Majestic Story of Love, Redemption and Whanau on Stage

Majestic Story of Love, Redemption and Whanau on Stage in Auckland

“a most engaging and dynamic piece of NZ theatre” – The Dominion Post

“… my favourite… strongly performed and imaginatively staged” – Sir Ian McKellen

Tu – a majestic story of love, redemption, whanau and brotherhood, comes to the Auckland stage in July.

Tawata Productions presents the stage adaptation of Patricia Grace’s award-winning novel Tu at Q Theatre from 20-27 July as part of the Matariki Festival.

Written and directed by celebrated playwright and director Hone Kouka, Tu examines themes of love, redemption and whānau, speaking to individual and collective repercussions of war.

“Moving into this new evolution of Tu, I am excited by the challenge of creating with such dynamic artists, to give the script more richness and depth, and working with new collaborators. My hope is to create a beautiful and resonant piece of art,” Hone says.

Tu first premiered at the 2012 New Zealand International Arts Festival and the Auckland season follows a return Wellington season of the play.

Weaving together text and image, Tu is an epic tale set against 1940s Wellington, the battlefields of Monte Cassino and post-war Te Tairawhiti on the North Island’s East Coast. After years of self imposed exile, Old Tu (played by Tammy Davis) is found and visited by his brother’s children. In search of answers, their presence triggers an unstoppable wave of memories that envelopes Tu and forces him to confront and embrace the ghosts of his past.

“We’re thrilled to be presenting Tu in Auckland, where we hope even more people will be able to watch one of this country’s most important stories unfold. There are some rich, universal threads running through this production,” Hone says.

Hone Kouka's previous theatrical works include I, George Nepia, the internationally acclaimed Waiora and The Prophet. He was the youngest playwright to win the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award in 1992, and is also a screenwriter, essayist, producer and actor.

For her novel, Patricia Grace drew on the experiences of her father as a member of the 28th Māori Battalion in Italy during World War II. Tu won the Deutz Medal and the Montana Award for Fiction at the 2005 New Zealand Book Awards.

Tu is at Q Theatre from Saturday 20 to Saturday 27 July with a preview performance Friday 19 July. Book at Q Theatre or online at www.qtheatre.com or phone (09) 309 9771.

“powerful, moving and resounding…a profound experience that goes to the heart” – Theatreview

BACKGROUND INFORMATION – Tu – TAWATA PRODUCTIONS

Tawata Productions is a Māori production house established in 2004, specialising in the development and production of new work from Aotearoa New Zealand. Their portfolio includes Tu, the multiple award-winning I, George Nepia, the drama Sunset Road, the charming solo The Mourning After and He Reo Aroha. In 2013, Tawata presents the return of Tu in both Wellington and Auckland; the debut stageplay The Legacy of the Moon People by Sarita So; the annual new works festival Matariki Development Festival 2013; the Rotorua season of Sunset Road by Miria George; as well as the multi award-winning production of I, George Nepia, presented throughout Aotearoa.

CAST

Tammy Davis – Old Tu
Kimo Houltham – Tuboy
Jarod Rawiri – Philomel (Pita in the book)
Taungaroa Emile – Boydie a.k.a. Woody (Rangi in the book)
Tina Cook – Ma (Irihapeti)
Kali Kopae – Moana
Aroha White – Jess
Matu Ngaropo – Benedict
Erina Daniels – Rimini
Scott Cotter – Cousin Hoki

Set design – Mark McEntyre
Lighting design – Ulli Briese
Sound and Music design – Karnan Saba
Costume design – Clare Bowden
Haka Composition – Hone Hurihanganui
Production manager – Laurie Dean

Producer Tawata –Miria George

ENDS

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