Complete Lineup For Wellington Kia Mau Festival Revealed

New Zealand’s only contemporary indigenous theatre and dance festival Kia Mau Festival launched on Friday with Tiki Taane Mahuta, and the final group of shows on the programme has just been revealed. Tawata Productions, who are producing the Festival running now – Saturday 24 June, are proud to announce that Portrait Of An Artist Mongrel, Lick My Past, Gathering Clouds, This Is What It Looks Like, The Mooncake and the Kūmara, The Maori Sidesteps, and Mata and the Mysterious Musical Maunga have all joined the 2017 lineup.
In a celebration of the life of Rowley Habib, Hāpai Productions will present a one-hour tribute of works by the late poet and playwright in Portrait of an Artist Mongrel. Performed by some of Wellington’s most celebrated Māori theatre practitioners, Jim Moriarty, Moana Ete, Te Kahu Rolleston, Briar Grace-Smith and more, will showcase the power of Habib’s writing that catapulted the urban Māori voice into the limelight. Commemorating the contribution that Habib’s career made to the Māori theatre scene with two shows on June 6 & 7 at BATS Theatre, don’t miss this opportunity to see an impressive gathering of local talent.

Two of Atamira Company’s preeminent choreographers and dancers Kelly Nash and Nancy Wijohn have joined forces to create Lick My Past, a stunning and dynamic expression of the vast array of relationships that two women can share. On show at BATS Theatre from June 7 – 10, the pair transform the stage with their powerful imagery and relishing their impeccable kinetic timing together. This is a rare opportunity to see these Auckland based artists in the capital city, who are also featuring in Manaia also in the Kia Mau Festival.

In a confronting and eye-opening showcase, Gathering Clouds is the all new work from Not Even Productions, written by three stand-out performers in Aotearoa’s contemporary arts scene – James Nokise, Jahra Wasasala, and Te Kahu Rolleston. In preparation of the celebrations of the coming of Captain Cook to the Southern Hemisphere, these artists will workshop their concept of the storm of colonisation across the Pacific, and the devastation left in its path. Exploring some of the stories from our country’s tumultuous past, this show will be presented at BATS Theatre from June 7 – 10 for the first time.
Timeless Trash Productions are proud to present their celebrated show This Is What It Looks Like at Kia Mau, playing at BATS Theatre from June 14 – 17. Writer Neenah Dekkers-Reihana, was named at the 2014 Wellington Theatre Awards as the Most Promising Female Newcomer, has channelled her own experiences struggling to overcome depression into the honest show that successfully balances the serious and the light hearted, with just a tinge of the bittersweet. Simultaneously topical and timeless, if the word depression puts you off, maybe you ought to come along and watch.

Celebrating the fusing of cultures that Kia Mau is known for, The Mooncake and the Kūmara is a moving and entertaining story about a Māori-Chinese love affair that grows among rows of potatoes. A touching tribute to her grandparents, Mei-Lin Te Puea Hansen penned a love story that has resonated with audiences across the country since its debut in 2015, with several sell out seasons. Layered with myth and fable, the story presented by The Oryza Foundation for Asian Performing Arts and Betsy & Mana Productions is on show at Hannah Playhouse from June 21 – 24.

Completing the lineup of Kia Mau performances at BATS Theatre is The Māori Sidesteps, presenting a joyous show from June 15 – 17. The new, and a little bit naughty, Māori Showband brings together some of New Zealand’s most entertaining performers to turn some of your favourite songs on their head live on stage, fresh from their successful web-series. Produced by Tikapa Productions, prepare yourself for an evening of belly laughing, and poignant, thought provoking, serenading sing-a-longs that will be empowering for all New Zealanders.

Adding to the calendar of events that are free of charge and open to the public during Kia Mau, Tikapa Productions are showcasing another of their brilliant works at Te Marae at Te Papa, giving audiences a chance to view their visionary work for free. Welcoming families to get a taster for theatre in an open setting with no allocated seating, Mata and the Mysterious Musical Maunga is a family friendly adventure that tells of Mata’s quest to be an instant star, and the mysterious characters he encounters on his journey to fame. Putting on just one showing at 10.30am on Saturday 17 June, get in early to get a great spot for this amazing production.

These seven performances complete the expansive programme taking place across the city over the month of July, joining nine shows and special events that have already been announced.

The brainchild of Wellington-based Tawata Productions and the company co-foundrs Hone Kouka and Miria George, Kia Mau Festival is now into its third year in the capital. Providing a platform for Wellington-based arts companies to showcase their work and network with visiting international festival and venue directors, and for whānau and communities across the Wellington region to engage with today’s tangata whenua and First Nations artists from across the globe, Kia Mau is a festival like none other in New Zealand.

KIA MAU FESTIVAL
Friday 2 – Saturday 24 June
Venues across Wellington
https://kiamaufestival.org/

Third Announce Shows:

Portrait of an Artist Mongrel
Written by Rowley Habib, Directed by Nancy Brunning
HĀPAI PRODUCTIONS (Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand)
BATS Theatre, Wellington City
Wednesday 6 – Thursday 7 June

Lick My Past
Directed and Performed by Kelly Nash and Nancy Wijohn
Atamira Dance Company (Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand)
BATS Theatre, Wellington City
Thursday 7 – Saturday 10 June

Gathering Clouds
Written by James Nokise, Jahra Wasasala, and Te Kahu Rolleston
Not Even Productions (Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand)
BATS Theatre, Wellington City
Thursday 7 – Saturday 10 June

This Is What It Looks Like
Written and Directed by Neenah Dekkers-Reihana
TIMELESS TRASH Productions (Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand)
BATS Theatre, Wellington City
Wednesday 14 – Saturday 17 June

The Maori Sidesteps
Written by The Maori Sidesteps
TIKAPA PRODUCTIONS (Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand)
BATS Theatre, Wellington City
Thursday 15 – Saturday 17 June

Mata and the Mysterious Musical Maunga
Written by Jamie McCaskill & Craig Geenty, Directed by Craig Geenty
TIKAPA PRODUCTIONS (Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Te Marae at Te Papa, Wellington City
Saturday 17 June

The Mooncake and the Kūmara
Written by Mei-Lin Te Puea Hansen, Directed by Katie Wolfe
THE ORYZA FOUNDATION FOR ASIAN PERFORMING ARTS and BETSY & MANA PRODUCTIONS (Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Hannah Playhouse, Wellington City
Wednesday 21 – Saturday 24 June

These shows join the already announced lineup:

1st Announce Shows:
Tiki Taane Mahuta
Choreographed by Tānemahuta Gray
Taki Rua Productions (Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand)
The Opera House, Wellington City
Friday 2 June

Manaia
Choreographed by Nancy Wijohn, Kelly Nash and Gabrielle Thomas
Atamira Dance Company (Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Hannah Playhouse, Wellington City
Wednesday 14 – Saturday 17 June

NeoIndigenA
Choreographed by Santee Smith
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre (Ontario, Canada)
BATS Theatre, Wellington City
Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 June

Fire In The Water, Fire In The Sky
by Mīria George
Tawata Productions (Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Pataka Gallery + Museum, Porirua
Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 June

2nd Announce Shows:
Friday’s Flock
Created by Reihana Haronga, Directed by Karla Haronga
Te Puanga Whakaari Theatre Productions (Fielding, Manawatu, Aotearoa New Zealand)
BATS Theatre, Wellington City
Thursday 8 – Saturday 10 June

Riverside Kings
Created by Natano Keni and Sarita So, Directed by Natano Keni
IKenSo Productions (Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Expressions Whirinaki, Upper Hutt: Friday 9 June
BATS Theatre, Wellington City: Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 June

Purple Onion
Written and Directed by Tupe Lualua
Le Moana Ltd (Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand)
Hannah Playhouse, Wellington City
Friday 16 – Saturday 17 June

Breaking Ground
New Works-In-Development by Writers + Choreographers
Tawata Productions (Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand)
The Pit, Te Ara Hihiko at Massey University
Thursday 8 & Saturday 10 June

Dance Talks Conversations with the Artists
DANZ (Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand)
BATS Theatre, Wellington City
Wednesday 7, Thursday 8, Wednesday 14 & Thursday 15 June