The Rangatahi Season will run from 7th November – 2nd December 2023 at Te Pou Theatre in Auckland.

The Rangatahi Programme at Te Pou Theatre in Auckland will support four young Māori playwrights through mentorship and marketing to help them stage a work-in-development to be performed in November.
The aim is that each rangatahi work on their own shows, while also providing āwhina and support for the other productions so they can gain experience in collective art practices in a kaupapa Māori context.
The four plays are Wrestling with Wregret by Tyler Wilson-Kōkiri, Limited Time Only by Hone Nanda Taukiri, and Concerning the UFO sighting at Mt Roskill, Auckland by Reon Bell, and Ngā Reta by Te Huamānuka Luitten-Apirana.

Play 1: Concerning The UFO Sighting at Mt Roskill, Auckland by Reon Bell
When: 7th – 11th Nov 2023, 7pm – 5 nights.

Synopsis
A solo theatre show that tells the story of a young man in 1980’s Auckland that is struggling with his growing belief in aliens, and his life as a closeted gay man.

Creatives:
Reon Bell – Performer & Creator (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa)

Sean Rivera – Director, Filipino

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Play 2: Wrestling with Wregret by Tyler Wilson-Kōkiri
When: 14-18 Nov 2023, 7pm – 5 nights.

Synopsis
The words that have split Mātī into two since they were first spoken to him from his mother. He lives a double life. The life of a business-stock broker-estate guy who writes pay cheque thingys, and a Professional Wrestler, in his mind and in his eyes. He encounters an event that merges his two lives.

Creatives:
Tyler Wilson-Kōkiri – Performer & Creator (Ngāti Porou)

Play 3: Limited Time Only by Hone Taukiri
When: 21-25 Nov 2023, 5 nights.

Synopsis
When the world of high art collides with the world of advertising and consumerism ‘Limited Time Only’ is what you get. An absurd physical-theatre from a multi-award show watching director.

Creatives:
Hone Taukiri – Creator and Director (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Tama Te Rā)

Natasha Van Etten – Producer (Ngai Te Rangi)

Millie Manning – Performer (Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Rapuwai)

Nikeidrian Lologa Peters – Performer (Fiji, Samoa – Magiagi, Tuaefu & Te Arawa)

Mateusz Budzyna-Dawidowski – Performer (Kraków, Poland)

Play 4: Ngā Reta by Te Huamānuka Luitten-Apirana
When: 28th Nov – 2nd Dec, 7pm

Synopsis:

Kāore a Mia e pīrangi ana i tōna Māoritanga. Ki a ia, he mahi taumaha, he mahi mamae hoki, te mahi a te Māori. Engari, ka whiwhi a Mia i ngā reta a tōna Māmā. Ka huripoki tōna ao, me ōna whakaaro. Ka hoki ia ki te papa kāinga? Ko wai tōna Pāpā? Ka whakatika ia i te hononga ki tōna Māmā?

Urban Māori Mia, rejects her Māoritanga. To her, being Māori is too deep and heavy. When a box of letters arrive from Nan about her mum’s journey through womanhood, Mia’s world is turned upside down. Will she return home? Who is her real Dad? Can she fix the relationship with her Mum?

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