TAPAC

Left and Right

Spinning Sun presents their exuberant new work in June 2009. This dance is a grand collaboration between Choreographer Ann Dewey, writer Jo Randerson and Musician/composer Charlotte Rose. Dancing in the work are Liz Kirk, Julie van Renen, Geoff Gilson and Sarah Baron.

Set and costumes have been knitted by a team of 25 knitters dotted around the globe and are an absolute textural treat.

Left and Right is a feast for the eyes. The dancers are full of energy whipping through the space with precision, speed and a sense of joy. Music, words and light wind through the dance to create an odd magic.

Ann’s aim in making the work was to play with pattern, and rhythm. She engages the viewer through a cleverly constructed original world. “I am interested in making dances that are full of surprises, little presents and the feeling of pure joy. I feel full of the world when I dance, I want to give the audience this experience when they watch dance”. Ann Dewey.

Thursday 18 June

Friday 19 June

Saturday 20 June

Sunday 21 June

Ngā Manurere by Renae Maihi, Directed by Katie Wolfe

Coming Up on Wednesday 3 June at 8:00pm

with…

Nicola Kawana – Keisha Castle-Hughes – Pana Hema-Taylor – Lana Garland – Ranae Maihi and William Davis

Ngā Manurere follows Manawa’s (Nicola Kawana) journey to reconnect with the son Morehu (Pana Hema-Taylor) she gave up through whangai. Supported by her closest friends Wai, Rina and Jess who are all single mothers, the women are tied together by roots and friendship, but each secretly harbours their own view on Manawa and the son to whom she is a stranger.

At once funny and shocking, the play explores the everyday experience of being a solo mum with honesty and humour. It also reveals a terrible truth that exposes the danger of emotional silence.

Keisha Castle-Hughes character is Wai, a young girl from the city who has never been on a marae and still pines for the absent father of her young son. Lana Garland plays Rina, a big-hearted DPB career mum who has devoted her life to her son and relatives. Newcomer Maihi is Jess, an ambitious young family court lawyer who spends more time on her career than with her child. Uncle Rongo (Willian Davis) is grandfather to them all.

Writer Renae Maihi was discovered at the Matariki play conference last year. Directed by Katie Wolfe , the show weaves traditional Maori performance forms such as poi, waiata, haka and moteatea through the fabric of a contemporary urban story. It will be staged in theatre and marae spaces.

This is current New Zealand theatre at its purest, stripped to bare essentials of story and actors, presented by an all star cast that have come together to give voice to our sole-flight mothers.

Thursday 4 June

Friday 5 June

Saturday 6 June