He Pūranga | Past Projects
The Battalion
19 - 21 October 2022
Ōtaki College and Whakatupuranga Rua Mano
Theatre Marae in schools
In 2022 Te Rākau worked with actors and students from Ōtaki, Porirua and Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai to present playwright Helen Pearse-Otene’s The Battalion.
The Battalion is a moving story about friendship, loyalty, madness and redemption – seen through the eyes of water 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: Tamati Moriarty
SUE LEWIS: Arihia Hayvice
RIMI DAVIES: Oriwa Jury, Mareikura Kāka
GEORGE DAVIES: Taleah Falamoe, Caitlin Henderson
ELENI POULLOI: Parearohi Edginton
JO BOY MATENE: Taurus Tumoana
ANARU KINGI: Te Ata Tu Patelesio
WIREMU DAVIES: Kauri Leach
CHARLIE MURRAY: Zion Matagi-Kolio
MATHIAS SCHWARTZ: Zechariah Julius-Donnelly
WĀHINE CHORUS: Kayla Hayward, Steph Crewther, Jewel Te Wiki, Marea Winterburn
TĀNE CHORUS: Wiremu Bousaab, Dylan Fa'atui, Te Tira Hou Taka, Josiah Jenkins Kolio, Tyrone Taueki-Monaghan
Creatives
Playwright: Helen Pearse-Otene
Director: Jim Moriarty
Choreographers: Kimberly Skipper, Jeremy Davis
Facilitators: Tamati Moriarty, Dylan Fa'atui, Ary Hayvice, Jewel Te Wiki, Cara Louise Waretini
Dance Coaches: Feet With Heat
Sound: Helen Pearse-Otene
Lighting: Lisa Maule
Stage Management: Dylan Fa'atui
Programme