The Tīwhas have arrived in Te Waipounamu! This fierce takatāpui pop girl group is shaking up the stage at Papa Hou with an intoxicating mixture of waiata Māori, pop anthems, kapa haka and heart.

Combining all the glitz and glamour of drag, the show stopping elegance of Vegas and the mana of the motu, this show has it all. It is like watching Dreamgirls with impressively synchronised poi. Packed to the brim with powerhouse vocals, slick choreography and stunning costumes, I could not stop smiling from the moment the show began.

Each of the four leading ladies packs a punch with their energetic dancing, ethereal poi and heavenly vocals. They are Dame Jthan (Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Rongowhakaata, Magiagi, Sapapāli’i, Lotofaga), Slay West (Tainui), Pānia (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) and Tina Coco Couture (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hikairo). Big Diva Energy is on this stage in SPADES! Backed by two incredibly versatile musicians (Tom Knowles and Hayden Taylor) and one of the most impressive vocalists you’ll ever hear (Kree Matthews), the show is tightly tuned but maintains a sense of playfulness indicating that they can bend and flex with each other depending on how the audience responds to certain moments.

This is one of the slickest, tightest, most well produced shows I’ve seen in a while and they absolutely deserve to sell out their second (and final) performance on Saturday 31 January. It is my sincere hope that Ōtautahi will see The Tiwhas return, and not necessarily as part of the Buskers Festival – they have so much to offer and I don’t want to wait a whole year to see them again! Christchurch, we have got to get them back with their Matariki Spectacular show!

This dazzling, magnetic and had us all dancing in our seats. Blending lip sync, live vocals, and kapa haka we were enthralled from start to finish. They market themselves as “transcending gender and genre, The Tīwhas will leave you singing, smiling, and utterly inspired.” How absolutely right they were! Mauriora!

Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer

From the first strut through the shimmering tinsel curtain, Presenting… The Tiwhas! is a night of celebration. Celebrating self and identity, takatāpui (a term used as a sexuality and gender identifier within Māori communities), and ‘the sisterhood’, through the joy and high-octane theatrics of drag performance.

The Tiwhas (Jthan, Slay West, Raureti Ormond, supported by Kree Matthews and Joe Mara on vocals, and the keyboard band of Hayden Taylor), hold nothing back as they enrich us with banging songs displaying vocal and dance talent that is off the charts while being lit up like a veritable rainbow by designer Joshua Tucker, and dressed like a RuPaul catwalk.

This is the third season in quick succession for The Tiwhas, which debuted at BATS during Fringe 2022, before a season at Roxy Live. Now it’s back by ‘popular demand’ for Re-Fringe at Circa Two. From go to whoa the energy, the banter and opening night crowd appreciation doesn’t let up.

The evening is full of high energy numbers melting into poignant ballads with luscious harmonies. Clever arrangements showcasing stunning vocals and solid technique, whether the classic pop belt or delicate soulful tones, give every performer their moment to shine individually and collectively. The obligatory lip synching is priceless and on point (Kree needs a separate standing ovation for those epic rising key changes and powerhouse vocals in the audience choice, ‘I Have Nothing’).

The synchronised dance moves leave me trying to fathom how they can move so effortlessly, sing with such power and play to the audience without missing a beat, and if they do, its improvised into the act in such a natural and casual way, it’s as if it was supposed to be there. That takes guts, but also a strong sense of self.

Presenting… The Tiwhas is beautifully woven together with te reo, poi and kapahaka which embodies the cultural fabric they wear with such pride. The rapport between the entire cast is magical and Jthan is to be applauded for bringing them together to create this excellent and enjoyable night of music theatre.

So, if you like your sisterhood ‘So Excited’, your ‘Thunder only happens when it’s raining’, if you’re ‘Not That Kind’ of girl but you’re a ‘Lucky’ ‘Survivor’, ‘Don’t Dream its Over’ – cause this show is ‘Simply the Best’ and its most definitely for ‘Absolutely Everybody’.

Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer