Scarlett Letters

15/10/2026

The Pearly Queens went to visit The Pearl Fishers at the NZ Opera last night. Read my review for Theatreview to see what we made of it...

https://scarlettletters.co.nz/current-reviews/

29/09/2026

Its not often for a Tuesday to involve hot chips, old teddy bears and yelling at actors, but when you are a reviewer for Theatreview: New Zealand Performing Arts Reviews, life is full of surprises! Find out what today involved in my review of The Court Jesters' 'Winnie the Pooh - Trouble in 100 Acre Wood', now on at The Court Theatre

https://scarlettletters.co.nz/current-reviews/

08/07/2026

Wet weather in the school holidays getting you down? Immerse yourself and your littlies in the big blue under the sea with Disney's Finding Nemo Jr at The Court Theatre. I braved the wind, rain and hundreds of children to review it for you. 😁

https://www.theatreview.org.nz/production/finding-nemo-jnr/ -songs-visual-delights-and-unfiltered-joy

05/07/2026

Thanks B&F - I love working with these guys.
When I went solo in 2023 B&F were my first client, so they are close to my heart. I started out proofing pages of prices and writing short copy describing each product, and have since helped write EDMs, socials and web copy. Even better, my past Court Theatre colleague Sarah now does their design, and we get to work together again.
It might be great when ‘neighbours become good friends’ (🎵🎵🎵), but it’s nice when clients and colleagues do too 😊

Last week our Senior Account Manager Carmen Badenhorst Tough was in Christchurch for the New Zealand Pride In Print Awards and, while she was there, she caught up with Julie McCloy (Scarlett Letters) and Sarah Griffin (Pressto! Studio), the clever creatives who are our copy/content and graphic design on-call support crew.

Part of Carmen’s role is overseeing B&F’s marketing, and Sarah and Julie support her when and as needed by creating our social media, laying up price books, proofing price lists, designing promo items and anything else word and image related.

Working in different cities makes no difference when there’s good communication, but nothing beats sharing a coffee together when you can. ;)

05/06/2026

Writing this article for The Fundraising Agency was a great experience, because it highlighted just how important values are to how we live life and do business, as an organisation and an individual. We don't always get it right (I know I don't), but when we are guided but what we inherently value, we stand a better chance of achievements we can be proud of.

Talking with Maureen McCloy (no relation!) about the end of YHA New Zealand, the thing that she emphasised was that the Board wanted to honour their organisational values through that process, as they had through YHA's operational life. That drew the right people to help them - other people who shared those values and wanted to honour their purpose too.

I think that every organisation I have worked in has written values, but often they are just words in a document or on a wall. They aren't lived, they don't permeate culture, and they aren't used to guide difficult situations. And I've worked in organisations that do live and breathe them; I 100% know which is better.

In creating this article I not only got to tell a story and talk with people who are genuinely passionate about their work, but I got a reminder that, no matter how unpleasant things are around you, if you live your values, you can't help but achieve success.

It’s the call no charity’s Board wants to make - to close your doors for good. But that was the call that YHA New Zealand had to make in late 2024.

But for the Board of YHA New Zealand, that worst-case scenario became a legacy of its own. They chose to go into voluntary liquidation with all debts paid, and some remaining funds in hand.

TFA was approached to help identify charities aligned to YHA’s purpose and values, to receive YHA’s remaining funds. “Sarah (TFA Founder) came up with the process of how this could go forward, one which we knew would best align with our values and purpose. That included how it could have meaning for YHA members,” says Maureen McCloy, who was YHA New Zealand Board Chair at the time.

A complex and detailed process resulted on six shortlisted prospects, and YHA members chose four final recipients: Living Springs; Untouched World Foundation; Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust; and Bushy Park Tarapuruhi.

This month marks one year since the final disbursement of those gifts. This is transformational giving at its best, and TFA is honoured to have been part of it.

Read more about how a commitment to values defined the end of the YHA New Zealand journey here: Link to article: https://thefundraisingagency.com/fundraising-case-studies/yha

31/05/2026

Here's a new review for you (so poetic - I must be chanelling the Bard!)

What do you get when you mash up Shakespeare, a prolific Swedish songwriter, the imagination of Schitts Creek writer David West Read and a multi-talented cast and crew?

You get & Juliet - a lot of fun brought to you by some incredible talent.

Now, if only I could stop singing Katy Perry's ROAR...

https://www.theatreview.org.nz/production/juliet/ -smooth-multi-sensory-production-delivered-with-exquisite-precision-and-exceptional-talent

24/04/2026

Last night I had the absolute pleasure - and I mean Real Pleasure - of attending Showbiz Christchurch's opening night of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
It was, quite literally, awesome, as in I was left in awe at what was on stage.
Read more about what I thought in my review for Theatreview: New Zealand Performing Arts Reviews. What a joy 😄

The Saunders & Co Season of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the golden ticket musical that’s delighted audiences across Broadway and the West End! Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved story, this spectacular stage adaptation features songs from the classic 1971 film, including ‘Pure Imagination....