See more recent reviews at theatreview.org, the NZ Performing Arts Review & Directory

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ROGER HALL’S JACK AND THE BEANSTALK 2016: Jack offers ‘awesome’ pantomime
Circa One, Wellington
Songs by Paul Jenden and Michael Nicholas Williams 
Director: Susan Wilson 
Musical Direction: Michael Nicholas Williams 
Musical Staging: Leigh Evans
- reviewed by Ewen Coleman

For the past 10 years, a Roger Hall pantomime has been standard fare for Circa Theatre's end-of-year production. 

And while based on a very English form of entertainment, Hall makes them sufficiently topical to resonate with locals young and old.

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VERNON GOD LITTLE: American Idiot
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Adapted by Tanya Ronder 
Directed by Leon Wadham 
presented by The Actors’ Program and Last Tapes Theatre Company
- reviewed by Rachael Longshaw-Park

Vernon God Little is a controversial play for a controversial time. In the wake of Trump’s America raising its ugly head, now is almost too easy a time to dissect American culture for all its faults. Director Leon Wadham has taken that chance with the graduating class of The Actor’s Program ...

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VERNON GOD LITTLE: Exemplary talent
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Adapted by Tanya Ronder 
Directed by Leon Wadham 
presented by The Actors’ Program and Last Tapes Theatre Company
- reviewed by Nik Smythe

Rambunctious is right. It begins ostensibly as a psychological study before quickly shifting to a biting satire on the media and legal system, but then it’s a convoluted murder mystery with a twist at every turn, all framed in a rollicking character-driven allegorical semi-absurdist black comedy of errors.

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VERNON GOD LITTLE: Satirical play has spooky parallels with US election
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Adapted by Tanya Ronder 
Directed by Leon Wadham 
presented by The Actors’ Program and Last Tapes Theatre Company
- reviewed by Paul Simei-Barton

There is an eerie prescience in the decision to stage Vernon God Little just as America succumbs to the belief that the frontman for a reality TV show will lead them to greatness.

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THE BEAUTIFUL ONES: Slice of Nightlife
Lower NZI, Level 1, Aotea Centre, Auckland
Written and directed by Hone Kouka, MNZM 
Music by K*Saba and Tama Waipara 
Choreographed by Tai Paitai
Presented by Tawata Productions in association with Auckland Live
- reviewed by Paul Simei-Barton

Born from writer and director Hone Kouka’s own experiences as part of the 90s dance party scene in Amsterdam, The Beautiful Ones is a multi-disciplinary love letter presented by Maori and Cook Islands theatre company Tawata Productions.

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THE BEAUTIFUL ONES: Offers welcome addition to modern Maori art
Lower NZI, Level 1, Aotea Centre, Auckland
Written and directed by Hone Kouka, MNZM 
Music by K*Saba and Tama Waipara 
Choreographed by Tai Paitai
Presented by Tawata Productions in association with Auckland Live
- reviewed by Janet McAllister

This successful, uber-stylish nightclub musical from Wellington's Tawata Productions feels like a dreamy album-length live music video - and the audience is invited to step into it and dance.

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ROGER HALL’S JACK AND THE BEANSTALK 2016: Wellingtonians get the good laugh they need
Circa One, Wellington
Songs by Paul Jenden and Michael Nicholas Williams 
Director: Susan Wilson 
Musical Direction: Michael Nicholas Williams 
Musical Staging: Leigh Evans
- reviewed by Jo Hodgson

The basic folktale is padded out heavily with back story, through story, love interests and extra fantastical characters with much for the younger audience members to enjoy and stay hooked in with the story they know.

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UNITEC DANCE SHOWCASE 2016: Secure and confident performances and choreographic collaborations
Raye Freedman ARTS CENTRE, Gillies Avenue (Cnr Silver Road) Epsom, Auckland
Guest choreographers Malia Johnston, Claire O’Neil, Nancy Wijohn, Tupua Tigafua, Katie Burton and Paul Young
- reviewed by Jenny Stevenson

There is a pleasing element of circular synergy in this latest showcase of dance works from the graduating students of the Unitec Dance programme curated by Academic Leader, Charene Griggs: all the guest choreographers are either graduates of Unitec itself, or of its precursor the Performing Arts School and Creative Director Michael Parmenter has had an ongoing 25-year association with the school. The result is a continuum, an evolving spectrum of dance practice and the progression of a distinct Unitec style which has become one of the cornerstones of dance performance in Aotearoa. The dancers and choreographers alike are grounded in this body of dance knowledge so that when they participate in choreographic collaboration (as is the case in this programme), it is seamless and the choreographer’s intent can be fully realised.

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THE BEAUTIFUL ONES: Simple, genuine, warm and tension-free
Lower NZI, Level 1, Aotea Centre, Auckland
Written and directed by Hone Kouka, MNZM 
Music by K*Saba and Tama Waipara 
Choreographed by Tai Paitai
Presented by Tawata Productions in association with Auckland Live
- reviewed by Leigh Sykes

What makes the piece so enjoyable are these characters. Each one is drawn simply but genuinely from their first entrance, first in movement, then in speech. Each one is an individual and we can respond to their individual wants and needs.

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TURN OF THE SCREW: Unexpected turns leave you wondering
Oamaru Opera House - Inkbox, Oamaru
By Henry James 
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher 
Directed by Michael Adams 
Presented by NO Productions Theatre Collective
- reviewed by Theresa Koorey

The characters are listed simply as The Man and The Woman. Oryshchuk plays one character throughout, a young governess, whilst Allen plays the remainder of the characters. It is a testament to Allen’s acting that although playing several characters of various ages and genders, you are never confused as to which is before you.

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HUDSON & HALLS LIVE!: Pathos aplenty to enrich the quality comedy
Hannah Playhouse, Wellington
Written by Kip Chapman with Todd Emerson and Sophie Roberts 
Contributors: Chris Parker and Jackie van Beek 
Directed by Kip Chapman 
Presented by Silo Theatre
- reviewed by John Smythe

Celebrity chefs Peter Hudson and David Halls graced our funny old cathode tube television sets, on what was known as ‘the other side’ (TV2) from 1975 till 1986. And we know this “live for the first time!” Christmas show is 1986 because the Rainbow Warrior bombing has happened.

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RUKAHU: Loads to love about the questions raised
BATS Theatre, The Propeller Stage, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
James Nokise 
Presented by Not Even Productions
- reviewed by Patrick Davies

A Samoan, a Māori and a Palagi walk into a theatre… Talk about racial stereotypes! OK then, lets.

James Nokise is well known for his highly on-point comedy, whether it’s his stand-up, political satire series Public Service Announcements or his one man shows. In Rukahu he plays Jon Bon Fasi – Pasifika creator extraordinaire.

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LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST: Excellent account of ridiculous pact regretted
Playhouse, Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, Hamilton
By William Shakespeare 
Directed by Gaye Poole
Presented by Carving in Ice Theatre
- reviewed by Cate Prestidge

It’s great to see Carving in Ice tackling one of Shakespeare’s lesser known comedies for their end of year performance. There are some absolute gems of wordplay in this script, which director Gaye Poole has contextualised nicely for a modern audience, as well as a wealth of fun to be had with the characters.

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PERPLEX: This is a Review
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland LIVE, Auckland
By Marius von Mayenburg 
Directed by Sophie Roberts
Presented by Silo Theatre
- reviewed by Nathan Joe

This is Marius von Mayenburg’s Perplex, a piece of German absurdist theatre that takes the well-worn domestic drama as its subject, but isn’t satisfied with merely poking fun at the genre; it has to squat and take a dump all over it too.

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NZ SCHOOL OF DANCE GRADUATION SEASON (2016): Utter commitment from NZSD dancers
Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Rd, Newtown, Wellington
TBA
- reviewed by Deirdre Tarrant

It is sobering to see so many dancers and to reflect that we have institutions training so much talent and such a limited world of opportunity and employment to go into. This is a global issue but starts at home right here! Best wishes to those who are graduating. Life will be challenging but you are ready.

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See more recent reviews at theatreview.org.nz, the NZ Performing Arts Review & Directory

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