Million dollar show receives standing ovation Tiki Taane Mahuta - once in a lifetime aerial theatre extravaganza flies over the radar
By Hayley Stevenson
Tikki Taane Mahuta aerial theatre at the Aotea Centre Photo : Stephen A’ Court.
An Aotea Centre audience of over a thousand people was treated to a feast with a stellar performance of Tiki Taane
Mahuta, presented by Taki Rua Productions and Aotearoa Aerial Theatre Company on Monday night.
The show combined award winning music by Tiki Taane and Shapeshifter’s Sam Trevethick with stunning aerial theatre, hip-
hop and kapa haka.
Tiki Taane Mahuta tells the story of two families torn apart by the tragedy of a fatal car crash.
It’s up to the next generation to repair the rift between the broken families.
The contemporary dancing was beautifully executed and delivered with articulate athleticism, leaving the audience
spellbound.
The show had production costs in excess of $1 million and gave musician Peter Urlich goose bumps.
“I thought it was a triumph. I obviously know Tiki Taane’s music, but what a forum for his songs. The combination of the
excellent choreography, and I’m tough on that, and his songs, the set, the visuals and everyone around me just got
slowly picked up and taken on journey.
“Towards the end we were soaring. The last bit was the icing on the cake and a genuine standing ovation, overwhelming,”
said Mr Urlich.
Tiki Tane, experimentalist, musical activist, producer, engineer and former member of New Zealand’s band Salmonella Dub
considers the show to be a career highlight, something he is proud of and excited to share with the world.
Mr Tane said director Tanemahuta Gray first got in touch with him after his sister sent him some songs off his off his
first album Past, Present, Future. She had gone and seen Mr Gray’s stage show Maui – one man against the Gods believing there had to be a connection.
“She introduced Tanemahuta, an amazing dancer, aerial specialist in Europe, to my music. That was the catalyst for
pulling out the story within a couple of songs. He thought there was a narrative. My second album solidified everything.
“I was blown away floored, moved, beyond my biggest expectations. I asked Tanemahuta how do I do this live, how do we
make this a thing where I play the music while that’s going on at the same time.
“This is challenging for me. There are cues I have to hit. You can get away with being a bit looser in festivals, but
it’s more disciplined in the theatre. Everything is down to the second,” said Mr Taane.
For director Mr Gray, the show has been 11 years in the making.
Mr Gray said that so many people had bought into the vision of this show, wanting to tell stories of their community and
that’s where the potency of this kaupapa is.
Many confronting issues were brought to the surface in the show.
“We have the best audio visual screen brought in from China used for the ancestral world, and all the modern generations
in the narrative.
“Overcoming tragedy is never an easy tale to tell. But the rejuvenation communities can find by reconnecting with their
ancestors, and with themselves, is why we believed this story needed to be told and shared with audiences everywhere,”
said Mr Gray.