Michele Hine is revelling in a trio of rich maternal roles _ from Go Girls' downtrodden parent, to fading theatrical star, to hell-bent control freak in the Auckland production of The House Of Bernada Alba.

Dame Pat Evison, a much-loved stalwart of New Zealand radio, television and theatre who died at the weekend, will long be remembered for her colourful contribution, colleagues say.

A vivid portrait of a time and a place, I can see exactly why UK author Amanda Craig's sixth novel was longlisted for the 2010 Orange Prize.

Liz Caughey has curated an affordable exhibition to raise money for her Braveheart Youth Trust.

There was a spirit of an end-of-semester concert permeating the town hall during the Wallfisch Band's Venetian Carnival.

This debut work by local drama teacher Andy Saker shows an easy familiarity with the North Shore's casual backyard culture.

Art gallery listings.

There was a buzz and a bustle in the Town Hall foyer as punters collected tickets for Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's Happy Hour concert.

There's something buttoned up and restrained about Charlotte Grimshaw's writing, something as middle class as the characters whose stories she tells and, I imagine, as the people who tend to read them.

Angels and the supernatural aside, Singh's books are each a unique emotional journey.

Dalrymple, a towering figure who spoke with the brio of a great orator, used imagery of paintings and photos to reinforce his compelling tale of the last Mughal.

Opening with the eternal question - 'what do you do with a BA in English?' - Avenue Q dispenses a bright and breezy antidote to the pressures of life in the big city.

The complicated and sensitive world of artists is explored in Sarah Thornton's new book. She talks to Stephen Jewell.

This memoir by New Zealand children's author William Taylor is, I am delighted to report, an endearing collection of his experiences.

Poets of their Age presented three first-generation Romantic composers coming to terms with the expressive potential of the symphony orchestra.

A near-full house of fans greeted Australian writer Thomas Keneally when he walked on stage at the ASB Centre yesterday morning for an hour of soul-baring revelations and a great deal of humour.

Lionel Shriver and Charlie Higson tackle the sensitive topic of death in very different ways.