Te Rākau Theatre and Ōtaki College present the play
T H E B A T T A L I O N
by Helen Pearse-Otene
Featuring actors and students from Ōtaki, Porirua and Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai
Wednesday 19th – Friday 21st October 6.00pm
Saturday 22nd October 1.00pm & 6.00pm
Ōtaki College Hall, 233 Mill Road, Ōtaki
Creative paepae: Jim Moriarty, Helen Pearse-Otene, Kimberly Skipper, Jeremy Davis, Tamati Moriarty, Dylan Fa’atui,
Ari Hayvice, Jewel Te Wiki & Cara Louise Waretini with dance coaching from Feat with Heat
Tickets $5 and $10 | cash OR EFTPOS on entry
The Battalion is a powerful play about friendship, loyalty, and the lost innocence of youth- where the adventure of war is played out to the bitter end.
Many members of the Māori Battalion were just kids, as young as 15, when they left for WWII, and seeing these soldiers portrayed by actual rangatahi, of that age, is a powerful and sobering experience. The rangatahi inhabit the world of the production. With their passion and aroha, they give back to us new understanding, new perspectives and the opportunity to heal the wrongs of the past.
CONTENT INFORMATION:
This play contains reference to war violence, sexual violence, loud noises and flashing lights.
The youngest cast member is 13, it has often been performed in schools and it is suitable for a youth audience. There is a facilitated conversation after the performance which often brings forward thoughtful reflections of war and the harm of unspoken things.
T H E B A T T A L I O N - DIGITAL
IN DEVELOPMENT
A screen version of the stage production of The Battalion will be an emotional and rewarding experience for audiences.
“There is something poignantly moving about watching kids of diverse cultures acting out roles
that their grandparents, great-grandparents or in this case, given how young they are,
great great grandparents lived for real.
At one stage my hair is prickling at the back of my neck and I feel tears welling… ”
Maraea Rakuraku for Theatreview
T H E B A T T A L I O N
PUBLISHED SCRIPT & EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE
THE BATTALION is available as a published script and educational resource.