Tūmahana

Tūmahana is a creative partnership between Juanita Hepi (Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke), Danny Lee Syme (CIRKO KALI), Mahina-Ina Kingi-Kaua, Hamish Oliver, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Ngāi Tahu, weaving together elements of dance, aerial and visual arts, Toi Māori, Taonga Puoro, and orchestral music.

TE HINONGA / THE PROJECT

This is a project and show unique to Te Waipounamu / South Island.

We've assembled an amazing cast of Christchurch's finest young performers and teamed them up with masters of their arts in exciting new skills including: Circus Aerials/Acrobatics, Mau Rākau and Toi Māori.

KO TĒNEI TONO: ĀWHINA MAI, TAUTOKO MAI / WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

All koha will go toward the costs for:

• Circus Equipment
• Rigging/Technical
• Stage Props
• Safety Gear

PŪRĀKAU / THE STORY

Tūmahana is based on the Ngāi Tahu story of creation as written by Matiaha Tiramōrehu in 1849.

Born of Māku and Māhoranuiātea, the Sky Father Rakinui has many unions and many children. One day as he is courting Earth Mother Papatūānuku, the Sea God Takaroa arrives to find Rakinui and Papatūānuku together. Jealous, Takaroa challenges Rakinui to fight and overcomes him.

As Rakinui falls on his wife Papatūānuku, their children become sick from the lack of light and space. Rakinui tells his son Tāne to separate him from their mother Papatūānuku so that they may live healthy lives. Tāne reluctantly separates his parents with the help of his siblings.

As the world of light comes to be, Tāne realises that his father is naked in the night. He sets out on a journey to find adornment for him. Along the way, he meets several characters who all play their role. Will Tāne find something to adorn his father? Will he survive the journey?

NGĀ TĀNGATA / THE PEOPLE (Trainers & Cast)

Juanita Hepi - Artistic Director

Danny Lee Syme - Co-Director/Head Trainer

Aaron Hāpuku - Kaiārahi Mau Rākau

Kahurangi Bronsson-George - Narrator

Kris Jones - Takaroa

Fualili Jahnke-Waitoa - Papatūānuku

Waikahutia Tamati-Tupa'i - Rakinui

Celina Nogueira - Pokohārua Te Pō

Destiny Beynon - Hineatauira

Manu Lee Syme-Hepi - Tāne

Ā MUA / THE FUTURE

Tūmahana is the start of something beautiful. As a project and a show - our intention is to build on the work and spread the story and the arts it represents to communities throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Join us on this EPIC Journey!