Tokushima City, Japan
December 18 | Reviewed by Renee Liang

THIS IS ONE musical which needs no introduction to those of us from a certain age group. Even if you haven’t been lucky enough to see a live production, it’s a fair bet that anyone will be able to hum snatches of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score, or at the very least knows the storyline.

Gryphon Theatre
December 9-12 | Reviewed by Kate Blackhurst

THE FIVE playlets that comprise Summer Shorts all rely heavily on the power of dialogue and the ‘reveal’ (the aha moment). It is hard to pull this off in a short space of time, as there are limited foundations to be laid, and some of the plays work better than others. Due to some slick scene changes however, the pieces fit together well and the momentum is maintained.

Downstage Theatre
December 8-18 | Reviewed by Kate Blackhurst

JENNIFER Ward-Lealand is practically New Zealand singing royalty. From her stunning entrance in a sparkling black dress with plunging neckline, she rules the stage. She remarks that ‘At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet’ and she goes on to sing a selection of songs that tell stories. The songwriters include George Harrison, Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, Stephen Sondheim, John Lennon, Jacques Brel, and Burt Bacharach. She picks sultry numbers that suit her alto voice, which reverberates around the auditorium almost without her moving her lips.

BATS Theatre
STAB Season | Reviewed by Helen Sims

Heat is a play rooted in friction, passion and conflict, set in a cold and eerie climate. Yet it is also beautiful and lyrical, as well as intensely physical. This play of contrasts gripped me for its entire length.