The pairing of Hadley Wilson’s No Hetero and Rachel Mercer’s Exes and Nos as a double bill makes a lot of sense. Both shows are highly confessional, and interested in thoroughly examining the performers' individual romantic history over an extended period of time. Ironically, they’re both created by ex-Canadians who, unknown to each other, used to perform comedy in the same small club above a racquetball court in the mid-2010s. I saw the two shows together at a preview showing in the lead up to their full seasons in NZ Fringe Festival later this month. I’m going to talk about them both individually, and as a double bill - since this is an experience they’re offering during Fringe as well.
Corey SpenceLads on the Island, written by Sam Brooks and directed by Nī Dekkers-Reihana, “very loosely inspired” by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, has sailed its way into Circa Theatre this past weekend. As we walk into Circa Two, an island with an array of objects (including a bong and a traffic cone) and a mini-fridge sit centre stage surrounded by a backdrop of thin, silvery-grey curtains. My immediate thought is, when you slap a Wellington student flat on an island in the middle of presumably nowhere, and the effect has us curious: what will transpire there? Who will visit the island? It’s not long before the audience settles and fog fills the theatre; Prospero’s storm has begun.
Sean Burnett Dugdale-MartinThe Dome stage at BATS Theatre is set in traverse (audience on either side of the space with the performance space as a long strip in the middle) for the MFA show of Kaisa Fa’atui (writer, director and sound designer). In the strip of performance space there is a long, shallow pitch of sand. This is the evocative divide which the play makes the most of in this development season of On God.
Art Murmurs TeamIt's no secret that 2023 brought its fair share of storms for Te Whanganui-a-Tara theatre to weather. Our community has been hit by all manner of adversity and in-spite of it, we've continued to create all manner of bold, innovative, idiosyncratic, art. Fuck yeah! Let's celebrate that!
With only a few days left till 2024, it's a great time to look back and reflect on everything from the smallest Tapere Iti show, to the longest Circa Season. We've asked the members of our team to shout out some of their favourites from this year. Here's what they came up with... Jack McGeeIdiom is a joyous, good natured, thrill of an evening and it’s still on for another couple of weeks. So much of the show’s appeal comes from its endless stream of creativity and surprises. I recommend seeing it rather than reading this. It’s a variety show! It’s a lot more impressive to see someone climb a rope than read me muse over it. In order to say anything worthwhile, I’m going to spoil some of the magic. You’ve been warned.
Jack McGeeAlongside me in the audience at the opening night of the New Zealand School of Dance’s (NZSD) Graduating Showcase, is the Governor General, ambassadors from two different European embassies, and a good few dozen confused looking husbands and boyfriends. Outside the theatre, there’s a French patisserie serving pastries and the flashest cheese and crackers I’ve ever seen. During the beautiful mihi delivered by Tanemahuta Gray, it occurs to me that I’m a little underdressed in my bright yellow work raincoat.
Isaac AndrewsNever have I witnessed such a powerfully interconnected queer ensemble in Potentially Playing’s production of Naturally Curious. There’s no doubt they have the audience laughing, pondering and then squealing with delight, every step of the way. So, is there such a thing as a right or wrong relationship? Are we to be ashamed of our intimate thoughts? Or are we able to discover the truths within simply existing as Naturally Curious beings? Emilie HopeSurprise! Yes, I bet you thought there weren’t going to be anymore of these reviews but after a medium length hiatus, I’m back. This time I’ll be reviewing episodes four, five, and six, the final episode, in their podcast format on Spotify as I have not been able to attend the final three live shows. From listening, the energy the performers give (shout out to Anna Barker) seriously comes through in the audio and makes me miss the live show feeling. Night of the Silver Moon is, for the most part, directed by Ben Kelly and written by John Mambo, Esteban Jaramillo, Finlay Langelaan, and Tom Aitcheson, a serialised, live performance and recording of a goofy spoofy radio drama.
Emilie HopeOne should always trust a Jonathan Price show. You will have a wonderful time. Guaranteed. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (a.k.a. the 19th century Shakespeare but funnier), under the brilliant directorship of Price has never made me want high tea more. This fantastic, lively, entertaining show for all ages is an absolute delight, bringing Wilde’s excellent text to life with Price’s physical direction and a talented cast and crew.
Brie KeatleyIt’s school holidays once again, you know what that means? Another high quality children’s show at Circa Theatre, of course! I am delighted to see Mr Fungus Dreams (directed by Amalia Calder and Thom Monckton) on a blustery Saturday morning. The packed audience of Circa Two is mainly made up of those of the kindy-going age, none the less we are all entranced and entertained by the impressive performance of Fergus Aitken as the titular Mr Fungus.
Sean Burnett Dugdale-MartinĀtete | Resistance | ചെറുത്തുനില്പ് is a solo dance theatre piece choreographed by Swaroopa Prameela Unni exploring a woman’s right to bodily autonomy within the Indian community of New Zealand. The piece is choreographed in Mohiniyattam, a South Indian Dance form, known for its portrayal of ideal womanhood. Ātete uses spoken words, movements and digital media to narrate the stories of women who resisted against the system. ചെറുത്തുനില്പ് (cheruthunilpu) means resistance in Malayalam, the language spoken mainly in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Jack McGeeThe instinct when trying to write about We’ve Got So Much To Talk About is to list things. List superlatives: exceptional, transcendent, theatre of the highest calibre. List things that the show is about: motherhood, identity, purpose, submission, autonomy. List things that it made me feel: thrilled, sad, moved, inspired, appreciative, reflective. But the problem is that listing things only scratches the surface. It gives you a little insight into the scale of the piece, its content, and overall effect, but not how it achieves any of this. And the how here is the extraordinary thing. The execution of We’ve Got So Much To Talk About is where the magic trick lies and like any good magic trick, it’s a mission to reverse engineer.
Jack McGeeAndrea Kelland is a pro. She’s performed in every possible medium, in every possible context, in most possible places, over the past forty years. She’s travelled the world and done children's theatre, mime, street theatre, Shakespeare, feminist theatre, queer theatre, television, films, and commercials. She has lived a capital L Life, and the promise of the show is that we’ll get a glimpse into that. We’ll get to hear some of the best stories, put together a picture of who Kelland is, and discover what a life spent as an actor looks like.
Jack McGeeHATCH is a fantastic initiative. Originating in 2019, along with the rest of the TAHI festival, this polylogue-based-showcase of emerging talent has a spectacular track record. With artists from previous years including Viki Moananu (ADAM Award for Best Pasifika Play 2023), Teherenui Koteka (BATS Pasifika Producer Residency), and Jeremy Hunt (Ted Talks Crimes), it’s clear that producer Sally Richards and her facilitators (previously Olivia Flanagan, now Emma Katene) have a great eye for new voices. Pulling three students from Te Auaha, two from Toi Whakaari, and one from Te Herenga Waka, HATCH feels like a city wide who's who of new talent.
Austin HarrisonThe ABBA-inspired jukebox musical Mamma Mia! needs no introduction, but provides a worthy and joyous platform to introduce Whitireia’s Musical Theatre students to Wellington audiences. This is the programme’s full-scale production for the year, and with the support of program staff and industry pros, these emerging performers knock it out of the freaking park and gift me a contender for the most fun I’ve had at a show this year!
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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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