20 years after it burst onto the stages of the world, writer John Broughton’s iconic piece of Kiwi theatre returns for its Festival encore.
Michael James Manaia is a poignant story about a New Zealand man who, after returning from the Vietnam War, finds himself at odds with his culture, his history and his memories. Packed full of dynamic theatrical action and colourful characters, we follow his journey through childhood, family, love, grief, violence, conflict and passion.
After premiering at Wellington’s Downstage Theatre in 1991, this heart-wrenching One-man ... info

Where do we stand as young people in the community? Who do we follow now all the old people have left?

At the foot of the Urewera ranges lies Awhi Tapu - a desolate forestry ghost town; with the forestry industry closed down most of the inhabitants have left. Wendyl, Sonny, Casper and Girl Girl have only each other and their fertile imaginations to rely on.

This is a story of loss, belonging, but most of all, friendship; it heralds a new wave of writing around Maori issues and characters; direct, unsentimental and challenging.

'Awhi... info

Celebrating our 16th year of touring total immersion Māori theatre to audiences throughout Aotearoa, Taki Rua Productions proudly presents the 2011 Te Reo Māori Season. Karapinepine draws on the life of a prophet from our past in order to look at the way we live today. It asks “Is there a prophet in each of us? What forces shape the path we follow in this life?”

From the Director, Ngapaki Emery

“Karapinepine is the action of gathering or drawing in close. The seeds for this work began with me drawing in on my curio... info

Italy, 1944: a battle torn-theatre of the Second World War. The allied onslaught stalls at Monte Cassino and the 28th Māori Battalion find themselves centre stage. A young Māori soldier goes out to steal food; an Italian takes cover in a stable. Both find themselves trapped in a potentially deadly stand-off, but with Germans just outside, their survival depends on co-operation.

Combining live music with drama, comedy and performed in Māori, Italian and English, Strange Resting Places shines a light on the complex emotional bonds of New Zealand’s wartime his... info

“Ko au te awa, Ko te awa ko au”
“I am the river, The river is me”
-Whakatauki/ Proverb from iwi of the Whanganui region

Inspired by true events! Mark Twain & Me in Māoriland weaves historical fact with magical realism in an epic, bullet-ridden, tale set amidst the waterways of the Whanganui region 1895; a combustible time of mercenaries, vaudeville and self serving mayoralty.

Mark Twain’s Australasian lecture tour comes to a halt when the outspoken writer incurs the wrath of the local English establishment due to his ... info

Celebrating our 15th year of touring total immersion Māori theatre throughout Aotearoa, Taki Rua Productions proudly presents our newest whakaari Matapihi ki te ao.

Four performers weave their stories together to shape a show that explores the theme of journey. Journeys we take both inside and outside ourselves in order to seek new horizons. Inspired by the stories of our tipuna, our environments and our imaginations Matapihi ki te ao takes a look at our need to follow our passion, look out for tohu along the way, and the different windows we all look out of at the world... info