Have a listen to our second interview from the cast of The Illusionists, The Mentalist Philip Escoffey. You can see Phillip as The Mentalist at The Civic Theatre 22 May – 2...

We are into the second half of NZ Music Month, a designated time of year to become saturated with the goodness of kiwi music – choice aye? Yeah it is. Instead of reviewing the latest of primo local sounds or praising the success of some of our cuzzies out in the global scene, I turn my...

Auckland was ready to rock on Monday night when legends Tenacious D kicked off their New Zealand tour. These guys have loyal and loving fans who couldn’t wait to rock hard in Auckland Town Hall. With a back catalogue of  three albums – Tenacious D (2001), The Pick of...

As we entered and seated ourselves in the Selwyn Theatre, there sat onstage, a figure smoking a cigarette whilst routinely hitting what looked like hard liquor. This lurking character turned out to be protagonist and narrator Tom Wingfield who seamlessly introduced the audience to a play about...

It’s been three weeks of laughing ourselves silly and last night saw the final show of the 21st NZ International Comedy Festival. Last Laughs is a great way to catch some of the many highlights of the festival but it also plays host to the awards! Before the show there where some...

REVIEWED BY VIVIENNE LONG For the first time this renowned act crosses the ditch from Melbourne to Auckland. Showing in the modernist Donner residence in Titirangi, ‘Man About the House’ is an intimate show which comes alive within the wide glass walls of its iconic venue.The two storey...

The rock genius that is Tenacious D return to our shores this month for a tour of Aotearoa. This is Jack Black and Kyle Gass  first tour of New Zealand since their last run supporting Foo Fighters in 2011. There are a lot of excited fans our there and with gigs in Auckland, Wellington and...

I,Anna is a dark thriller from director Barnaby Southcombe and based on Elsa Lewin’s novel. This is the debut feature film of the British TV director. This film noir follows the story of Anna Wells a mysterious women played by Charlotte Rampling. Gabriel Byrne plays D.C.I. Bernie Reid...

REVIEWED BY LIAM GOLDS Ian D Montfort stands onstage as the lights come up and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” blasts from the Q Loft speakers. Dressed like a new age primary school teacher, Montfort comes from the mind of British comedian Tom Binns. He recreates the sort of psychic...

REVIEWED INGRID GRENAR Pax starts the show with a fun film clip of him getting the ‘voice of the people’ in Auckland. He asks them what their impressions are of the Middle East. resulting in some classic uncomfortable silences or random answers. This bit of citizen journalism...

REVIEWED BY INGRID GRENAR Tom Furniss and The Diary of Gordon Leaf-Cooper explores the dark and sad life of a teenager in 1984. Fingers crossed for a happy ending for this mystery 16 year old? As if it was his density, Tom is handed this diary by an old lady in an Opp Shop. This surreal tale...

REVIEWED BY INGRID GRENAR Jimeoin is a popular visitor to our comedy shores, which means that you may think he is comfortable and mainstream. In fact he is constantly surprising. He does fun, silly and original comedy as well as the surreal and edgy. Before the show my friend told me ‘he...

REVIEWED BY BEN BLACKMAN Melbourne based comedian and part-time lawyer Clayton Carrick-Leslie has just moved in with his girlfriend. This has made him somewhat hungry but has also provided him a recipe for relationship material. During his performance, he delivered a lengthy but insightful...

REVIEWED BY INGRID GRENAR Jarred Christmas has got some moves!! With the most energetic entrance of the festival I was pretty sure we were in for a good night. This returning Kiwi is now based in the UK so it’s a treat to see him in Auckland. He began with some fun audience interactions,...

REVIEWED BY INGRID GRENAR Lots of male comedians spend their time on stage talking about their failures with women, and trying to get them in to bed. Eli talks about the exact opposite, how to avoid sleeping with a member of the opposite sex. Announcing at the start of the show that he is...