He Pūranga | Past Projects
The Battalion
1 - 5 May 2018
St Oran's College and St Patrick's College Silverstream
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Theatre Marae in schools
In 2018 Te Rākau applied its Theatre Marae technique to the story of New Zealand’s 28th Māori Battalion, presenting playwright Helen Pearse-Otene’s The Battalion with students from St Oran’s College and St Patrick’s College Silverstream in Te Whanganui a Tara (Wellington), New Zealand.
The Battalion is a moving story about friendship, loyalty, madness and redemption – seen through the eyes of war veteran Paora Matene, and relayed to his wayward charges Rimini and George.
The Theatre Marae environment challenges students to develop skills in a variety of areas, including: lateral thinking, spatial awareness and coordination, text analysis, self awareness and presentation, resilience, time management, and inter-personal communication.
The outcome is a high quality school production and enriching experience for audience members, performers, and their families. Students may also achieve NCEA credits.
Resources
The Battalion was presented with these students as a Theatre Marae in-school production. You can find out more about hosting your own in-school production below, or find out more about a soon-to-be-released education resource.
Cast
PAORA MATENE: Brendan English, Ryan Holtham
SUE LEWIS: Bella Craig, Sarah Fulbrook, Annie Ashton
RIMI DAVIES: Emma Bagley, Mia Kilmister, Sophie Pascoe
GEORGE DAVIES: Georgia Cotter, Kate Salisbury
ELENI POULLOI: Shifna Shahabdeen, Anya Lewis, Anya Hanbury-Sparrow
JO BOY MATENE: Nick Rudman, Kahutia Whaanga-Davies, Seb White
ANARU KINGI: Te Ata Tu Patelesio, Nanuma Mafileo
WIREMU DAVIES: Joeli, Kiann Goonewardene
CHARLIE MURRAY: Cason Mundy, Ryan Jennings
MATTHIS SCHWARTZ: Will Adams
TAI: Kate Benjes
KARA: Jemima Gregory
CHORUS MEMBERS: Will Adams, Annie Ashton, Emma Bagley, Reilly Behrent, Kate Benjes, Georgia Cotter, Bella Craig, Brendan English, Sarah Fulbrook, Kiann Goonewardene, Jemima Gregory, Liam Griffin, Anya Hanbury-Sparrow, Ryan Holtham, Ryan Jennings, Mia Kilmister, Anya Lewis, Nanuma Mafileo, Tamati Moriarty, Cason Mundy, Sophie Pascoe, Te Ata Tu Patelesio, Ehren Quinn, Nick Rudman, Kate Salisbury, Shifna Shahabdeen, Kahutia Whaanga-Davies, Seb White, Joeli, Ehren Quinn
Creatives
Playwright/Director: Helen Pearse-Otene
Director: Jim Moriarty
Producer: Aneta Pond
Stage Manager: Reilly Behrent
Coaches: Jeremy Davis, Kimberley Skipper and Steph Barnett
Lighting Design: Lisa Maule
Sound Design: Busby Pearse-Otene
Lighting Operator: Haami Hawkins
Costume Supervision: Cara Waretini
Swing Dance Coaches: Feet With Heat - Jo and Rodney
Programme
Media
If you have stories, profiles, photos or interviews from this production, get in touch.