Review Archive
Dr Erin Harrington is a lecturer in English at the University of Canterbury where her teaching centres on cultural studies, visual and popular culture, theatre, and critical sexualities. She is currently developing two new theatre courses – one on the stage and stagecraft, the other on design, direction and dramaturgy – that are being rolled out at UC from 2016, and she has previously contributed to courses on contemporary drama and creative writing.
Erin has been a reviewer for Theatreview since 2010, and brings to this role experience in direction, performance, voice work and criticism, including as a dramaturg, a past member of the New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company, a director for the Court Theatre’s Young Writers Initiative, and, more recently, a judge for the regional competitions of the SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival.
She is the essays editor for the literary magazine takahē ; and, as a freelance writer and reviewer, has written for outlets such as the Christchurch gallery The Physics Room, the Playmarket Annua,l and the Christchurch Art Gallery’s Bulletin magazine. She is a regular panelist and occasional host on the comedy podcast The Nerd Degree, has featured as a speaker and panelist at film and literary festivals and related events, including the Christchurch WORD Festival and, most recently, the Stranger With My Face International Film Festival in Australia, and has appeared on Radio New Zealand National as a theatre reviewer. See: http://www.arts.canterbury.ac.nz/english/people/harrington.shtml http://www.arts.canterbury.ac.nz/english/people/harrington.shtml
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
BUSKERS BURLESQUE
Christchurch
16/01/2014 - 25/01/2014
"Ribald, energetic, adults-only..
SONGS TO MAKE YOU SMILE
Christchurch
16/01/2014 - 25/01/2014
"A thoroughly satisfying magical hour..
THE POWERFUL EVENT
Christchurch
17/12/2013 - 21/12/2013
"Bizarre corporate rituals..
A VERY MERRY SCRIPTLESS: The Gary Starlight Christmas Special
Christchurch
05/12/2013 - 21/12/2013
"Over-the-top musical stylings..
POSTAL
Christchurch
26/10/2013 - 09/11/2013
"Frustrating yet effective entertainment..
"Flawed but funny Postal a pleaser..
More reviews
SPOOKY TIMES AT THE MANCHESTER RANCH
Christchurch
01/11/2013 - 02/11/2013
"Quality comedy and improv in an amiable intimate environment..
KVETCH
Christchurch
16/10/2013 - 26/10/2013
"Comic schadenfreude and self-reflection could bite deeper..
JOSEPH HARPER in THINK: TREE (Omoutautahi)
Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington
03/05/2013 - 12/10/2013
"Witty, literary, metaphysical and thrumming with nervous energy..
"Endearing, quirky, spontaneous, touching..
More reviews
On The Upside-Down of the World
Auckland, Edinburgh, Scotland, Hamilton, Tauranga, NYC, USA, Nelson, Wanaka, Christchurch, Wellington
01/07/2011 - 25/08/2014
"Interrogating multiple selves..
"Sweet, heartfelt and tenderly funny star performance..
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Party with the Aunties
Dunedin, Nelson, , Feilding, Wellington, New Plymouth, Paekākāriki, Christchurch
09/04/2011 - 14/11/2019
"The classic Kiwi shindig, theatricalised..
"A fabulous night that leaves you feeling joyful..
More reviews
Hotel
Invercargill, Christchurch, Wanaka, Tauranga, Taupo, Wellington
09/02/2007 - 30/05/2014
"Secret lives in common..
"Hotel Secrets..
More reviews
LIVE AT SIX
Auckland, Nelson, Tauranga, Christchurch, Wellington, New Plymouth
15/08/2013 - 16/11/2013
"A contemporary blast of intelligent and entertaining satire..
"Not the Six O'Clock News... but close enough..
More reviews
MAN’S BEST FRIEND
Christchurch
27/04/2013 - 04/05/2013
"A thoughtful and satisfying piece of storytelling..
THE WOMEN
Christchurch
23/03/2013 - 27/04/2013
"Sharp insights delivered with energy and sparkle..
"Quality female actors exercise their ample talents..
THE ROAD THAT WASN'T THERE
Wellington, Auckland, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Nelson, Wairarapa, Tauranga, Hawea, Invercargill
12/02/2013 - 01/08/2020
"Magical storytelling with one problematic element..
"Combines all the very best parts of theatre and storytelling..
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BATTLE OF THE BASTARDS
Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland
17/02/2013 - 19/02/2014
"Delights, surprises and delivers the goods..
"Clever and engaging bastards..
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SAMMY J & RANDY
Christchurch
23/01/2013 - 26/01/2013
"Often crass and always funny..
LE GATEAU CHOCOLAT
Christchurch, Auckland
17/01/2013 - 07/06/2014
"Funny and moving with complexity of tone, timbre and melodic choice..
"Empowering, intelligent, silly and very moving..
GAMARJOBAT
Christchurch
17/01/2013 - 22/01/2013
"Elevates parlour tricks to high art..
BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE
Christchurch
09/10/2012 - 13/10/2012
"Immersive, engaging, challenging..
WHY ARE MY PARENTS SO BORING?
Christchurch, Dunedin
04/07/2012 - 27/07/2013
"Delight, horror and empathy..
"Highly recommended original story with depth and heart..
SCARED SCRIPTLESS
Christchurch
10/02/2012 - 03/03/2012
"In fine form amid unruly audience..
Still Lives
Christchurch
24/11/2011 - 27/11/2011
"Engaging, thought provoking and worthy of a much wider audience..
