TAHI SHOWS 2021

Directed by Sally Richards and Kerryn Palmer

Four amazing actors, eleven homegrown monologues, sixty minutes.

Following a sell-out season of BATCH last year, TAHI presents its new work, Whānau, lifting the lid on the complexity of family relationships from disastrous to delicious; featuring extracts from ten brilliant New Zealand solo shows;

Vela Manusaute (Island Mafia), Felix Desmarais (HOME), Rob Mokaraka (Shot Bro), Jamie McCaskill (Not in My Neighbourhood), Toa Fraser (No. 2), John Broughton (Michael James Manaia) Emily Duncan (Eloise in The Middle), Tom Scott (Daylight Atheist), Melissa Sutherland (Batter UP) and Nicola Pauling (She Danced on a Friday).

Performed by Emma Katene, Daniel Gagau, Ngahiriwa Rauhina and Melissa Sutherland

Created by Anders Falstie-Jensen Performed for TAHI by Salesi Le’ota

The Rebel Alliance invites you into 95-year-old Inga’s living room in Denmark as she reaches out through space and time to her grandson in New Zealand. Inga has seen world wars, cold wars, and civil wars. In real life and on TV. And when you’re close to 100 you know a thing or two about a thing or two. Sometimes all you need is an old lady to set you straight.

It's theatre, but only just!

"a beautifully simple piece of theatre, with warmth and heart and a sweet surprise at the end."- The Waikato Independent

"I can’t recall the last time I left a theatre with such a lightness of heart."- Ross' Reviews (Hamilton)

"Back to Square One? left the audience in a sublime state of sonder and camaraderie. It concluded with an unexpected invitation. In the name of Thor, I urge you to see this outstanding play." - Write On for the Arts

Written, Produced and Performed by Alayne Dick Directed by Jen O’Sullivan Live Music by Aaron Pyke

It’s the final night before the Earth is destroyed, so Alayne is throwing a party. Tomorrow we will be eaten by a black hole. It’s definitely not her fault. Deep and Meaningful is an absurdist poetry, comedy show that explores depression and modern fears about our limited time left on Earth.

Created and Performed by Jen McArthur

A young woman on the autistic spectrum prepares for a much needed job interview and society’s social norms are put under the spotlight in this mesmerizing clown theatre and dance show by Jen McArthur. Inspired by the different perspectives, struggles and joys of autistic children she worked with and her own recent journey to self diagnosis, McArthur’s delightful character Echo doesn’t register social niceties, yet wants to be part of the world.

Echolalia is “a genuinely comic yet heartwarming piece of gentle brilliance. Five stars. ” - Edinburgh Guide

Audience members with hearing sensitivity please bring ear protectors for the sound of a dust buster/ vacuum cleaner being used. We will indicate this before it will be started in the performance.

*Echolalia will be performed with NZSL interpreter Angela Murray.

The NZSL interpreter will be sharing the stage with writer and performer Jen McArthur.

The creative team for this interpreted version of the show are Deaf and hearing - Jen and Deaf Consultant Kellye Bensley will be working together to make this piece fully accessible for Deaf audiences.

Created and Performed by Kahurangi Bronsson-George

Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe, me he maunga teitei.

Seek the treasure you value most dearly, and if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.

This whakataukī is about perseverance and endurance, and is a central theme for Bronsson-George’s show exploring his whakapapa, his Māoritanga and combining Māori theatre with Circus arts. In a show that makes use of dynamic movement, storytelling, te reo Māori and projected imagery, Iti Kahurangi is “visceral, heart-warming and important.”

Presented by Jessie Alsop Directed by Jade Eriksen

Orlando - The Fish Eat The Softest Parts First is a work in development. It's about parenting and progress, life, death and family.

On Sunday, September 2nd, 2018 I wake up in an armchair at the NeoNatal intensive care unit of Wellington Hospital. My wife is asleep in the wards after a long, tough labour. Our son is alive, but only just.

A kind, practical NICU nurse walks hesitantly toward me with a brown paper gift bag.

"Well. Happy Father’s Day"

Not unlike Virginia Woolf's titular character it seems I have gone to bed a woman and awoken a man. I feel terrified and also elated. Freed from one set of rules, conned by another?

Presented by Samantha Hannah

In 2018 Samantha tried to find a husband in a year and met the love of her life 12000 miles away. She then created a show about it. In 2019 she found 'happiness' (in a year) and improved her mental health in every way.

In 2020, thinking she had the power to make anything come true via writing about it; she was set to take on life. Then the world changed. This is what happened next.

Presented by Cian Parker

Sorry For Your Loss is a story of growing up, and explores the effects of having a sometimes-there- mostly-not Dad.

A raw and real performance, Sorry For Your Loss sees Cian Parker open up to audiences and expose something she never thought she needed to revisit. This story is about the strength of a woman; and the gift of strength from one woman to another.

“Cian is a natural and talented performer who transfixes the audience, with her honest approach to telling her story and her ability to physically inhabit the characters in it. Sorry For Your Loss is funny and sad, and ultimately very satisfying.” – Deborah Nudds @ The Meteor

Written by Jeremy Hunt and Ricky Dey

This is Ted. Ted is a criminal. Ted has a story to tell and he needs you to pay attention – or else. So listen as Ted. Talks. Crimes.

Every criminal wants a legacy, to be the big fish, to have a swimming pool and never-ending margaritas – but Ted’s story is different. It may be the greatest crime story of all time. In fact, it’s just bananas.

The award-winning Dastardly Productions brings yet another absurd and joyous comedy to BATS Theatre. It’s The Godfather on speed. An epic crime caper for the ages!

Created and Performed by Patrick Adderley

Patrick Federer is the lesser-known younger brother of Roger Federer. But Patrick is no ball boy and he has some grand slam tennis tricks and stunts of his own!

After the show is Wimble-done put on your dancing shoes because we're heading to the tennis ball. So grab yourself a soft serve and bring the whole family to see the circus show people are calling an absolute racket.

Created and Performed by Beth Kayes

The Great Teddy Bear Escape is a 30-minute storytelling show for 3 to 5 year old children filled with comic characters, dynamic movement and music.

The Teddies are sitting at the windows of their houses. The children are having a teddy bear hunt and count the teddies as they walk or zoom past on their bikes. But one young teddy can’t sit still! He is so bored! Why can’t he go and play? The other teddies tell him to sit still and watch out for the children. It is impossible, his legs start to jiggle, his paws click, he wriggles and squirms. He looks out the window and plans to escape!

Bring your little ones and join this adventurous bear in his great escape.

Written and Performed by James Hilary Penwarden

A warm and welcoming night out for gays, theys, and comedy-loving baes Them Fatale is a safe space and a sexy place to be. All are welcome to come to a night of embracing real queer experience, wrapped into a tight 50-minute set.

Them Fatale directly addresses a few cis-het normative elephants in the room: Why is this non-binary person not altering their feminine body? How did a Catholic get this queer? What does bisexuality even mean if the whole concept of gender is kaput? Is this just a trend?

Penwarden premiered this show during the 2021 NZ Fringe Festival to glowing reviews, four awards nominations and one win (Adelaide Tour Ready Award).