What began as an experience in biculturalism between Māori and Pākehā grew into Taki Rua Theatre, the unofficial national Māori theatre company. As we tour the motu with the latest ensemble of young artists, we witness the deeply personal and politically visionary story of the 30-year struggle to create a truly bicultural force, and the wāhine toa who agitated for change.
Screened as part of 2024
Taki Rua Theatre - Breaking Barriers 2024
Ko Tapu-te-ranga karanga atu ki a Tangi-te-keo, ki a Whitireia,
Whitireia titiro ki a Marotiri, ki te ata hāpara ki runga o Hikurangi,
Hikurangi titiro ki a Tongariro, ki a Pīhanga, ki a Tauhara, ki a Taiarahia, ki a Ngongotahā, ki a Taupiri, ki te maunga tītohea, ko Koro Taranaki. Ko Taranaki e karangahia atu, ‘ko rātou, ko mātou, ko tātou’. E ngā maunga whakahī, i whai hā ai te Whare Tapere o Takirua,
i tauwhirotia tea ao, me te pō, tēnei te whakamānawa atu nei
“Stories about people like us.”
Post the 1981 Springbok tour, as New Zealanders were embracing a new maturity of valuing their own identity, a group of liberal-minded Pākehā theatre practitioners took over the running of an unwanted theatre space in downtown Wellington near Downstage Theatre.
The New Depot focused on New Zealand stories for New Zealand audiences. Within a few years the original collective’s thinking grew to understand that to truly represent our stories, they needed to be in partnership with Māori and the humble theatre company evolved into Taki Rua Theatre.
Taki Rua has survived financial struggles, creative disputes, earthquakes, intolerance, and internal conflict to navigate its place today as the unofficial national Māori theatre of Aotearoa.
In her film, director Whetū Fala connects with Taki Rua actors, writers, producers, directors, staff, governors and te reo Māori advocates who have helped shape the theatre company over the last 40 years – the experiences and challenges faced by Taki Rua mirroring our journey towards nationhood.
Observation, interviews and rare archival footage are combined with filmed extracts of groundbreaking Taki Rua dramas including Te Hokina, Purapurawhetū, Whatungarongaro, and Ngā Tangata Toa. These plays originally shocked audiences with incisive social commentary. Fast forward to present day and a new Taki Rua production for children, Te Kuia Me Te Pūngāwerewere, presents an immersive te reo Māori play that is received with joy and happiness
It’s hard to imagine a theatre scene in Aotearoa today that doesn’t include stories about ourselves. Taki Rua Theatre – Breaking Barriers is a reminder that they exist because people took chances and broke down barriers.