Latest news with #TePouTheatre
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Tauranga First To Hear The Call Of The Tūī: Te Tangi A Te Tūī Tickets On Sale Now
A powerful production fusing kaupapa Māori storytelling with breathtaking contemporary circus opens its Te Ika-a-Māui / North Island tour in Tauranga this August. Tickets are now on sale for Te Tangi a Te Tūī, which will have its only public performance in Tauranga on Wednesday 6 August at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre. A dedicated schools matinee performance will follow on Thursday 7 August. Performed entirely in te reo Māori, the work blends kapa haka, aerial artistry and acrobatics into a deeply moving performance that celebrates identity, whakapapa and cultural reclamation. 'Baycourt is proud to support culturally rich productions like Te Tangi a Te Tūī, particularly those that create space for rangatahi to see their language, identity and stories reflected on stage in creative and resonant ways,' says Baycourt Manager Reena Snook. Inspired by the evolving song of the native tūī, the show is a collaboration between master storytellers and kaupapa Māori performing arts company Te Pou Theatre, and world-class cirque innovators The Dust Palace. Audiences fluent in or on a journey with te reo Māori will enjoy full immersion. Those newer to the language will receive an English-language synopsis and radio play upon booking to ensure accessibility and connection. With just one public performance and tickets expected to sell quickly, Tauranga audiences are encouraged to book early to avoid missing out. "Described as transformative and visually spectacular, Te Tangi a Te Tūī is a must-see work of Aotearoa theatre," says Snook. Tickets are available now at
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Brydie Colquhoun's Rongo Whakapā Decolonises The Performance Space
Rongo Whakapā is the debut choreographic work by one of Aotearoa's most captivating Māori contemporary dance artists Brydie Colquhoun (Ngāpuhi) on from Fri 11 – Sun 13 July at Te Pou Theatre. Presented by Atamira Dance Company this bold and intimate new work invites audiences into a circular, non-traditional space to experience performance in 360 degrees—free to move, enter, and exit the environment as they choose. With five performances only and limited audience capacity Rongo Whakapā explores themes of connection, presence, and the tension between individualism and collective community. It asks us to slow down and consider new - and perhaps old - ways of gathering and witnessing. Meaning 'sense of touch,' Rongo Whakapā responds to a contemporary world marked by increasing disconnection. This 70-minute work invites people to tune in and be fully present as they share space with six dancers who build an ever-shifting environment through movement in a decolonised performance space. Choreographer Brydie Colquhoun draws on her extensive embodied knowledge of contact improvisation, durational movement, and score-based practices, supported with sound design by Eden Mulholland and spatial design by Rowan Pierce. Building the foundational shape of this work are conversations, interviews, and wānanga with Mātanga Mātauranga Māori, whānau, colleagues, and friends around intimacy and connection in our contemporary lives. 'Brydie moves through the world with care, integrity, and intention. Rongo Whakapā is a beautiful unfolding of her journey—an offering of presence, intimacy, and reconnection. This work holds us gently while asking powerful questions about how we gather, how we touch, and how we listen.' — Bianca Hyslop (Te Arawa), Kaihautū, Atamira Dance Company PERFORMANCE DETAILS RONGO WHAKAPĀ Choreographed by Brydie Colquhoun Te Pou Theatre Fri 11 July – 7.30pm Sat 12 July – 4.00pm & 7.30pm Sun 13 July – 2.00pm & 5.00pm Duration: 70 minutes (no interval) Tickets: CREATIVE TEAM Kaitito Nekehanga | Choreographer: Brydie Colquhoun (Ngāpuhi) Dance Artists: Abbie Rogers (Kāi Tahu, Te Arawa), Sean MacDonald (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa, Tūwharetoa, Rangitāne), Caleb Heke (Ngāpuhi), Jeremy Beck (Kāi Tahu), Rachel Ruckstuhl-Mann (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Rangitāne), Tai Taranui Hemana (Te Arawa) Kaihoahoa/Set & Lighting Designer: Rowan Pierce Kaitito | Sound Designer: Eden Mulholland (Ngāti Porou) Advisors: Tūī Mātira Ranapiri-Ransfield, Mokonui-a-rangi Smith, Miriama McDowell Kaihautū: Bianca Hyslop (Te Arawa) Kaiwhakaputa Auaha: Marama Lloydd (Ngāpuhi, Te Tahawai, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu) Kaiwhakahaere: Ashley David Kaiwhakahaere Tairanga, Kaiwhakahaere Ako: Abbie Rogers Atamira Dance Company is a leading force in Māori contemporary dance, fostering artistic excellence, nurturing talent, and creating transformative experiences that resonate globally. It uplifts, inspires, leads, and celebrates the richness of te ao Māori through performances, collaborations, and advocacy, honouring mātauranga Māori through storytelling that connects celestial wisdom with earthly expression.
Scoop
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Te Tangi A Te Tūī Takes Flight On Te Ika-A-Māui Tour
Press Release – Elephant Publicity Drawing together kaupapa Mori storytelling and contemporary cirque, Te Tangi a Te T unfolds as an evocative meditation on identity and resilience, in the face of colonisation. The result is a dazzling synthesis of form and meaning at once This August, the powerful theatrical experience Te Tangi a Te Tūī will soar across Aotearoa for a much-anticipated Te Ika-a-Māui tour. Presented by Te Pou Theatre and The Dust Palace, in association with PANNZ (Performing Arts Network of New Zealand), this groundbreaking work brings together the resonance of te reo Māori storytelling and the visceral beauty of circus. Following its international premiere in Vancouver and an acclaimed Aotearoa season at Te Pou Theatre during Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki, Te Tangi a Te Tūī now travels to five North Island centres, inviting audiences across the motu to experience a work that is visually arresting, emotionally stirring, and deeply rooted in te ao Māori. Co-written by longtime collaborators Amber Curreen (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Te Roroa) and Tainui Tukiwaho (Te Arawa, Tūhoe), the work fuses kapa haka, acrobatics, and breathtaking aerial artistry to tell a story of reclamation, remembrance and return. Tūī soaks up the world around it & responds in song. Though beautiful, his tune now is a faint echo of what it once was when Aotearoa was blanketed in the ngāhere, flutes of patupaiarehe filled the trees & Māori alone walked gently upon their mother. Drawing together kaupapa Māori storytelling and contemporary cirque, Te Tangi a Te Tūī unfolds as an evocative meditation on identity and resilience, in the face of colonisation. The result is a dazzling synthesis of form and meaning – at once poetic, political, and unforgettable. Performed entirely in te reo Māori, the production surrounds audiences with the richness of the language and its cultural resonance. Those who are fluent or on their te reo Māori journey will enjoy the full immersion experience. Those with limited knowledge of te reo Māori and wishing to engage more deeply will be provided with a full English-language synopsis and radio play upon booking. This ensures the work remains accessible to all, allowing audiences to connect with the performance at whatever level suits them. ' Te Tangi a Te Tūī is about our collective remembering,' says co-writer and co-director Tainui Tukiwaho. 'It's about reclaiming language, whakapapa and the stories that have been waiting patiently for us to return to them. And we're doing it in a way that celebrates Māori innovation, power and wairua.' Producer Rachael Dubois (The Dust Palace) echoes this sentiment: 'This work lives at the intersection of everything we love – high-calibre physical performance, kaupapa Māori storytelling, and deep collaboration. It's an incredibly special show, and audiences who see it are going to be moved, challenged, and inspired.' 'A masterclass in kaupapa Māori storytelling and physical theatre… unlike anything else on the Aotearoa stage.' — Theatreview 'Visually spectacular and emotionally resonant. The standing ovation was immediate and well deserved.' — NZ Herald 'A transformative, deeply moving experience. The power of te reo Māori and circus together is breathtaking.' — Radio New Zealand This collaboration between Māori-led performing arts company Te Pou Theatre and contemporary circus innovators The Dust Palace, Te Tangi a Te Tūī is supported by PANNZ as part of its mission to bring bold, original Aotearoa stories to communities around the country. Amber Curreen, co-writer and co-director, is a driving force in Māori theatre and a champion of kaupapa Māori creative leadership. As Pou Whakahaere of Te Pou Theatre, she has led the development of numerous new works and initiatives. Tainui Tukiwaho, also co-writer and co-director, brings over 20 years of stage and screen experience to the project, with a reputation for fearless storytelling and uplifting Māori voices. With its soaring physicality, poetic power and fierce cultural heart, Te Tangi a Te Tūī is a landmark work of Aotearoa theatre. A celebration of whakapapa, te taiao, and the enduring voice of our tūpuna, this is a story that calls us home. Tickets go on sale in May. Visit for booking details and resources. Rotorua Sir Howard Morrison Centre Sunday 10 – Monday 11 August Taranaki TSB Showplace Thursday 14 – Friday 15 August tsb-showplace Whangārei Forum North Tuesday 19 – 20 August Forum-North Kerikeri Turner Centre Friday 22 – Saturday 23 August
Scoop
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Te Tangi A Te Tūī Takes Flight On Te Ika-a-māui Tour
This August, the powerful theatrical experience Te Tangi a Te Tūī will soar across Aotearoa for a much-anticipated Te Ika-a-Māui tour. Presented by Te Pou Theatre and The Dust Palace, in association with PANNZ (Performing Arts Network of New Zealand), this groundbreaking work brings together the resonance of te reo Māori storytelling and the visceral beauty of circus. Following its international premiere in Vancouver and an acclaimed Aotearoa season at Te Pou Theatre during Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki, Te Tangi a Te Tūī now travels to five North Island centres, inviting audiences across the motu to experience a work that is visually arresting, emotionally stirring, and deeply rooted in te ao Māori. Co-written by longtime collaborators Amber Curreen (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Te Roroa) and Tainui Tukiwaho (Te Arawa, Tūhoe), the work fuses kapa haka, acrobatics, and breathtaking aerial artistry to tell a story of reclamation, remembrance and return. Tūī soaks up the world around it & responds in song. Though beautiful, his tune now is a faint echo of what it once was when Aotearoa was blanketed in the ngāhere, flutes of patupaiarehe filled the trees & Māori alone walked gently upon their mother. Drawing together kaupapa Māori storytelling and contemporary cirque, Te Tangi a Te Tūī unfolds as an evocative meditation on identity and resilience, in the face of colonisation. The result is a dazzling synthesis of form and meaning – at once poetic, political, and unforgettable. Performed entirely in te reo Māori, the production surrounds audiences with the richness of the language and its cultural resonance. Those who are fluent or on their te reo Māori journey will enjoy the full immersion experience. Those with limited knowledge of te reo Māori and wishing to engage more deeply will be provided with a full English-language synopsis and radio play upon booking. This ensures the work remains accessible to all, allowing audiences to connect with the performance at whatever level suits them. ' Te Tangi a Te Tūī is about our collective remembering,' says co-writer and co-director Tainui Tukiwaho. 'It's about reclaiming language, whakapapa and the stories that have been waiting patiently for us to return to them. And we're doing it in a way that celebrates Māori innovation, power and wairua.' Producer Rachael Dubois (The Dust Palace) echoes this sentiment: 'This work lives at the intersection of everything we love – high-calibre physical performance, kaupapa Māori storytelling, and deep collaboration. It's an incredibly special show, and audiences who see it are going to be moved, challenged, and inspired.' 'A masterclass in kaupapa Māori storytelling and physical theatre… unlike anything else on the Aotearoa stage.' — Theatreview 'Visually spectacular and emotionally resonant. The standing ovation was immediate and well deserved.' — NZ Herald 'A transformative, deeply moving experience. The power of te reo Māori and circus together is breathtaking.' — Radio New Zealand This collaboration between Māori-led performing arts company Te Pou Theatre and contemporary circus innovators The Dust Palace, Te Tangi a Te Tūī is supported by PANNZ as part of its mission to bring bold, original Aotearoa stories to communities around the country. Amber Curreen, co-writer and co-director, is a driving force in Māori theatre and a champion of kaupapa Māori creative leadership. As Pou Whakahaere of Te Pou Theatre, she has led the development of numerous new works and initiatives. Tainui Tukiwaho, also co-writer and co-director, brings over 20 years of stage and screen experience to the project, with a reputation for fearless storytelling and uplifting Māori voices. With its soaring physicality, poetic power and fierce cultural heart, Te Tangi a Te Tūī is a landmark work of Aotearoa theatre. A celebration of whakapapa, te taiao, and the enduring voice of our tūpuna, this is a story that calls us home. Tickets go on sale in May. Visit for booking details and resources. Tauranga Baycourt Community and Arts Centre Wednesday 6 – Thursday 7 August Rotorua Sir Howard Morrison Centre Sunday 10 – Monday 11 August Taranaki TSB Showplace Thursday 14 - Friday 15 August tsb-showplace Whangārei Forum North Tuesday 19 - 20 August Forum-North Kerikeri Turner Centre Friday 22 - Saturday 23 August
