World's first, Godspell in Te Reo

Samuel Marsden Collegiate School Year 10-13 students are rehearsing hard ahead of their upcoming production of Godspell, 21-24 May 2019.

Audiences will be treated to a world’s first during the performance. Year 11 student Araraina Takuira-Mita, playing the role of Jesus, has co-translated part of one of the production songs into Māori, which she will be performing. This is a highlight for ‘Godspell’ too, with it being part-performed for the first time in Māori.

Araraina has translated a verse and the chorus of the song ‘”Beautiful City”, together with her older sister Kamaia. “It is lovely”, she said “it allowed me to put a little of myself into my character”. Araraina was raised with kapa haka as an integral part of her life, she has grown up surrounded by music and watching her family and siblings perform, and has developed her own love for performance.

Araraina also composed and wrote the lyrics for Marsden School’s waiata, incorporating the school’s history, values and motto. In 2018 the waiata “Hamuera Matene” became a fully integrated part of the school when it was performed with pride by the whole school in the Wellington Cathedral, as part of its 140th anniversary celebrations.

“We are excited to be on a journey that broadens our understanding and teaching of Te Ao Māori and Te Reo Māori at Marsden”, said Principal Narelle Umbers. Araraina encourages everyone to give it a go. “Go for it in any way you can, even if it is just saying hi in Māori. It is exciting to be part of revitalising the Māori culture and language and making it grow”.

Marsden’s production of ‘Godspell’ is being performed at Marsden School in Karori on 21-24 May, tickets are available via the school’s website www.marsden.school.nz

Samuel Marsden Collegiate School has been providing quality independent education for over 140 years. While honouring tradition it delivers a wide-ranging, modernised and future-focused curriculum. Marsden is the first Visible WellbeingTM school in New Zealand, leading the way in wellbeing education. Marsden has two campuses. The Marsden School Karori campus provides education for girls from Years 1-13 and has a co-ed Preschool. The Marsden School Whitby campus provides Years 7-13 education in a co-ed setting. Marsden School’s purpose is to lay the foundation for lives of meaning, accomplishment and genuine happiness. marsden.school.nz

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