Presenting… THE TIWHAS!
Circa Two, Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki St, Waterfront, Wellington
04/06/2022 - 11/06/2022
Production Details
Ghostlight Wellington
Fringe’s ‘Best in Fest’ 2022! Back by popular demand!
Back by popular demand Fringe are delighted to announce “Re-Fringe” taking place at Circa Theatre from 4 – 11 June 2022. These additional events are to celebrate some of Fringe’s ‘Best in Fest’ 2022 seasons and support those artists affected by covid-19 settings during the festival.
Presenting… THE TIWHAS! After sold-out shows during the Fringe Festival, Ghostlight Wellington is returning to the stage, for the 2022 Re-Fringe. The Tiwhas, your new favourite girl group is made up of Wellington based takataapui drag queens.
Join these divas as they weave together musical theatre, drag hits and waiata Māori to present an evening of fun, costumes, choreography and stunning vocals. Oh – and of course – a flawless LIPSYNC too! Whatever you do, don’t miss out!
The Tiwhas is made up of three local Pōneke queens:
JTHAN
Slay West
Raureti Ormond
Featuring Kree Matthews, Joe Mara and Hayden Taylor.
Dare to be entertained!
Circa Two
Sat 4 – Sat 11 June
Sat, Tues – Sat 7.30pm; Sun 4.30pm
$25 – $35 (plus $50 combo ticket available to both Circa Re-Fringe 2022 shows)
Book Now!
Originally performed at BATS Theatre and Roxy Live as part of Fringe Festival 2022.
Cabaret , Dance-theatre , LGBTQIA+ , Theatre ,
1 hr 15 mins, no interval
‘Simply the Best’ and for ‘Absolutely Everybody’
Review by Jo Hodgson 08th Jun 2022
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’.
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