February 08, 2018
Strong cast for strong play
Award-winning actor Carrie Green has been picked for the lead role in Hone Kouka's new play that debuts at the NZ Festival in Wellington at the end of the month.
Bless the Child scrutinises violence against children in contemporary New Zealand society through a Maori lens.
A child is found dead, a hotshot lawyer is dragged into the case to defend the demonised mother and questions of guilt and prejudice are brought to the surface.
The cast also includes Moana Ete, better known as singer-songwriter in Wellington bands, A Girl Named Mo and Fly My Pretties, Regan Taylor, who has been playing Othello at the Pop-Up Globe in Melbourne, Maia Diamond, Scotty Cotter, newcomer Shania Bailey-Edmonds and Shortland St actor Lionel Wellington making his stage debut.
Kouka credits his mother for challenging him to write the play and begin a korero around the responsibility of whanau and Maori people to protect all children.
It's directed by Tawata Productions co-founder Miria George.
The NZ Festival season of Bless the Child runs from February 28 to 4 March at Hannah Playhouse and then it plays at Q Theatre for the Auckland Arts Festival from March 7 to 12.
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