The Conchus Season 2009
Directed by Nina Nawalowalo & Tom McCrory
Dramaturgy by Briar Grace Smith
18 – 29 August, 7.00pm
BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
book@bats.co.nz or 802 4175
Nina has launched Conchus to provide a platform not only for the mentoring and showcasing of emerging Maori and Pacific
talent but as a vehicle to get the stories of three young women onto the stage.
Nina says of the season - “These new works contain issues central to New Zealand today. Violence against children, the
impact of Alzheimer’s on a family and the experience of immigration on a young Pacific Islander. Issues so often
presented through the media but here told by young women from those communities.
Through their bravery I hope that audiences will gain direct insight into the heart of this experience. These are not
statistics these are human stories, unmediated and vital. Theatre has the ability to bring this awareness. Through
telling their stories the young women themselves become more conscious, through bringing them to an audience we hope to
share that consciousness –hence the Conchus Season.”
Nina has assembled an impressive team of mentors to work with performers Kristyl Neho, Princess te Puea Whioke and
Fijian New Zealander Kasaya Manulevu. Along side Conch co founder Tom McCrory- Briar Grace Smith as dramaturg, Sarah
Foster and Canadian dancer Andrea Tutt as dance mentors and last years Chapman Tripp lighting designer of the year 2008
Lisa Maule make up the artistic team.
This broad range of skills reflects the dynamic diversity of the pieces themselves, which move from an explosive
cocktail of Tap, Hip Hop and Kapa Haka, through Magic and illusion and impressive writing and multi character story
telling.
'Te Mahara - The Memory'
Co devised and Performed by Kristyl Neho
‘Te Mahara' means 'The Memory' and is a one woman 1hour solo. Kristyl developed the core of piece drawing on her own
experience of her Grandmothers journey into Alzheimer’s and memory loss. Transporting us the heart of Hastings Kristyl
plays over ten different characters to sometimes hilarious sometimes heartbreakingly poignant effect. First developed as
a solo at Toi Whakaari
"Some Things Can't Be Healed By Bandages'
Co devised and performed by Princess Te Puea Whioke
"Some Things Can't Be Healed By Bandages' is a 30 minute one woman solo combining physical theatre, dance and
storytelling. Exploring the highly charged and current subject of violence against children. Originally developed as a
solo at Wellington performing arts.
"Yalewa"
Co devised and performed by Kasaya Manulevu
"Yalewa" Fijian for 'Woman' is a 30 minute piece of visual theatre combining physical theatre with magic and illusion.
The piece explores the impact of the loss of a Mother and immigration on a young Fijian New Zealander. Photographs and
objects may be all that we have left when someone leaves us. When these objects are of cultural significance our sense
of loss and dislocation can be doubled as our living connection to them passes away. In this piece themes of identity,
cultural dislocation, grief and hope combine with the rich poetic style for which the Conch has become internationally
recognised.
ENDS