Taki Rua Productions
“Make not your thoughts your prisons” (Wiremu Rurutaiaha / William Shakespeare).
Leading Aotearoa Māori theatre company Taki Rua Productions in partnership with TOA (Theatre of Auckland) co-present CELLFISH – an 85 minute “hard hitting” two hander theatre production looking at the Shakespeare Behind Bars programme within a New Zealand setting.
A dark humoured comedy with seven characters interchanged between the male and female cast, CELLFISH indigenously “colonises” Shakespeare’s writings, remoulding it into powerful Aotearoa storytelling.
Eight counts of unlawful entry using imagination, five counts of reckless use of Māori mythology, four counts possession and cultivation of Shakespeare, and one count – dangerous operation of a voice class… CELLFISH received rave reviews on our 2019 – 11 city Aotearoa tour, and premiered at the Auckland Arts Festival in 2017 and with Silo Theatre in 2018.
“There is no mistaking the gut-wrenching impact of this play” – Lindsay Clark, Theatreview
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatangamaha.
Tēnā koutou katoa.
Taki Rua produce, commission and develop theatre with a distinctively Māori voice. We collaborate with the brightest voices in our industry, touring productions both locally and internationally.
Since 1983, Taki Rua has been an arts industry leader – a creative rule breaker, continually evolving the definition of Māori theatre. We exist to connect our past and present and ensure Māori voices are heard worldwide.
Each year our team develop new works, supporting a range of talent and ensuring Māori theatre remains bold and contemporary. Our productions offer important contributions to New Zealand’s creative discourse, providing insight into the development of our nation.
Born from a traditional culture and adapting to a multicultural world, Taki Rua challenge audiences and artists to celebrate and share stories from our nation. Taki Rua explore the essence and perceptions of our place as the indigenous culture of Aotearoa.
Tānemahuta Gray
Kahukura
CEO / Artistic Director
tanemahuta@takirua.co.nz
+64 27 521 9589
