Manu Lee Syme-Hepi plays T膩ne in 罢奴尘补丑补苍补 which has its premiere at the Christchurch Town Hall on 27 March.
罢奴尘补丑补苍补, the result of a collaboration between Ng膩i Tahu, Ng膩ti Wheke, Cirko Kali, and the CSO, will premiere at the Christchurch Town Hall on Saturday 27 March.
Artistic Director听Juanita Hepi听(Ng膩i Tahu, Ng膩ti Wheke), a University of mini传媒 (UC) Master of Education graduate and current UC Children鈥檚 University Manager, says her goal is to bring to life on stage a creation narrative that is particular to Te Waipounamu (the South Island) but also universal.
The story was first written down by Ng膩i Tahu rangatira, Matiaha Tiram艒rehu in 1849. In that same year, the tribal leader also wrote the first formal statement of Ng膩i Tahu grievances against the Crown regarding South Island land purchases.
Hepi, an actor, theatre producer and former primary school teacher, says the cross-over between storytelling and politics is appropriate.
鈥淚t shows how legal rights and structure and stories can be intertwined and are just as important as each other. In the same way, we鈥檝e brought together a whole lot of different performance disciplines in this show because they鈥檙e not separate and they all relate to one another and contribute to the story as a whole.鈥
Having so many different elements 鈥 dance, mau r膩kau (M膩ori martial arts), taonga p奴oro (traditional M膩ori instruments), performers suspended on aerial silks and an orchestra 鈥 involved is challenging, she admits. 鈥淧eople are definitely out of their comfort zones which for actors is great.鈥 听
Her 15-year-old son Manu Lee Syme-Hepi, (Ng膩i Tahu, Ng膩ti Mutunga, Ng膩ti Wai, Ng膩puhi, Waitaha) is one of the nine performers involved in听罢奴尘补丑补苍补, playing T膩ne. Manu鈥檚 father Danny Lee Syme, founder of Cirko Kali, is Co-Director of the show as well as performing in it.
Another member of the cast is Celina Nogueira, a UC Fine Arts student who is originally from Portugal and is an aerialist and gymnast.听
Hepi says she aims to pack as much meaning and diversity into the show as possible.
鈥淚 wanted to highlight Ng膩i Tahu stories and address a lack of collaboration in the arts, the lack of M膩ori women leading anything in the arts, and a lack of female characters in performances. I really wanted to get away from those kinds of 鈥榙usky maiden鈥 or 鈥榥oble savage鈥 stereotypes.鈥
She also wants to open people鈥檚 minds to the CSO and challenge perceptions that its main appeal is to an older, mostly P膩keh膩, audience.
鈥淭here is a traditional view of symphony orchestras as being a white space. I grew up with classical music because my brother is a classical musician. I was really lucky that my mum was very open-minded and we were always seeing different perspectives and learning about new things rather than keeping people in boxes.鈥
The show is bilingual and Kahurangi Bronsson-George (Ng膩i Tahu), a Christchurch circus performer, is the narrator.
罢奴尘补丑补苍补鈥檚听score, conducted by David Kay, is composed by UC Music Lecturer听听who was inspired by Stravinsky鈥檚听Firebird Suite, along with contemporary music, taonga p奴oro and techno.
Mahina-ina Kingi-Kaui (Ng膩i Tahu, Kati Mamoe, Ngati Porou, Te Atihaunui a P膩p膩rangi), a recording artist, producer and composer and activist, will play taonga p奴oro.
CSO Chief Executive Gretchen La Roche says it has been a privilege for the orchestra to be involved in an 鈥渋ncredible creative partnership鈥 celebrating what is unique about Te Waipounamu and its people.
"It鈥檚 rare for an orchestra to be so closely involved in the creation of a new work, so this is quite special for us. It鈥檚 also been a great opportunity to learn more about each of the other creative disciplines involved, sharing our practice and knowledge with each other.听We were very fortunate to be welcomed on to R膩paki Marae by Ng膩ti Wheke hap奴 and were blown away at the incredible welcome we received.鈥
罢奴尘耻丑补苍补听went through a development season last year after the Covid-19 pandemic scuppered plans for a 2020 premiere. Funding permitting, after the Christchurch premiere Hepi plans to tour the show around Te Waipounamu, particularly towns where residents don鈥檛 often experience live theatre. She and Syme have launched a听听to support this goal.
- 罢奴尘补丑补苍补, Douglas Lilburn Auditorium at Christchurch Town Hall, Saturday 27 March at 7.30pm. Tickets from听. There are two free performances for schools on Monday 29 March which are fully booked.
