Reviews (more here)

The 13th Floor (Auckland, 2020): "brilliant feat of acting … a simultaneously touching, amusing and at times breath-taking display of prowess. … There are few – if any – New Zealand actors who could deliver a performance of this quality. With a climax that is both poignant and memorable. In short, No Holds Bard is the calibre of theatre one usually only dreams about".

Waikato Times (Hamilton, 2018):  "What lifts this so far above the usual Shakespearian laugh machinery is that Hurst is a true voice, a genuine star in spoken, live theatre. … the wit, the parody, the iconoclastic blasts of pleasure which come from seeing Shakespeare in a light which has never shone quite this way before. Paradoxically, his speeches have the gravitas of classical Shakespeare, lines full of grace, perfect punctuation and breath control…the comedy erupts like thunder"

Gulf News (Waiheke, 2017):  "It takes a great actor to pull off such a story, and Michael Hurst excelled. I sat on the edge of my seat for the full hour and even jumped a few times. … When the inner struggle came to be an actual physical struggle on stage, I was baffled. And I still am. Because Michael Hurst managed to fight himself on stage without me wondering how. It was persuasive and marvelous. … The reviews of this play are not overrated … if I could, I would watch it over and over again".

Theatreview (Titirangi, 2016): "Michael Hurst in exhilarating form taking us on a well-crafted, clever, uproariously funny and ultimately moving journey … smart and witty … belly laughs of sheer delight … Hurst's facility with the language, whether Shakespearean or modern, is a joy to experience. The poetry flows effortlessly, and when he inhabits characters with absolute sincerity and truth, allowing the language to do its work supported by minimal technology, the audience is held spellbound … There are moments of such depth of emotion in Hurst's performance that the hair stands up on the back of my neck as my heart goes out to the extremely vulnerable human being he has created. No Holds Bard allows us to investigate 'What a piece of work is a man' in a truly Shakespearean way, and we are fortunate to see a master craftsman at work in that investigation."

Edinburgh Spotlight (Edinburgh Fringe, 2013): " * * * * a tsunami of a performance ... feats of physical and mental ingenuity.  It elicits gasps as well as laughs, and shifts acrobatically between comedy of an almost stand-up nature and emotionally-rooted tragedy.  A breath of fresh Shakespeare air and a comedic head-bashing all in one!"

SG Fringe (Edinburgh Fringe, 2013):  " * * * * *  Michael Hurst gives a bravura performance of immense energy and intensity, brilliantly walking the tightrope between genuine tragedy and insane comedy, reaching incredible heights ... The audience were gripped, moved and entertained in equal measure".

The Canberra Times (Canberra, 2012): " ... solo performer Michael Hurst displays a comedic tour de force of mighty mirth, brilliant timing, stunning slapstick pratfalls, hilarious parody and knockabout characterisation ... Familiarity with Shakespeare's text may heighten appreciation of the ingenuity of this work, but Hurst's performance alone will be enough to have you chortling in your chair or captivated by the actor's art".