In celebration of New Zealand Theatre Month, we’ve asked Aria Harrison-Sparke, a young Māori theatre maker, to share her experience of Toi Takapuna at The PumpHouse Theatre this year.
After seeing my first Shakespeare at The PumpHouse age six, I dived into theatre, with a passion, seeing as many productions as I could. I’ve now begun a degree in costume and production design and hope to work in theatre in the future.
When I was young I would be with my family or at my marae frequently, however this changed when my parents separated, and we gradually grew apart. Since then I have been in a sort of limbo, trying to connect to my Māori culture but finding barriers in place preventing me from taking up a lot of opportunities.
I’m proud that this year, The PumpHouse Theatre, where I work, is presenting a year-long season of uniquely Māori theatre. With Māori theatre so close to me I have a place where I can feel and express my culture with others through theatre, a passion of mine.
The season has included performances of Shot Bro, Rob Mokaraka’s personal story about depression and redemption; Heaven and Earth – Rangi and Papa, a magical glow-in-the-dark Matariki puppet show; and Te Rerenga – The Flight, the world’s first Māori rock-art puppet show.
Te Rerenga felt like home to me, the sharing of knowledge, music and whole families joining in really made this show as fantastic as it was.
I connected to Shot Bro on a bit of a different level. Within Māori families, particularly mine, the presence of mental health related illnesses is something rarely touched upon and not discussed but dismissed.
Seeing Rob bring his struggles to the stage and hold a korero after meant so much to me and showed that there is potential for more sharing and expression to be communicated by Māori through art.
Being able to come along to a workshop and learn about Harakeke on a Saturday morning and bring home pieces that I had made felt amazing.
To be Māori and see Māori stories presented by Māori people makes me feel a sense of pride. It sparks my creativity and pushes my mind into thinking of all the ways theatre can grow and develop using Māori influence.
For me, Toi Takapuna provided a place close to me where I could go to feel Māori and surround myself with others sharing my culture. I don't have access to any place for that in my personal life.
Next is Kōrero Pūrākau - Māori Storytelling. I’m so excited to be able to experience the legendary Rawiri Paratene acting as mentor, director and storyteller alongside young people just like me, working together to create a brand new, and uniquely New Zealand, piece of theatre.
‘Kōrero Pūrākau - Māori Storytelling’ is the final production of the Toi Takapuna season. 6-8 September, The PumpHouse Theatre.
We hope you can join us.
