PAST PRODUCTIONS
THAT BLOODY WOMAN
August/September 2022
Directors: Courteney Mayall & Kyle Chuen
Musical Director: Nick Braae
Choreographer: Lauren Mann
"On opening night, it received a rapturous reception, richly deserved given the skill and conviction on display. It not only found its audience, it drove them into a state of frenzy...
If the goal was to entertain and to ram home worthy messages That Bloody Woman is an unadulterated triumph."
RICHARD SWAINSON
"The show has 21 musical numbers and runs for 1 hour 40 with no interval so strap yourselves in. Kate will guide you, it'll be fun and you might even come away with something to think about."
WAIKATO HERALD
ASSASSINS
December 2021
Director: Kyle Chuen
Mucial Director: Nick Braae
"...easily the most challenging and entertaining work seen upon the city's stage since 2018's Urinetown, far-from-coincidentally by the same company. Bold Theatre again lives up to its name, presenting murderers, madmen - and madwomen - as singing and dancing buffoons, commentators upon and embodiments of a rather rotten American dream... Assassins is adult theatre at its best."
RICHARD SWAINSON
"Bold Theatre aims to bring contemporary theatre experiences that showcase local talent and engage audiences with new ideas and emotions. Their latest show, the blackly satirical musical Assassins, does all that and more. This is theatre for grown-ups. There will be moments that will challenge you and some scenes that could be polarising, but the cast, the music and the deft direction carry it through with surprising laughs along the way."
WAIKATO HERALD
THE BOLD EXPERIENCE
September 2020
Director: Kyle Chuen
Musical Director: Nick Braae
Three nights of musical theatre highlights.
(A replacement for our production of Assassins which has been postponed until 2021 because of COVID).
OLD, BOLD AND GOING NOWHERE
February 2020 (as part of HGAF)
Director: Kyle Chuen
Musical Director: Sam Cleaver
"K-M clearly loves to play up to a crowd and does so endearingly well. There are messages and moments of clarity that bring me to thoughtful pause and easy laughter. My favourite: “You can’t put a flower in an arsehole and call it a vase.” That’s the first rule of comedy right there: it’s funny because it is true!
It’s a lovely ride this show, delivered with guts and gusto. A number of the audience are on their feet in ovation as the curtain falls. I give a wee whoop also for Sam Cleaver who is a faultless accompanist and at times a cute comic foil. I commend BOLD Theatre on choosing to produce an original show, at its premiere, and one that focuses a singing, dancing, touching and honest spotlight on the plight of an ageing cornerstone of Hamilton’s media/arts scene. Yay!"
JAN-MAREE
DOGFIGHT
November/December 2019
Director: David Sidwell
Musical Director: Nick Braae
"Dogfight grabbed its viewers on the night... entertained with foot tapping music from the live band... had rivetting and dramatic set pieces... great sound and lighting and a superb actress playing a dowdy tubby waitress heroine played with empathy.
It is both absorbingly entertaining and powerfully revealing."
SAM EDWARDS
"Again Bold Theatre brings Hamilton world class entertainment."
JAN-MAREE FRANCIEVIC
"Hamilton, you need to see this one. There are moments of light relief. It’s not all doom and gloom. You will laugh out loud. You may cry. You may flinch or clench your fists so much that you need to run your palms under cold water when you get home. It is worth it though. Like I said, it is beautiful."
YVONNE MILROY
GOD OF CARNAGE
April 2019
Director: Pip Smith
"Everything is spot on such that it’s hard to pick out a highlight moment, so instead I have to commend some of the more tender moments of humanity that sprinkle the play, delivered with utter earnestness by the cast. Picking up a dropped glasses case, politely talking to a relative on the phone, consoling an upset child. As much as their wilder moments, the cast and script sync up so well at these moments that when the lights drop there’s a curious moment of tranquillity, making us wonder if it’s all over.
God of Carnage is a dark comedy, a satire on civility but the cast make us care, the script makes us consider and ultimately the production revels in humanity far more than it rebukes it.
Full credit to all involved here. This really is a must see for theatre lovers."
ROSS MACLEOD
URINETOWN - THE MUSICAL
September 2018
Director: Scot Hall
Musical Director: Sam Cleaver
Choreographer: Philippa Chesham
"Theatre at its very best: a satirical musical whose tunefulness and black hilarity in no way masked the bitter sweet thematics. A revelation of both venue and talent: who would have thought that the Meteor could accommodate a show of this size or that Hamilton could so brilliantly cast its own. Only quibble: a relatively short run. Urinetown left us wanting more."
RICHARD SWAINSON
