Frame & fortune
Summoning nostalgia Nigel Buxton is a Christchurch based artist who is known to often explore the painting tradition of trompe l’oeil, beautifully capturing depth in his luscious oil paintings. Find this piece at PG gallery192, 192 Bealey Ave, Christchurch. Mountainous allure Jane Riley paints with flair, as illustrated in Colourful Coast – Mt […]
Creative Canterbury
Canterbury is the place to be if you’re seeking creative spirit and stimulation – and the spotlight is on our young artists. “Ōtautahi has so many empty windows and so many incredible artists. Projects like this show that we don’t need big budgets or permanent venues to support our artists and activate our city.” […]
Winter heat: Isaac Theatre Royal
Who says winter is for hibernation? The cooler months are sizzling with entertainment at Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal. This line-up of live music and performances will warm your soul, lift your spirits, and have you dancing in your seat – or at least humming all the way home. “July and August are absolutely […]
Creativity cures
One of New Zealand’s most celebrated artists offers a master class in atmospheric realism. “If I’m not being creative, I feel like I’m missing something,” says Katie Trinkle Legge, an internationally-acclaimed artist who paints from her sunlight-bathed studio on Waiheke Island. It’s here she finds a cornucopia of colourful inspiration. Citrus trees surround […]
The next generation: The Piano
It’s now more important than ever to uplift Canterbury’s creative rangatahi. Music and the arts enrich the lives of many, and contribute to a vibrant and resilient city,” says Marcus Norman, Director of The Piano. “That’s why it’s so important our young people from all walks of life have access to great music […]
All that Jazz: The Isaac Theatre
Christchurch, you’re in for a razzle-dazzle treat. Get ready to paint the town rouge. The sexiest, sassiest, most scandalous musical of all time, Chicago, is strutting its way onto the Isaac Theatre Royal stage this August. Set in the smoky underworld of 1920s Chicago, this Broadway and West End juggernaut has it all: […]
The soundtrack to memory, magic, & mayhem: Isaac Theatre Royal
Nothing catapults you through time quite like music. few chords, a familiar lyric, and suddenly you’re back in a moment: a dance floor, a road trip, a heartbreak, a first kiss, your favourite artist playing on the Isaac Theatre Royal (ITR) stage. Music connects us to people, places, and memories in a way […]
A purr-fect show: CATS – Young Actors Edition
This May, one of the world’s most beloved musicals will prowl onto an iconic Christchurch stage – and it’s bringing over 140 bright young stars with it. A jellicle celebration of youth, talent, and timeless theatre, mark your calendars. For the first time ever, the National Youth Theatre brings CATS to the Isaac […]
Court Theatre comes of age
The Court Theatre will take its long-awaited permanent place in Christchurch’s arts landscape after entertaining the public in a temporary space for 14 years. Metropol writer Cheryl Colley dives into the development. After years of planning and building, the lights in the Court Theatre’s auditorium will be dimmed. The actors for the first […]
Richard Aindow: Courting the arts in Christchurch
Music, theatre, dance and visual art have all played a significant role in Richard Aindow’s life. The incoming chief executive of The Court Theatre, Richard explains to Metropol writer Lynda Papesch how culture has shaped his life and career. On 23 June 2025, Richard will take over the reins of The Court Theatre […]
