A Memoir Of Love, Life And War

Media Release: For Immediate Release
Atamira Dance Collective, DANZ and CART Present
Memoirs of Active Service

A Memoir Of Love, Life And War

Returning to the stage after a successful season at Auckland Festival 09, Atamira Dance Collective are now revitalising their critically acclaimed work; Memoirs of Active Service from July 2.

"Cleverly and dramatically vignettes the world at war and war's human face" - NZ Herald

"The skills of the dancers will knock your socks off. This is one well drilled and highly effective unit" - Rotorua Daily Post

A unique and poignant dance work commemorating love and the year of the veteran, Memoirs of Active Service received rave reviews and audience acclaim when it debuted in 2006.

An ex service man, Maaka Pepene has devised and based this work on his grandfathers diary which was recorded during his service in WWII. Memoirs of Active Service it is also inspired by the 28th Maori Battalion and 1940’s New Zealand. This time audiences are in for a treat, Maaka will be taking centre stage along with Justine Hohaia to perform the dance that was inspired by his Grandfathers story.

Remember. I am always thinking of your sweetheart, no matter how long I am away from you, don’t worry my dearest, I’ll come back to you. Yours till the stars lose their glory,
Charles Jack Murphy 29 July 1944 (Maaka Pepene’s Grandfather)

A moving and beautiful love story inspired by the keeper of the diary, Memoirs of Active Service is about ordinary New Zealanders being asked to do extraordinary things. We watch the journey of five characters from a rural Maori community, their transformation from pre- war to enlisting, training and then life afterwards, but always at the heart is the love and the sacrifices made by New Zealander’s during this time.

Memoirs of Active Service features songs of the era and an original sound-score composed by Paddy Free, lighting design by Vanda Karolczak, video design by Louise Potiki Bryant and narration by Jarod Rawiri. Performers include acclaimed dancers Maaka Pepene, Justine Hohaia, Jack Gray and Dolina Wehipeihana. Tamihana Paurini and Pare Randall will be joining the dance crew at Rose Centre while Tai Royal will be performing in Hamilton, Gisborne, Orewa and Browns Bay. Talented costume designers Julie Stevens and Debbie Hinden (cofounders and members of the MOA designer collective store) will be creating 1940’s inspired outfits for the performers.

DANZ and CART present the Auckland North Shore Tour of Memoirs of Active Service
CART, the newly created Auckland regional touring circuit, is an initiative by DANZ to support performing arts touring around the greater Auckland region.

ENDS

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