Written by: Hariata Moriarty and Tamati Moriarty Directed by: Jim Moriarty and Regan Taylor Toi Aro Arts Centre, 20th Jun 2026 Reviewed by: Tanya Piejus The black-box performance space at the new Toi Aro Arts Centre on Market Lane is an appropriately dark and claustrophobic space for staging Waenga, a large part of which is set in the cramped confines of a police station holding cell. Even before we go in, directors Jim Moriarty and Regan Taylor are barking orders at us to fo

Review by John Smythe 22nd Jun 2026 In May 2025 Hurō Productions premiered a two-hander version of Waenga at the late-lamented Te Auaha Tapere Iti, then took it to Dunedin in March this year. Now Te Rākau Hua o Te Wao Tapu in partnership with Hurō Productions are presenting a developed production with nine performers – for a short season at Toi Aro Art Centre, 3 Market Lane, Wellington (replacing Toi Poneke in Abel Smith St) then a tour of 21 venues across multiple venues wit

Unreel, written by Helen Pearse-Otene, dIrected by Jim Moriarty and produced by Te Rākau, Unreel went on a tour to community venues over 30 September - 14 October 2024. There were 14 performances to audiences in seven different venues in the region Te Ūpoko o Te Ika, the lower North Island. Ol' Scratch, an AI gaming machine played by Tamati Moriarty (Image credit: Stephen A'Court | Te Rākau) ABOUT THE PLAY Taking place in the ‘Hīnaki Hotel’ gaming lounge, Unreel reveals the

Subtle set-ups are being laid for powerful pay-offs about how morally complex it can be to have a relationship with the gambling industry.

There is some heartfelt thought put into the pre-care of the audience before we watch the digital recording of The Swing.

Fiona McNamara reviews The Swing for Theatreview. Sexual violence, family violence and suicide will touch all of us in our lifetimes.

Mitchell Manuel for Theatreview: The Swing is the most potent and reflective film I’ve ever watched.

Lynda Chanwai-Earle reviews The Swing for Theatreview.

John Smythe reviews the development season of The Swing for Theatreview.

Adam Goodall reviews Te Rākau Theatre's staggering eight-hour drama that holds New Zealand's colonial past, present and future to the light

Ewen Coleman reviews The Undertow for The Dominion Post.

The Wellingtonista reviews repertory theatre epic, The Undertow.

Adam Goodall takes stock of the triumphs, the anxieties and the must-do-betters of Wellington theatre in 2016.

Ewen Coleman reviews Dog & Bone for The Dominion Post.

John Smythe reviews Dog & Bone for Theatreview.

John Smythe reviews The Ragged presented by Te Rākau at Te Papa Tongarewa for Theatreview.