Opening: Toi Whakaari Graduation Season

Wild Cabbage. Photo by Philip Merry

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THURSDAY 20 – SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER

This year Toi Whakaari’s Graduation Season consists of two productions: The Pohutukawa Tree by Bruce Mason and Wild Cabbage by James Beaumont. In these productions the third year actors take centre stage at the School for final time before their Graduation in November.

THE POHUTUKAWA TREE
The Pohutukawa Tree by one of New Zealand’s iconic playwrights is set in the 1950s New Zealand, a country on the cusp of change. A proud and spiritual Maori matriarch, Aroha attempts to instruct her children in Pakeha ways. But the post-war world of the ‘50s has arrived and she is left increasingly isolated as everything she loves and stands for comes under siege.

Acting Graduate Rachel House directs this rarely-performed classic New Zealand text. Rachel has been involved in the arts industry as an actor and a director for 18 years. She has performed in a variety of productions from contemporary Maori plays to Shakespeare, touring nationally and internationally.

She has also performed in the international award winning feature films Whale Rider, Taika Waititi’s Eagle versus Shark and most recently Boy. Rachel has received Chapman Tripp Acting awards for Best Newcomer for Briar Grace-Smith’s one woman show Nga Pou Wahine, Best Supporting Actress for Ibsen's Enemy of the People and Most Outstanding Performance for Witi Ihimaera’s highly acclaimed Woman Far Walking.

The Pohutukawa Tree performance on Wednesday 27 October will be AUDIO DESCRIBED for blind and visually impaired audience members. This is the first time Toi Whakaari offers an opportunity for visually impaired people to come and see the School’s production. Audience members will hear a live commentary of the performance through wireless one-ear receivers linked to a describer in a soundproof box at the rear of the theatre. Production Manager Sarah Adams said the initiative is in response to approaches from the Wellington branch of the Association of Blind Citizens New Zealand for theatres to make productions more accessible to visually impaired people.

Wed 20 - Sat 30 October, 6.30pm (no show 24 & 25 October)
WHERE: Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown, Wellington
TICKETS: $18/$12
For more information and to book tickets go to www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz

WILD CABBAGE
The second production of Toi Whakaari’s Graduation Season is an exciting, funny, innovative work about the classic kiwi farming family, urbanisation and isolation. Wild Cabbage traces the efforts of three trendsetting ‘bureaucrats’ and their boss, the eccentric Mr G. to reconcile a ‘freak’ with her cabbage-farming family.
(Please note: This production contains some strong language and sexual content.)

Directing Graduate (2004) Leo Gene Peters returns to Toi Whakaari to direct our graduating students. He has worked as a professional director, designer, technician, actor, tutor, facilitator and mentor for over 10 years. Most recently he directed and devised the 2009 STAB Season of Death and the Dreamlife of Elephants with his company, a slightly isolated dog, to tremendous critical and popular acclaim, earning three Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards (including Best Director of the Year for Leo) and 2 nominations (including production of the year).

"It's great to work at Toi Whakaari on such an exciting, funny and strange piece. The students are fantastic to work with and really delivering to the challenges of the piece. I spent my first years in New Zealand in this building, actually part of my very first day, and it's lovely to return."

Thu 21 - Sat 30 October, 7pm (no show 24 & 25 October)
WHERE: Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown, Wellington
TICKETS: $18/$12
For more information and to book tickets go to www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz

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