Circa Theatre
Sept 9-Oct 7 | Reviewed by Melody Nixon

VIEWERS of Ken Duncum’s latest work, Picture Perfect are welcomed by a smooth, salubrious set. Not a sign of things to come. The wood panels and homely curves of carpet do not serve as a setting for peace and healthy dialogue. Rather, they are juxtaposed against an obsessive and unhappy family that is bitterly searching for wholeness.

Herald Theatre
Sept 19-30 | Reviewed by Imogen Neale

OFTEN WHEN you go to the theatre your experience, your enjoyment and your engagement can de gauged from your reaction when someone asks you (some version of) “how was it?”

The way you meet that question says more, perhaps, than anything else you actually go on to say.

Now, this is a make-believe scenario of course, but pretend you just asked me “how was it?” My reply – which is the most important part of this review I’d suggest – would be “I was completely surprised, completely enthralled and completely entertained.”

By Carl Shuker
Penguin | Reviewed by Charles Bisley

WHERE would we be without sheep? It is fascinating to follow their tracks through our literature; from the lost sheep in Janet Frame’s The Day of the Sheep to the newly shorn sheep of Joanna Paul’s Imogen, their presence is iconic. In Carl Shuker’s second novel The Lazy Boys, started before his prize winning The Method Actors, the iconic sheep is a dead one.

By Dinah Hawken
VUP, NZ$29.95 | Reviewed by Joan Fleming

DINAH HAWKEN’s poetry slows you down. Her work is serious, especially her most recent collection One Shapely Thing. Each word of each poem carries a weight unlightened by the sublime flow of language. In this latest work, along with a collection of new poems, she has made an interesting choice to include two prose journals which explore the events around 9/11.

Bats Theatre
Sept 12-16 | Reviewed by Joan Fleming

THE JAVA Dance Company delivers a buzz with its retro celebration of New Zealand’s best-dressed decades in Snapshots—A Blast from the Past. As part of the Dance Your Socks Off festival, this variety show come politico-feminist statement on the 40s-50s-60s woman pairs the Java dancers with Wellington comedians The Improvisors.

Aotea Centre
Aug 19 | Reviewed by Kim Lesch

Semi-Permanent 06 was, in the best topic sort of sense, a true celebration of hair products used to their full potential. Never have I seen so many people with such sharp haircuts. Never have I heard the phrase “It’s just nice to get away from the computer screen.” in so many conversations. Truly, this was the schindig of the year for those with design orientated tendencies.

Bats Theatre
Sept 6-9 | Reviewed by Shruti Navathe

Beautiful City is a multimedia work using improvised dance, live music and video images. It is the latest offering from Robert Appierdo, and is playing at BATS as part of the Dance Your Socks Off festival.

Studio 77
Sept 6-9 | Reviewed by Ewan Kingston, Melody Nixon

Moment Gone is the second in this year’s season of short plays by undergraduate students at Victoria University. Greatly varied in theme, style and content, the three plays on offer – Time Flies, Hypnagogis and Act Without Words 1 – showcase third year directing talent from the university’s Theatre Programme. All plays creatively engage the audience; the first two physically, the third in a more expressive way. The plays are appropriately ordered, leading us from comedy to personal drama to surreal mime.

Wellington Town Hall
August 30 | Reviewed by Mark Dryburgh

I ENTERED the Town Hall full of expectation for the music to come. The programme listed string quartets by Mozart, Shostakovich and Ravel. The St Lawrence String Quartet is "one of the leading chamber ensembles of its generation". They are youthful players with grammy nominated recordings who have toured the world since winning International competitions in 1992.

Lumière scribe JOE SHEPPARD was thinking only of his poor readers as he went on holiday to Germany during the World Cup, and found that he could slake both of his thirsts – football and culture – at once.

Media Release
Announcing the second season of productions from Victoria University Theatre Programme's third year Directing students: Moment Gone—Three plays now.