Amber Curreen Photo: Supplied
Kōanga Festival in Tāmaki Makaurau is celebrating 10 years with a packed three-and-a-half week programme and more than 12 events. The annual theatre festival which celebrates and focuses on Māori storytelling is hosted at Te Pou Theatre and Te Rehia Theatre from the 6-28 September.
Koanga is spring. In Maramataka Māori (the Maori lunar calendar), it’s the season to plant for the next year. Kōanga Festival takes inspiration from this, creating a space and cultivating Māori and indigenous storytelling and in particular, encouraging new works and developing new talent.
To mark a decade, it’s been expanded. This year’s programme showcases new work from experienced creators. Scotty Cotter’s Neke will have its Tāmaki Makaurau debut following sold out shows at Kia Mau Festival in Wellington - a physical theatre piece about self-discovery.
Rising stars Acacia O’Connor and Hone Taukiri will premiere their new works and both plays explore being Māori and growing up in alternative upbringings.
This year, Kōanga has partnered with New Zealand Opera for Tōiri, hosted by opera star Kawiti Waetford with four kaiwaiata who will sing opera in te reo Māori. This will be during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori language week.
Alongside Kōanga Festival will be the International Indigenous Programme. The festival will end with Rutene Spooner’s new show Be Like Billy? Looking at the influence and legacy of the famous Billy T James.
A vital part of the annual programme is supporting new works from Māori writers. Four playwrights workshop their new plays with a mentor, director, actors and a public reading with the first presentation of that work.
In the past 10 years, the festival has supported almost 50 playwrights with 10 plays being fully produced after the workshops.
Annual highlights including Kaumatua Day and Whānau Day return with live performances, kai stalls and cultural workshops like weaving and circus demonstrations from The Dust Palace and music from MOHI.
Festival director Amber Curreen speaks to Perlina Lau of Culture 101 about the significance and success of the festival and importance of nurturing the next wave of storytellers.
