PATUAFresh from one of New Zealand’s hottest Māori playwrights, Renae Maihi, comes PATUA, a brave new story about the death of a small child at the hands of her family.

PATUA is a verb that means to strike, hit, beat, kill, subdue, ill-treat. This story centres on baby Moni who has been beaten to within an inch of her life, a life that was wrought with poverty, desperation and broken hearts. But her cry for justice and love will not be unheeded when in a twist of fate, her unknown extended whānau discover the truth and bury her as the princess she should have been.

Following two vastly different whānau of the same whakapapa, but different tikanga, PATUA constantly asks the question “what happened to make them behave like that?” It’s a play that will provoke audiences to consider ‘nature over nurture’ and whether the wider historical and social issues facing Māori, have played a role in creating the abusers.

Writer/ Director Renae Maihi says that PATUA mirrors society but its enduring message is that when all is said and done, this must never happen again:

“I am pleased to bring this important work to the stage. We’ve seen multiple cases of child abuse in New Zealand and though I am not saying it is specifically a Māori problem, it is undeniably so. It is my belief that real change can only happen from the inside so as an "insider" ie. a Maori woman, I decided it was necessary for me to write this play because the children we have lost during my life time is unacceptable to me. Writing this play is my way of exploring some of the tough realities, examining the issues and history that has given birth to these tragedies and suggesting the importance of maintaining ones culture because this is not our way.”

Before it has even hit the stage, PATUA is already scooping awards with Renae Maihi receiving Best Play by a Māori Playwright at the recent ADAM NZ Play Awards.

Featuring a stellar cast of superb talent, PATUA welcomes to the stage: William Davis, Stephen Butterworth, Aroha Hathaway, Maria Walker, Cian Elyse White, Vinnie Bennett, Mohi Critchley and introducting Ngahuia Piripi.

Ends

A new stage play presented by Blanket & Musket ProductionsWritten & Directed by Renae Maihi

Press Release (23rd April 2013) For immediate Release

Writer/Director: Renae MaihiProducer: Hiona Henare ~ Blanket & Musket ProductionsProduction Asst: Padma AkulaLighting: Jane HakaraiaCostume: Shona TawhiaoSet: Hemi KiwikiwiSound: Sean LynchCast: William Davies Stephen Butterworth Aroha Hathaway Maria Waliker Cian Elyse White Vinnie Bennett Mohi Critchley Ngahuia Piripi

Where TAPAC100 Motions RoadWestern Springs, Auckland

When Wednesday 15 May 8.00pmThursday 16 May 8.00pmFriday 17 May 1.00pm & 8.00pmSaturday 18 May 8.00pmSunday 19 May 4.00pmThursday 23 May 8.00pmFriday 24 May 8.00pmSaturday 25 May 8.00pmSunday 26 May 4.00pm

Price Waged $25.00Unwaged $20.00

Bookings http://tapac.org.nz/2012/05/patua/

www.tapac.org.nz

tickets@tapac.org.nz

TAPAC Box Office : 09-845 0295 Ex 2

Social Media www.facebook.com/patuaproduction

Media enquiries Hiona HenareProducer027-825-4348hiona@blanketandmusket.co.nz

PATUA

A new stage play presented by Blanket & Musket ProductionsWritten & Directed by Renae Maihi

PATUA a Movement!

Our goal is to take PATUA on the road and to share our message to the wider community

where we feel the issue surrounding child abuse and domestic violence will hit the hearts of the

people it affects.

We want to share our message with as many Marae as possible, as many poverty-stricken

communities as possible, as many theatre and school venues as possible - we aretaking our movement to the world.

Patua is a positive driving force, a positivemovement by the people for the people.

We hope youʼll support our kaupapa by helping us to reach the homes of as many New

Zealanders as possible.

Renae Maihi has worked as an actor/writer/director for the past 10 years in theatre, television and film. In 2008 her play Nga Manurere was selected for professional development with Playmarket and the following year went on to be one of the most critically acclaimed plays of 2009 being named by The Herald, as “the surprise jewel of the year”. Recently, Renae received the ADAM NZ PLAY AWARD for “Best Play by a Maori Playwright” for her new body work, PATUA.

Very soon after Nga Manurere, Renae worked as one of the core writers and story liners for the unproduced TV series Waimarie alongside well-respected writers such as Briar Grace-Smith, Riwia Brown and Kath Akuhata-Brown. With these skills in hand she then went on to be a core story liner and writer for TV 3’s Brown Bruthaz with Tim Balme.

In 2010 Renae again co-wrote alongside Tim Balme and Katie Wolfe for the short film Redemption which was selected for the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

Recognising the strength of her work, Script to Screen selected Renae for the 2010 Screen Writers Lab. This lab led to her writing the short film Butterfly which was unanimously selected for the NZ Film Commissions Fresh Shorts initiative. Renae directed Butterfly in 2012 and is currently in discussion for international festival selection and distribution.

With the support of Creative NZ, Renae was able to write her second play PATUA. This script was entered into Playmarket NZ’s Brown Ink development initiative and was fortunate to be selected for further development.

Renae’s directorial credits include Butterfly, a short film, Hokianga Home, a self-funded feature documentary, Tangi, a theatre piece and non-professional full theatre piece Whatungarongaro te Tangata.

As a creative, the skills that Renae learnt whilst studying a Bachelor of Performing Arts at Te Wananga o Aotearoa in the early 2000’s have greatly informed many of her works as a Māori contributor to the arts landscape in Aotearoa.

OUR TEAM Renae Maihi

Writer & Director

Hiona has spent over fifteen years working in the Māori creative industries as a producer, director, writer and performer - she is deeply dedicated to the advancement of Māori Cinema, Theatre, Dance and Broadcasting.

Hiona has produced many high profile events, conferences, festivals, tours, contemporary dance tours, te reo māori tours, theatre, music videos, television and recently film. She is the former Executive Officer of Nga Aho Whakaari – the provocative industry guild representing Māori working in Film & Television.

While studying at South Seas Film School, Hiona produced, wrote and directed her first short film Uru. To date Uru has received three film awards as well as being selected for several NZ film festivals. Uru was selected for the 2011 Toronto imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and featured on Māori Television as part of the 2012 Waitangi programming. Uru will also screen at the Museum Fuer Voelkerkunde in Hamburg Germany in June 2013.

Hiona has managed and toured five Te Reo Māori Theatre shows with Taki Rua Productions as well as managing a string of award winning plays for the production company including Strata by Kirk Torrance, Purapurawhetu by Briar Grace Smith, Nga Tangata Toa by Hone Kouka and The Untold Tales of Maui by Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi. Hiona has also worked as a regular Associate Producer for Atamira Dance Collective, touring the group around New Zealand, and to the stunning Tjibou Centre in New Caledonia.

Currently Hiona has three short films in pre-production under her company Blanket & Musket. Previously, Hiona has served on the executive boards of Nga Aho Whakaari and Women in Film and Television.

Hiona HenareProducer ~ Blanket & Musket Productions

Rachel is a highly respected and crafted director of both film and theatre and a recent Arts Laureate recipient for 2012. Her recent production of The Māori Troilus and Cressida saw her skilfully direct a cast of over 17 actors of varying age groups all in Te Reo Māori and win best director by the Chapman Tripp awards. This production toured and played at the prestigious Globe Theatre in London during 2012.

In 2009 Rachel directed the highly anticipated season of Kirk Torrences play Flintlock Musket which had a near sold-out season. The following year she took up the challenge to direct a second season of Renae Maihi’s Nga Manurere which again received critical acclaim.

The exploration of her craft as a film director took her to The Prague Film School in 2008. This led to her directing her short film The Winter Boy which premiered at the Auckland Film Festival to a full Civic theatre audience. Rachels understanding of form, characterisation, rhythm and story makes her a highly valued director.

A multi talented and multi faceted arts practitioner, Rachel is one of the best actresses of her generation having been awarded numerous accolades such as Most Outstanding Performance for Witi Ihimaera's highly acclaimed Woman Far Walking and Best Newcomer for Briar Grace-Smiths' one woman show Nga Pou Wahine.

StephenActor

Rachel House Director’s Mentor

\William Davis Actor

William Davis is a New Zealand actor, director and playwright whose film, television and theatre work has spanned over 30 years.

Williams’s powerful theatre presence received critical acclaim with his role in Renae Maihi’s Nga Manurere. William has also toured with his self-written solo play Taku Mangai as well as his follow up play Tau Te Rangimarie.

Recently William travelled to London’s Globe theatre to perform in The Māori Troilus and Cressida.

He has played roles in TV and film productions such as Billy, Crooked Earth, Rapanui, Mataku and most recently TV 2’s Go Girls.

Stephen graduated from Toi Whakaari in 1994. He has been working as an professional actor/performer for more than 25 years . It has taken him from Australia to Japan and Hawaii with shows like Waiora, West Side Story and Brain dead - the musical. He has been involved with the Wet Hot Beauties performing in Parnell Pools and has appeared in TV shows such as Sparticus , Nothing Trivial and is Lloyd for Sky TV commercials. Stephen also features in the hugely successful new release of the film Evil Dead and has come directly from the Auckland Arts Festival highlight of 2013 of the play Hui.

Stephen ButterworthActor

Aroha HathawayActor

Aroha Hathaway is a popular radio show host, television presenter, fashionista, producer, singer/songwriter, actress and mother. With a deep passion for inter-acting with people, her knack for socialising is infectious and people warm to her for her bubbly personality and genuine enthusiasm for life. With over 15 years in broadcasting Aroha is best recognised as one of the hosts from the popular Good Morning show. Aroha also spent a few seasons hosting the award winning reality television show Marae DIY. Now-a-days Aroha is focused on her radio journalism career as well as developing her professional acting career. She has appeared in several tvc’s and television drama’s - she recently landed a lead role in the anticipated short film Butterfly (written & directed by Renae Maihi).

PATUA will be Aroha’s debut appearance on stage.

Maria Walker Actress

Maria Walker has a degree in theatre studies from Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School and within her first few years working as a professional actress landed a lead role in NZ telefeature Rage.

Maria also worked alongside James Cameron as a featured extra and stunt performer in his blockbuster success Avatar. She successfully secured a lead role in New Zealand television series Brown Bruthaz and guest roles in This Is Not My Life and Kōrero Mai. Recently Maria played a supporting role in Mt Zion in which she has received critical acclaim and will likely win awards for her work on this film.

Maria's next project involves working with Jane Campion in a BBC Series Top of the Lake. As well as her extensive film and TV experience Maria has also had roles in theatre productions such as The Pohutukawa Tree with ATC, Flintlock Musket and Taki Ruas production of The Prophet.

New to the world of professional acting, Vinnie began acting at high school before joining the Aranui Theatre Academy in 2010 where he landed roles on the kids’ television shows’ What Now and The Erin Simpson Show. Following the February earthquake Vinnie moved to Auckland to continue his work in the performing arts in film and theatre. Current acting credits include: Hui (March 2013), Macbeth (2011), Patutupaeareherehe (2011), and A Night In Elsinore (2010)

Vinnie BennettActor

A 2010 Chapman Tripp Nominee for Most Promising Female Newcomer confirmed Cian Elise-White’s unique talent as an actress. A graduate of Toi Whakaari, Cian has worked consistently in TV and theatre since her professional career begun.

Her television roles include Leanne in The Blue Rose, Andy in Underbelly – The Land of the Long Green Cloud and My Story Party Goer by Gibson Group. A vastly experienced theatre actress, some of Cian’s career highlights have included productions such as Mo & Jess Kill Susie, a supporting lead in ATC’s Awatea and a lead role in Smackbang Theatre Company’s production of Albert Belz’s Te Awarua.

Mohi Critchley is a proud descendant of Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipipi Te Waharoa of Ngati Haua iwi, he was raised in the land of Ngati Paoa, in a small rural town called ‘Kaiaua’

PATUA will be Mohi’s second professional play after graduating from P.I.P.A in 2012. Mohi’s was recently involved in the provocative show ‘The Last Taniwha” which shared the message of violence within families.

Mohi Critchley will be a name to remember. He’s young, passionate, gentle and focused. We expect Mohi to have a long and fruitful career in film, theatre and television.

Cian Elise-WhiteActress

Mohi CritchleyActor

i Ngahuia Piripi Actor

A newcomer to the stage, Ngahuia began her actingcareer when she landed a role on the Māori drama series Whanau. She then successfully secured a lead role in Korero Mai followed by roles in short films such as Ride and Weaving Texas Bread.

Ngahuia is an active member of the Te Whanau-a-Apanui Kapahaka group who placed second at the recent Te Matatini competition. She is focused on working towards a Bachelor in Māori Media at AUT University as a means to develop her career in acting and media.

PATUA will be Ngahuia’s debut appearance on stage, a role in which she dedicates to her daughter Owairea Tawera.

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