Everything is Wairua

Last year Hilary Halba interviewed Jim Moriarty, Helen Pearse-Otene and Lisa Maule of Te Rākau for her research about theatre for the book Acting in Aotearoa published by Routledge and co-edited with David O’Donnell. The resulting chapter is called ‘Everything is wairua’ and sits alongside other chapters with experiences and thoughts from many practitioners across our islands.

Topics discussed in the published Te Rākau interview range from ways Theatre Marae is applied within Te Rākau, Helen's experiences in actor training, and working with actors who have done kapa haka previously. The purpose of Te Rākau's approach is shared in conversation.

“Taking care of the people is the key” Jim Moriarty.

“There’s always been that healing aspect in theatre… and theatre is for everyone, for the citizenry.” Helen Pearse-Otene

cover of Acting in Aotearoa edited by Hilary Halba and David O'Donnell

At the end of the interview Hilary Halba asked about decolonisation, this was the response.

Helen:

Because the theatre is a space of potential, and it belongs to everyone and no one, and it's hallowed ground…

Jim:

It's a magic place. It's a joyous place. It's the ‘I can overcome fear place’... 

Helen:

And it's the drama in the tension place…

Jim:

And it's the non-judgement place.

Helen:

But even technically and with proxemics…  when two people get close to each other, or the distance between them decreases, the tension increases… and as they get closer, they are only gonna kiss or kill, you know what I mean? And we can use all of that in terms of trying to make sense of - and kōerō about - the Treaty. Have fearless conversations about, Te Tiriti. Because, it can help us get rid of some of that white noise that might be on some of our backs or inside our bodies. It can help us in the space to just say, ‘Tēnā koe, my name's Helen’.

Jim:

So Tiriti partnerships, and the environmental issues, those really matter. And, you know getting people out of jail. That's why we do it. And to have some fun along the way, eh?

Helen:

That simple.

The book was launched in Ōtepōti in 2025 and will also be launched in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

Link to the book