https://wellington.gen.nz/the-wellingtonista+performingarts Items tagged with The Wellingtonista and Performing Arts. https://wellingtonista.com/2026/03/01/review-rnzbs-macbeth/ Review contains major spoilers for the RNZB’s Macbeth – the only reason I’m spoiler warning a 400 year old story based loosely off an 1000 year old historical figure is that the RNZB does include some changes in its staging that are more so implied in the text, and there’s also some things you want to […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2026/03/01/review-rnzbs-macbeth/ The Wellingtonista 2026-03-01T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2026/02/21/review-ghost-bros/ By Talia Carlisle Creaking floorboards, howls in the night… just another Wellington storm or is there something spooky hiding in Paramount’s new venue, The Gods? I’m not entirely sure since I can’t find the place… But a ghostly maze of paths and Fringe staff lead me to the auditorium eventually, where I manage my less […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2026/02/21/review-ghost-bros/ The Wellingtonista 2026-02-21T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2025/11/21/review-amelie/ By Talia Carlisle The wait is over. WITCH Music Theatre is back in town, bringing the candyfloss-sweet hearted magic of Amélie, our new friend at The Hannah (Hannah Playhouse) till Nov 29. Have you ever opened your favourite childhood story book or movie and wanted to dive right in? Now is your chance to dive […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2025/11/21/review-amelie/ The Wellingtonista 2025-11-21T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2025/11/06/review-messy/ Reviewed by George Niven Stepping into the Dome stage at Bats on Tuesday night felt almost like intruding. Taking my seat I felt I was brushing past Freya, the character played by writer Tara Weston-Webb, as she sat cross-legged on the floor of her room fastidiously painting brightly coloured icons in a small grid. The […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2025/11/06/review-messy/ The Wellingtonista 2025-11-06T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2025/11/03/review-the-nutcracker/ The Nutcracker’s always been one of ‘the ballets’ I’ve heard about but never seen. Learning about it via reading the The Baby-Sitters Club books as a kid and growing up dancing myself, I’ve always wanted to get the chance to experience it, and finally, thanks to this year’s Royal New Zealand Ballet Kiwi twist on […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2025/11/03/review-the-nutcracker/ The Wellingtonista 2025-11-03T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2025/11/02/review-mr-halloween-bachelor/ I’ve not seen so much body paint in a room in a while, and this time, I’m contributing to it. It’s PopRox’s Mr Halloween Bachelor at the Hannah Playhouse, a triumphant sequel to last year’s Ms Christmas Bachelorette, and the cast (and some of the audience) are fully costumed for a night of flirty frivolity […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2025/11/02/review-mr-halloween-bachelor/ The Wellingtonista 2025-11-02T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2025/05/10/review-grifted-talented/ Reviewed by Bethany Miller Firstly, what a brilliant premise for a comedy game show. Being one of those “gifted” kids, I was taken by the name from the start – the nostalgia of a school programme for unconventional thinkers that I realise now were probably all the oddballs and undiagnosed neurospicy types. Honestly, a lot […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Fri, 09 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2025/05/10/review-grifted-talented/ The Wellingtonista 2025-05-09T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2025/03/15/review-everything-that-happened-at-number-68/ Have you ever considered flatting in Melbourne? Wondered what to look for in a flatmate? What are the red flags, green flags, rainbow flags to look for? Grab a tea and a blanket and cosy up for Nick Robertson’s Fringe Festival adventure, Everything That Happened at Number 68. As Nick shares with us, “Sharehouses come […] fringe theatre events performingarts blogs featured Sat, 15 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2025/03/15/review-everything-that-happened-at-number-68/ The Wellingtonista 2025-03-15T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/10/29/review-a-midsummer-nights-dream-2/ Delve into the sublime, surreal and a little bit sexy this Halloween with the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s rebirth of their iconic ballet A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A co-production with the Queensland Ballet and first performed in 2015, this stunning performance combines the late Liam Scarlett’s choreography with Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream score […] performingarts reviews blogs featured Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/10/29/review-a-midsummer-nights-dream-2/ The Wellingtonista 2024-10-28T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/10/02/bands-popping-off-in-poneke-baldleaf/ I am a massive fan of early shoegaze like Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and really anything with that ethereal, dreamlike quality that transports you from your bedroom or local venue into the clouds. For this reason I was extremely excited to discover the music of Baldleaf, self described “5 chip 1 fish”, and their […] music bands performingarts blogs featured Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/10/02/bands-popping-off-in-poneke-baldleaf/ The Wellingtonista 2024-10-02T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/09/23/bands-popping-off-in-poneke-daisy-grae/ Funky Wellington four piece Daisy Grae have exploded in popularity since charting in the top 20 hot NZ singles with their song Control in 2020, packing out venues such as Valhalla and San Fran with a strong and irresistibly fun live energy. With funky guitar licks akin to the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Jimi […] bands music performingarts blogs featured Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/09/23/bands-popping-off-in-poneke-daisy-grae/ The Wellingtonista 2024-09-23T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/09/17/bands-popping-off-in-poneke-debt-club/ Debt Club is a band whose sound has gone through a major evolution since their origins as high school friends in “The Classic”. Undergoing some changes in their original lineup, their sound has also moved from more traditional classic rock to an eclectic mix of indie, folk rock and alternative country. In an impressive live […] bands music performingarts blogs featured Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/09/17/bands-popping-off-in-poneke-debt-club/ The Wellingtonista 2024-09-16T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/09/14/bands-popping-off-in-poneke-5-bands-popping-off-in-poneke-mall-goth/ “I’m having a nervous breakdown on stage, if it was anywhere else you would think I was crazy. But I’ve somehow managed to trick you into thinking it’s cool.Unless you think we suck, I guess, that’s ok too.” says lead singer of Mall Goth on stage at San Fran, where the band is becoming a […] bands music performingarts blogs featured Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/09/14/bands-popping-off-in-poneke-5-bands-popping-off-in-poneke-mall-goth/ The Wellingtonista 2024-09-14T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/08/21/review-hamlet-one-hour-three-actors-denmark-will-never-be-the-same/ As someone who’s never read or seen a performance of Hamlet, I might seem like an unlikely reviewer for TheJoMarsh’s adaptation at Bats Theatre. However, if I, with my inexperience, can easily follow and enjoy ‘Hamlet – One Hour. Three Actors. Denmark Will Never Be the Same,’ then anyone can. In this high-tech, dystopian take […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Wed, 21 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/08/21/review-hamlet-one-hour-three-actors-denmark-will-never-be-the-same/ The Wellingtonista 2024-08-21T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/08/21/review-lizzie/ By Talia Carlisle Have you ever heard someone scream bloody murder? It’s worth cutting down the door to watch LIZZIE, the rocking hit musical by WITCH Music Theatre, where murder sounds hellishly good…. This punk rock’n’rollercoaster will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. So tighten your corset and quieten […] theatre reviews performingarts blogs featured Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/08/21/review-lizzie/ The Wellingtonista 2024-08-20T00:00:00Z -41.2903115 174.78053749067737 Circa Theatre, Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand https://wellingtonista.com/2024/07/22/review-hine-te-rehia/ It’s a chilly winter day in Pōneke, but the joy from the audience surrounding me and my theatre-going companion could warm the most cynical of souls. We’re here to see Hine Te Rēhia, a gorgeous piece of theatre by Auckland-based Tutatara Collective, and the mood in the room is unbelievably high. Forgive my lack of […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/07/22/review-hine-te-rehia/ The Wellingtonista 2024-07-21T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/06/21/meet-the-creatives-behind-hine-te-rehia/ Presented by Tuatara Collective, HINE-TE-RĒHIA is a multilingual theatre experience coming to BATS Theatre in July. Devised, created and performed by an all-female BIPOC cast, this exciting show promises to leave you gasping in awe of their talent. I had the chance to interview Jason Te Mete (previous deviser/director), Tāwera Ormsby (co-Kaiwhakahaere of Tuatara Collective) […] theatre tuatara performingarts animals blogs featured Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/06/21/meet-the-creatives-behind-hine-te-rehia/ The Wellingtonista 2024-06-21T00:00:00Z -41.293595249999996 174.7846181 BATS Theatre, 1, Kent Terrace, Mount Victoria, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand https://wellingtonista.com/2024/06/08/review-the-transgender-agender/ I’m here on the ground at Wellington’s Fringe Bar to catch a show at the tail end of the 2024 New Zealand International Comedy Festival – The Transgender Agender. This lineup of fabulous trans and/or non-binary comedians made much merriment on the last Saturday of this year’s NZICF, much to the joy of their sold-out […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Sat, 08 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/06/08/review-the-transgender-agender/ The Wellingtonista 2024-06-08T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/06/03/review-femme-natale-the-queen-years/ Reviewed by Talia Carlisle The talented team behind Femme Natale have worked their butts off to bring a magnificent sketch showcase of parents’ inner adult desires to BATS Theatre. After returning from Edinburgh Fringe with a new lease on parenthood, their new iteration of Femme Natale is refreshingly hilarious and important to share in a […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Sun, 02 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/06/03/review-femme-natale-the-queen-years/ The Wellingtonista 2024-06-02T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/05/25/best-of-the-week-may-18-25/ Our weekly wrap-up of what’s good, this time featuring featuring Emma, Joanna and Tom Emma’s bests Best theatre: Farce Onion at BATS – a deeply warming joyous nonsense improvised time Best vibes: Stillwater – I only had a drink there with some mates so I can’t speak to the efficacy of their coffee or food […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Sat, 25 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/05/25/best-of-the-week-may-18-25/ The Wellingtonista 2024-05-25T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/05/02/review-natasha-pierre-the-great-comet-of-1812/ By Talia Carlisle Invite out your friends and put on your best faux fur, because Witch Music Theatre is back in town. Don’t let the cold weather stop you from experiencing the best night out this side of Broadway, with Wellington’s own revolution of musical genius onstage at Hannah Playhouse until Saturday. Following a memorable […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/05/02/review-natasha-pierre-the-great-comet-of-1812/ The Wellingtonista 2024-05-02T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/04/26/review-rent/ Christmas has come early to Gryphon Theatre, with Kauri Theatre Company’s tinselled up production of Rent selling out before opening to those begging for a chance to see creator Jonathan Larson’s iconic Winter-set musical. I am grateful director Lox Dixon has tackled such a huge artistic project to bring Rent back to Wellington, so I […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/04/26/review-rent/ The Wellingtonista 2024-04-26T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2024/02/20/review-goody-goody-glam-pop/ Reviewed by Talia Carlisle Get ready to shake it, to the fabulous rhymes and sick beat of Goody Goody Glam Pop at Circus Bar for one more night! Bethany Miller’s transformation into pop superstar Brooklyn Brooklyn of Brooklyn is Disney magic to behold as she shares her most pop-ular songs – Back to Back, Breathless, […] brooklyn theatre places performingarts blogs featured Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2024/02/20/review-goody-goody-glam-pop/ The Wellingtonista 2024-02-19T00:00:00Z -41.3068649 174.7620585 Brooklyn, Wellington, New Zealand https://wellingtonista.com/2023/11/01/review-the-importance-of-being-earnest/ Circa Theatre’s The Importance of Being Earnest has marked itself down as a fantastic retelling of my favourite non-New Zealand play, and an excellent night out besides. Staged in a thrust stage in Circa One, Jonathan Price’s directorial hand is evident as a play that is often so caught in (delightful) internal conversations is broadened […] theatre reviews performingarts blogs featured Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2023/11/01/review-the-importance-of-being-earnest/ The Wellingtonista 2023-10-31T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2023/10/20/review-ruthless/ Reviewed by Talia Carlisle “Where does talent come from?” This is the key question asked by character Sylvia St. Croix (Bea Lee-Smith) in Kauri Theatre’s talent-full production of Ruthless at Gryphon Theatre on until Saturday. The show, directed by Bonita Edwards is brimming with talent from Bea Lee-Smith’s sequin covered entrance. There’s cheerful dance numbers, […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Fri, 20 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2023/10/20/review-ruthless/ The Wellingtonista 2023-10-20T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2023/10/18/review-a-bit-dramatic/ This show was incredibly popular and got reviewed multiple times during the Improv Fest! Check out a variety of those reviews below. – Reviewed by Thalia Kehoe Rowden In an intense, moving 60-minute show, the cast of four take inspiration from real-life journal entries – unseen until the performance – and invent and explore the […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Tue, 17 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2023/10/18/review-a-bit-dramatic/ The Wellingtonista 2023-10-17T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2023/10/17/review-no-sleep/ Reviewed by Rebecca Stubbing. Friday the 13th was the perfect occasion for NO SLEEP, a joyfully chaotic improv show presented at this year’s New Zealand Improv Festival. The show began at 9:30pm on the wonderful Stage at BATS Theatre, and the slightly sleepy audience were immediately reassured by the performers not to worry, we were […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Tue, 17 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2023/10/17/review-no-sleep/ The Wellingtonista 2023-10-17T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2023/09/24/nelson-designer-takes-out-wows-top-award-for-second-time/ Nelson Designer Gill Saunders was awarded The World of Wearable Art’s Supreme Award this Friday for her design, Earthling (pictured). Taking its inspiration from the rising popularity of adult colouring books and promoting mindfulness in a “world under increasing stress”, Earthling celebrates earth’s natural wonders in a beautifully crafted garment made from EVA foam, acrylic […] art theatre performingarts blogs featured Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2023/09/24/nelson-designer-takes-out-wows-top-award-for-second-time/ The Wellingtonista 2023-09-24T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2023/09/08/review-mamma-mia/ Te Auaha’s Musical Theatre cohort for 2023 is bringing Mamma Mia! to our shores this September, and we are all better for it. A spellbinding, fabulous version of Catherine Johnson/ABBA’s jukebox musical knocked my absolute socks off last night, and I’m seriously considering going back to see it again. You might have seen the 2008 […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Fri, 08 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2023/09/08/review-mamma-mia/ The Wellingtonista 2023-09-08T00:00:00Z https://wellingtonista.com/2023/08/10/review-music-to-die-for/ Noted Wellington improv troupe Best on Tap is back performing this month with a new iteration of their grounded and clever improv in a show using your music suggestions! Music To Die For takes six songs that you (the audience) would play at your funeral and uses them to inspire layered, complex scenes about the […] theatre performingarts blogs featured Thu, 10 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://wellingtonista.com/2023/08/10/review-music-to-die-for/ The Wellingtonista 2023-08-10T00:00:00Z