The Worm is a wild, funny, heartfelt ride into the underground world of one very brave little invertebrate. Incredible puppets, live music wizardry, and a giant spider that nearly took us out. A perfect whānau night at Te Pou. We rate it a creepy 5 out of 5!

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Morning People’s Dreamer takeover lit up the NZICC at sunrise, with Dick Johnson spinning a smooth, high‑energy set beneath shifting light installations. A colourful mix of families, glittered‑up dancers and early‑morning adventurers filled the dancefloor, drifting between the rave and Dreamer’s glowing artworks. With conga lines, coffee, and zero alcohol, it was a bright, inclusive, joy‑soaked way to start the day. We rate it a solid 4 out of 5!

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What makes House of Ick compelling is the way it uses humour to explore discomfort. The concept of the ick, usually a throwaway dating term, becomes something far more layered. It becomes a framework for examining power, desire and repulsion within both queer and mainstream contexts. We rate it a vulnerable 4 out of 5!

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The Visitors is a thoughtful and deeply felt piece of theatre. It invites reflection rather than shock. It holds space for humour without losing sight of the gravity of its subject. It asks its audience to consider the past with honesty and the present with clarity. It is a story that lingers, not because it shouts, but because it speaks with quiet conviction. We rate it a thought-provoking 4 out of 5!

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In Your Neighbourhood: String Quartets succeeded in its aim. It brought exceptional musicians into a community space and offered an intimate experience that felt both personal and generous. The programme was varied, thoughtful, and performed with real artistry. Even with the extended runtime, the evening left the audience buzzing with appreciation. We rate it a well-executed 4 out of 5!

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Duck Pond is breathtaking in places, wildly creative throughout, and above all, infused with a youthful spirit that makes the whole experience feel fresh. It is a reminder that circus can be both technically brilliant and irresistibly fun. The performers soar, tumble, flirt, and laugh their way through a world that feels familiar and entirely new at the same time. We rate it a strong 4 out of 5!

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A first look at & Juliet at the Civic delivered huge vocals, big pop energy and a cast bursting with charisma. With iconic Max Martin hits and a bold, empowering vibe, the buzz is already massive. This musical is set to take Aotearoa by storm.

Waiora: Te Ūkaipō – The Homeland has sincerity, cultural grounding, and intergenerational resonance giving it a quiet power. It’s a play that speaks most deeply to those who recognise themselves in it. We rate it a polarizing 3 out of 5!

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Werewolf is a sharp, inventive piece of interactive theatre that understands the power of collective imagination. It uses simple tools to create rich tension, and it trusts its audience to help shape the experience. The result is a night that feels alive, unpredictable, and strangely cathartic. It’s horror-comedy with heart, a social experiment wrapped in a thriller, and a reminder of how quickly a room can shift from safety to suspicion. We rate it a compelling 5 out of 5!

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The first act of the night's double-bill performance, Abilitopia is a sensation: the sense that imagination, when given room to roam, can produce forms of beauty and strangeness that don’t need to be justified by narrative logic. The performance celebrates experimentation, embraces imperfection, and treats technology not as a threat but as a collaborator in the creative process. We rated it an imaginative 3 out of 5!

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The final act of the double-bill performance, the emotional impact of White Noise is undeniable. For some, it will be confronting; an unfiltered look at the daily negotiations that many disabled people must navigate, often unseen. For others, it will be a revelation, a powerful articulation of resilience, agency, and the right to define one’s own narrative. We rate it a powerful 5 out of 5!

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For a developing teen (or anyone, really) who feels out of step with the expectations of society or the narratives pushed by modern media, this show could be a lifeline. It offers language, representation, and reassurance that not fitting the mould is not only acceptable but worthy of celebration. We rate it an inclusive 4 out of 5!

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Shoreside Theatre’s Romeo & Juliet offers an enjoyable night out, especially for audiences seeking a lively, accessible take on a familiar classic (...) this is a spirited community production that embraces the strengths of its venue and offers a fun, engaging evening under the summer sky, rain or shine. We rate it a competent 3 out of 5!

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TEEKS’ opening‑night performance may not have been the most adventurous showcase of what the theatre can do, but it set a warm, soulful tone for the venue’s future (...) For now, the theatre stands as a beacon of renewal; a place where heritage meets modernity, and where the city’s cultural heartbeat can grow stronger once again.

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It’s loud, it’s cheeky, and it’s full of heart. And in the hands of a cast led by two exceptional leads, it becomes a celebration of why Shakespeare endures: because beneath the centuries-old language lies something recognisably human. We rate it a rebellious 4 out of 5!

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The Greatest Christmas Show succeeds in delivering a festive experience that appeals across generations. Children revel in the music, dancing, and Santa’s magic, while adults appreciate the artistry and production values. The combination of vocal talent, choreographed dance, aerial spectacle, and audience participation creates a rich tapestry of entertainment. We rate it a whimsical 4 out of 5!

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A Christmas Crisis is a loud, unhinged, EDM‑soaked fever dream where Santa’s marriage collapses, elves revolt, small business dies, and the North Pole melts. Dynamotion turn holiday theatre into a chaotic, half‑naked, foul‑mouthed spectacle that shouldn’t work… but absolutely does. Absurd, messy, and gloriously unwholesome.

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Genuine and Stable is a compact but powerful piece of theatre. Its imperfections are outweighed by its creativity, emotional resonance, and social relevance. What might sound bureaucratic in title is anything but bland in execution. It is a heartfelt exploration of love under pressure and a sharp commentary on the systems that seek to define it. We rate it a wholesome 4 out of 5!

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Shake & Stir Theatre Co’s A Christmas Carol is a competent and well executed production that achieves much with modest means. Through clever design, versatile performances, and a commitment to joy, it brings Dickens’s story to life in a way that is immersive and entertaining. While some aspects of character development could have been more involved, the overall effect is one of warmth and celebration. We rate it a wholesome 4 out of 5!

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H.R. The Musical #2: Things Just Got Personnel is more than a comedy. It is cultural commentary disguised as entertainment. For anyone who has ever rolled their eyes at a corporate retreat, endured a jargon filled email, or survived a restructure, this show offers catharsis. It is absurd, irreverent, and deeply relatable. We rate it a laugh-filled 4 out of 5!

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