City: Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival

Be Like Billy?

Aotearoa's newest Māori cabaret is hui-hopping around Aotearoa this September and October! 

“Be Like Billy? will surely go down as a true taonga of Aotearoa’s theatre history” - Backstage Christchurch | Belinda Cullen Reid

Join the award-winning entertainer, Rutene Spooner as he celebrates the show-band legacy, idolises the greatest Māori showman, and tussles with the future of Māori in entertainment.

Featuring the flashest southern showband The Tekīra Mutton Birds, Be Like Billy? strums up all new and original waiata, garage party classics and old-school hits from the likes of Uncle Howie, The Prince of Jandels and Te legend, Te master, Te chuckling funny-fala.

Be Like Billy? is everything but an impersonation show. Can you Be like Billy without being the butt of the joke?

“Spooner lays out this complexity for us in a show that starts with joy and celebration, with nostalgia, then pivots to something more complex when the audience is confronted with the division between laughing at and laughing with” — Flat City Field Notes | Erin Harrington

 

Creator - Rutene Spooner
Director - Holly Chappell-Eason
Musical Director - Henare Kaa
Kaiawhina - Juanite Hepi
Set Design - Rosie Gillmore
Lighting Design / Operator - Molloy
Audio Engineer / Company Manager - Matt Eller
Graphic Design - George Wallace
Production Manager - Emily Hakaraia (PANNZ)
Producer - Metro Maori Productions Ltd
Script Advisor - Gregg Cooper
Music - Various composers
Original Compositions - Rutene Spooner
Musical Arrangements - Henare Kaa

Performer - Rutene Spooner
Musical Director / Drums - Henare Kaa
Guitar - Heather Webb
Base - Clayton Hiku
Keys - Jack Bubb

Originally commissioned by The Court Theatre, produced by Metro Māori Productions and presented as part of the PANNZ (Performing Arts Network New Zealand) touring programme.

Special thanks to Pilot Productions, Eruera Pirini, Tom Eason, Kate McGill, Dolina Weihipeihana, Silhouette Studios, Showbiz Christchurch, Andi Crown, Charlie Rose Photography.

Recommended for ages 15+. Contains some strong language and adult themes.

UPU (2023)

Following critical acclaim as a major new production for Silo Theatre in the 2020 Auckland International Arts festival, and a sell out season in Wellington at the Kia Mau Arts Festival in June 2021, the award-winning UPU will be presented across Aotearoa in October 2023 as part of PANNZ's touring programme.

“In short, UPU shows Oceanic storytelling is truly amazing” - NZ Herald

The power of Māori & Pasifika literature roaring to theatrical life.

The world of Oceania is not small. From the energetic volcanoes of O’ahu to the southern reaches of Aotearoa, she is borderless and vast – and growing bigger by the day. After decades of dismissal and disconnection, her children are closer than ever. It’s time for a reunion.

In Samoan “upu” means “word”.

Curated by award-winning poet Grace Iwashita-Taylor and led by powerhouse director Fasitua Amosa, UPU gives the stage to Oceania’s most electrifying poetry. Ben Brown, Karlo Mila, Albert Wendt and more: UPU is for the trailblazers, the icons and the new writers transforming Aotearoa today.

In UPU, borders disappear and for just over an hour, the theatre becomes a sea of Islands. Be transported across an ocean to hear the voices dealing with colonisation, family, climate change, love, sex, religion, power and tourists.

Performed by a stellar cast of some of the best Tagata Moana actors in Aotearoa NZ - Maiava Nathaniel Lees, Mia Blake, Ana Corbett, Shadon Meredith,  James Maeva, Nicola Kāwana and Nora Aati.

“This show is pure oratory and storytelling at its finest.” - Theatrescenes (NZ)

Curator - Grace Iwashita-Taylor
Director - Fasitua Amosa
Set Design - Michael McCabe
Light and Projection Design - Rowan Pierce
Soundscape Design / Original Composition - 'Anonymouz', aka Faiumu Matthew Salapu
Costume Design - Kristin Seth
Artist / Projection Mamanu Design - Tyla Vaeau
Movement / Choreographer - Joash Fahitua

SHOW AWARDS: Best Director & Best Sound Design, Wellington Theatre awards, 2021

Supported by Creative New Zealand, produced by UPU Collective and presented as part of the PANNZ (Performing Arts Network New Zealand) touring programme.

Recommended for ages 15+. Contains strong language and adult themes.

AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES AND TOUCH TOURS

PANNZ are delighted to be partnering once again with Audio Described Aotearoa, supported by Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture and Heritage, to offer touch tours and audio described (AD) performances of UPU for the low vision community in Taranaki, Rotorua, Tauranga and the Hawke’s Bay. Full booking details for the AD performances can be downloaded here.

The Haka Party Incident

Following its renowned sold-out premiere season in 2021, The Haka Party Incident will be presented across Aotearoa in June 2023 as part of PANNZ's touring programme.

“Masterfully brings to life a bold act of resistance…intensely funny, to heartbreakingly sad in a single beat”

Theatreview, 09 April 2021

The last New Zealand war took place in Auckland in 1979. It lasted three minutes.

The Haka Party Incident resurrects the eventful day when a group of University of Auckland engineering students rehearsing their annual tradition of a mock haka are confronted by the activist group, He Taua.

The incident sent ripples through the nation and changed race relations in New Zealand forever.

Crafted by film-maker and theatre director Katie Wolfe (The Mooncake and the Kūmara, Waru, He Māngai Wāhine, Artefact), The Haka Party Incident is verbatim theatre that innovatively combines documentary and kapa haka to thrilling effect.

Provocative, resonant and unforgettable, The Haka Party Incident is a not-to-be-missed theatre event.

Writer & Director - Katie Wolfe
Kaiako Kapa Haka/ Kaitito Haka - Nīkau Balme
Sound Design& Musical Direction - Kingsley Spargo
Taonga Pūoro - Whetu Silver
Set Design - John Verryt
Lighting Design - Jo Kilgour
Costume Design - Alison Reid
Performers - Roimata Fox, Nī Dekkers-Reihana, Lauren Gibson, Aidan O’Malley, Patrick Tafa, Kauri Williams, Finley Hughes

Supported by Creative New Zealand, produced by Tasman Ray Productions and presented as part of the PANNZ (Performing Arts Network New Zealand) touring programme. Originally commissioned and produced by Auckland Theatre Company, original season co-presented by Auckland Festival.
By arrangement with Playmarket.

The PANNZ national tour will be followed later this year with shows at Tauranga Arts Festival (19-20 Oct) and Court Theatre in Christchurch (25 Oct - 11 Nov).

Thoroughly Modern Māui

Metro Māori Productions Ltd's Thoroughly Modern Māui will be presented across Aotearoa in September/October 2022 as part of PANNZ's touring programme, Tour-Makers. Tour dates and regions will be announced soon.

 

 

 

Director - Matariki Whatarau
Dramaturge - Kate Prior & Renee Lyons
Writer/Performer - Rutene Spooner
Music - Te Aihe Butler & Rutene Spooner
Costume - Tina Thomas
Executive Producer - Metro Māori Productions Ltd
Production Partner - Pilot Productions

Image credit (hero): Ivan Muller
Image credit (production photos): Jack Barry, 2113 Creative

Many moons ago, a superhero of a different kind ruled this side of the Pacific. His name was Māui-Tikitiki-A-Taranga – MĀUI.

A warrior and demigod, his adventures are woven into the fabric of Pacific history. In Aotearoa, this ‘Māori Superman’ was fast, fit, and funny. He was the total package. He slowed the sun, fished up the North Island and brought fire to the world – to name just a few of his feats!

Burgeoning music theatre star Rutene Spooner is channelling this Māori hero into a modern-day icon – complete with rhinestones and glitter. This ‘haka-boogie-hori’ will be pulling out all his tricks from the past and reincarnating Māui into a living breathing musical rock star before your very eyes. Featuring charmingly quick-witted songs, hilarious antics and heart-felt storytelling.

 

Developed in partnership with Auckland Live.

"A highly talented and hilarious performer... the whanaungatanga
between Spooner and his band radiates authenticity and joy." - Theatrescenes