Artist and activist Tame Iti will feature in a new musical that draws together Māori, Pacific, and Palestinian cultures through a blend of waiata, dance, and poetry.
The Voices in the Shadows has been developed for Rotorua’s Aronui Indigenous Arts Festival by Wairea Company.
It’s directed by Rangipo Ihakara, who worked with Iti on last year’s Tāwharautia Mataatua and then on Haki ātea – White Flags for the march to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
The 30-member ensemble also includes Kaaterama Pou, Rākai Whauwhau and violinist Hera Taiapa-Bell.
Production manager Kataraina Hamiora-Reweti says it will challenge audiences to engage with and reflect on universal themes and experiences.
She says shared histories of land confiscation, genocide, and language loss resonate deeply across Indigenous cultures worldwide.
The Voices in the Shadows will be held at Matangi Rau – Sir Howard Morrison Theatre on Thursday, 12 September, from 7pm to 9pm, and on Friday, 13 September, with performances at 11am to 1pm and 7pm to 9pm.
