Synopsis

By Tanemahuta Gray
Māui artistic director

Māui – One man against the gods is a bold stage production that tells the legends of our most famous of Polynesian ancestors, Māui tikitikia Taranga, in a unique theatrical setting.

Combining aerial theatre, contemporary dance, physical theatre and kapa haka, Māui combines the very best of western theatre art techniques with our own beautiful Māori culture and language.

The show tells the life story of this Polynesian hero as he fetches fire from Mahuika, fishes up the North Island of Aotearoa, traps Tama-nui-te-rā and attempts to claim mortality by defeating Hinenuitepō.

Combining the talents of composer Gareth Farr and Richard Nunns, contemporary choreographer Merenia Gray, drama director Geoff Pinfield, musical direction by Louise Clark, aerial direction by Tanemahuta Gray and extensive kapa haka improvements developed by Tuirina Wehi, Kereama and Kura Te Ua from Te Waka Huia, Māui has stared Tamati Patuwai, Mere Boynton, Toni Huata, Taiaroa Royal and Jason Te Patu.

Māui performed in Wellington in 2005 and Christchurch in 2006, with over 30,000 people having already experienced this nation-building production. So far 8,600 students have had the opportunity to see this show at heavily reduced rates in Christchurch and Wellington, and this is set to continue in the North Island tour to Auckland, Hamilton and a return to Wellington in April/May 2007.

With the interest so high in this show, Te Ao Marama Tapui Ltd (Andre Anderson, Richard Boon and Tanemahuta Gray who are the producers of Māui) are very excited to be working with Victoria University College of Education, Māori department, to build three new units for teachers and students to broaden our rangatahi experience of Māui – One man against the gods.