January 23, 2014
Rangatahi tell tales on stage
A group of rangatahi who have struggled with the education system make their acting debut at the Aotea Centre’s Herald Theatre in Auckland tonight.
Manawa Ora is an initiative by Nga Rangatahi Toa Creative Art in which established actors, musicians and visual artists work with the young people to develop a collaborative work.
Spokesperson Sarah Longbottom says Nga Rangatahi Toa was started in 2009 to give arts access to rangatahi excluded from mainstream schools.
It has developed into a wider programme to help them process their life experiences and reengage with education.
She says too many people assume that kids who get into trouble are doing so by choice, and that their parents don’t care.
"The parents do really care, the whanau care, and the kids really want to re-engage, they want to be doing something. I think this whole process, through Manawa Ora and other programmes that we and other organisations run, allow kids to reconnect with their cultrral identity, their social identity, and also to connect whanau together," Ms Longbottom says.
Manawa Ora is at the Herald Theatre at 7 tonight and tomorrow.
Tickets are available from Conch Records in Ponsonby or by emailing manawaora2014@gmail.com
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd