A NIGHT ON THE TOWN:
THEN THERE WERE FOUR: Pop-up Globe is well into its third season, with four of its five shows now up and running. This week, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Julius Caesar and The Merchant of Venice have been joined by Shakespeare’s bloodiest tragedy,
Macbeth. It brings together a cast of male and female actors and musicians, including two of NZ’s most experienced stage and screen actors, Stephen Lovatt as the Scottish general, and Amanda Billing (pictured) as Lady Macbeth, considered the bard’s most frightening female character. The action is no longer contained inside the replica Jacobian theatre, either. There’s now stunning projections, tailored to each show, on its exterior walls. Macbeth, Pop-up Globe, open now.
SIBLINGS SING: Indie wunderkinds Kitty, Daisy and Lewis return to New Zealand to celebrate the release of their new album, Superscope. The three siblings, each talented multiinstrumentalists, are known for their unique and modern takes on country, blues, rock ’n' roll and soul music, and have a substantial local fan base with frequent visits during the past eight years. Their New Zealand tour finishes tonight. Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, Powerstation, tonight.
WHAT LIES BENEATH: It’s been in the planning for more than two years, meaning Auckland Theatre Company’s theatrical adaptation of the award-winning novel and hit 1980s TV series Under the Mountain should be well worth a look. Director Sara Brodie, cast and design team have created a world of mystery, magic and master storytelling where, lurking in the depths of Auckland’s volcanoes, the Wilberforces — shapeshifting evil aliens — plot our planet’s destruction. Unlikely heroes, 12-year-old twins Rachel and Theo, must learn to harness their extraordinary new powers to stop them and save us all! Recommended for those eight years and older. Under the Mountain, ASB Waterfront Theatre, until February 21.
LASTING LEGACY: One of the mainstays of the Auckland Pride Festival’s theatre programme, Legacy Project showcases bite-sized stories from our hottest new writing talents. Each year, Legacy Project holds open call submissions and carefully curates six scripts to create a collection of unique yet strangely relatable tales from all corners of the queer community. The selected writers are paired with passionate directors and script advisers, elevating their stories to the stage. This year’s chosen sex are about love and connection, empathy and rejection, dating apps and STIs with each revealing a small part of Auckland’s queer communities. Legacy Project 5, Loft at Q Theatre, until Friday.
POPPING BACK: Paramore are a rare beast, a pop/punk band that rode the wave of that genre’s success in the late 2000s, while also managing to pull themselves into the modern era in style with their acclaimed 2017 album,
After Laughter. Returning to NZ for their first headline show since 2014, the trio, fronted by Hayley Williams, plays Spark Arena this week and fans can expect a solid set list mixing their beloved old tracks with their groundbreaking new material. Paramore, Spark Arena, Tuesday.