Roimata Fox and Eds Eramiha are part of the cast of Hine Kihāwai Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray
In this series Toi, artists talk about their work that reflects their identity, culture and narratives.
It could be a matter of art imitating life for composer and teacher Hone Hurihanganui, who wrote the play Awhina following the death of his father some fifteen years ago.
Last year after losing his mother, in a revised version of play, he re-named it Hine Kihāwai.
The theme of both plays is based on the relationship and teachings passed from parent to child.
For Hurihanganui the process of writing his first and only play was cathartic.
“Friends and whanau members would say to me that their beloved deceased [ones] would call in and see them and sit at the end of their bed and talk to them…I waited and waited, and my dad didn’t come to see me, so when I wrote the play Awhina as a way for him to see me,” he says
Hone Hurihanganui wrote the play Awhina (now Hine Kihāwai) back in 2003 in honour of his father. Photo: Supplied
As a composer and teacher Hurihanganui worked in Māori theatre during the early 1990s and composed songs for playwright Hone Kouka, but he never caught the playwright bug, instead he preferred composing songs, and a career in education followed.
The play is based on 2003 Awhina written by Hone Hurihanganui Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray
“I have had the good fortune be able to play a part in some productions where [I got to] write waiata or haka for their plays…Hone Kouka had written a trilogy series known as Waiora,” he says.
Theatre company Taki Rua productions is mid-way through its Te Reo Māori season where a small cast hit the road for ten weeks during term three of the school calendar to perform Hine Kihāwai.
The cast perform at marae, primary schools halls and community venues across the country.
Over one hundred primary school kids attended the play at Maungatapu Primary School in Tauranga.
Roimata Fox plays Hine Kihāwai and says she felt she knew the part in her personal life.
“Basically picking up the script and having a read of it the first time, it couldn’t be any more familiar to the world I come from, as a mother as well, Hine Kihāwai is every maternal figure I know.” She says.
In recent years Fox has acted in the film Waru, The Pa Boys and on the stage at the renowned Globe Theatre in London, she played Herena in the adaptation of Shakespeare's Troillus and Cressida, Toiroihi rāua ko Kahira.
Fox says that hardest part about touring is being away from family.
Cast member Rueben Butler Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kahu plays various roles in the play Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray
Eds Eramiha began his career on the Kapahaka stage with a group from his hometown,
“Just being on the road for myself, I love it. Whilst we travel we get to meet a lot of kura kaiako…the wairua (spiritual sense) for us really is good tikanga, karakia and kaitahi (eating as a family) we hold true to [these] as a core cast.” Eramiha says.
At the mid way point of the tour the cast had performed in Wellington, Palmerston North, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Rotorua and were heading to the Northland areas.
While Eds and Roimata enjoy touring for ten weeks, they both agree being away from whanau is the hardest part. Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray
Cast member Rueben Butler Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kahuaption Photo: copyright Philip Merry / axolotl 2018
The cast of Hine Kihāwai are Roimata Fox, Eds Eramiha, Rueben Butler, Trae Te Wiki and Tour Manager Amanda Noblett. For information about the Te Reo season visit Taki Rua productions.
