellington
12/03/2010 - 23/10/2010
"Subtle portrayal of descent into sin..
"Richly textured physical theatre..
More reviews
Innocence
Wellington
04/10/2010 - 08/10/2010
"Delusions of innocence..
Wrecks
Wellington
29/09/2010 - 09/10/2010
"The secret power of love..
The Three Little Pigs and A Really Cool Wolf
Wellington
28/09/2010 - 09/10/2010
"Jokes for young and old..
"A light-weight holiday time-filler..
Pirates! improv
Wellington
27/09/2010 - 09/10/2010
"Improv piracy..
"Could have been better..
Thumbelina
Wellington
25/09/2010 - 09/10/2010
"Infectious fun..
"Thumb-sized treat..
More reviews
The Montana World of WearableArt™ Awards Show 2010
Wellington
23/09/2010 - 03/10/2010
"Less than the sum of its multitudinous parts..
Resolve
Wellington
21/09/2010 - 02/10/2010
"Court without words..
"Show removes the language barrier..
More reviews
Othello (abridged)
Wellington
19/09/2010 - 19/09/2010
"Clear purpose in performance brings great value..
Father Familiar
Wellington
15/09/2010 - 02/10/2010
"Moved by Father..
"A voyage around a dad and daughter’s uneasy relationship..
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Cirque Mother Africa
Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton
07/09/2010 - 29/09/2010
"Prepare to be happily freaked out..
"Unstoppable energy and sheer exuberance needs editing and better technical support..
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August: Osage County
Auckland
04/09/2010 - 25/09/2010
"One helluva ride..
"Intoxicating family cocktail..
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My First Time
Wellington
04/09/2010 - 02/10/2010
"Slick show goes on too long, unlike its theme..
"Losing it together..
The Gruffalo
Hamilton, New Plymouth, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington
04/09/2010 - 16/09/2010
"Your kids will have a blast..
"Enthralling..
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DOORS. WALLS. AND ALSO SILENCE.
Wellington
02/09/2010 - 11/09/2010
"Effective alienation..
"Cryptic and claustrophobic..
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Distraction Camp
Wellington, Christchurch
27/11/2009 - 11/09/2010
"Driven to Distraction..
"No escape as reality and illusion unite..
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Shipwrecked! An Entertainment:
Wellington
28/08/2010 - 25/09/2010
"Poor theatre at its best..
"An adventure you want to be true..
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Fergus Aitken: True Stories & other stuff that probably isn’t
Wellington
13/05/2009 - 20/08/2010
"Laid back-style and content with a twist of physicality..
"Right up there with the best..
