The life of Krishnan’s Dairy came to an end on Wednesday night, and I am lucky enough to see it alongside the sold out audience. This show has an incredibly rich production history, having started as a 20 minute solo piece during writer/performer Jacob Rajan’s time at Aotearoa's drama school Toi Whakaari to being developed into a full length show (with the help of director Justin Lewis) that has been seen by thousands, received critical acclaim, and won multiple awards. It only feels right that the final performance is held in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, and what a final performance it is. Krishnan’s Dairy is an unforgettable piece of theatre that tells a story that will always need to be told.
Sean Burnett Dugdale-MartinIsaac Martyn’s show He Māori? asks what it means to reclaim Māoritanga from a Pākehā upbringing. Returning to BATS Theatre for Tahi Festival after a sold-out first season, Martyn leads the audience on a journey of total confusion to partial understanding – weaving together elements of stand-up comedy, waiata, and theatrical performance to explore the doubt, celebration, and the complicated nature of identity.
Sean Burnett Dugdale-MartinLittle Dog Barking Theatre Company’s show Party Pigs! is originally adapted for the stage by the late Peter Wilson from the nursery rhyme "This Little Piggy Went To Market." This iteration of the show is given new life by Wilson’s long-time friend Kenny King as performer, Jacqueline Coats as director, original design by Tish Oldham, and puppets by Sharon Johnson. Party Pigs! is a delightful puppetry story set around the excitement and anticipation of a child’s birthday party - piggy style!
Sean Burnett Dugdale-MartinPea-Knuckle Productions show Captain Festus McBoyle - The Prose and Cons is a whanau comedy theatre experience laced with songs, poems, stories, and epic fun. The character Captain Festus McBoyle (Rich Manic), joined by his wife Miss Lucy Drawers and strongman extraordinaire The Great Ebenezer (no credits given), have been infecting audiences for over seven years. The latest voyage was at BATS Theatre as part of the Tahi Festival.
Austin HarrisonGary Henderson’s Skin Tight is a play etched in the fabric of contemporary New Zealand theatre. It’s one of those plays which theatre students study all over the country and is a common feature in 300-level directing courses. Yet, it has been over a decade since it was last performed professionally in Aotearoa, and tonight marks my first opportunity to see it in full. Holy smokes, it was worth the wait!
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Local Honest ReviewsAt Art Murmurs, our aim is to provide honest and constructive art reviews to the Wellington community. Archives
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