The beauty of taonga pouro and waiata accompanies a journey into the mists of time, juxtaposed with a modern tale of wahine empowerment, in Jessica Latton’s moving piece, The World’s First Lovers.
Presented as a development season by Prospect Park Productions’ Otepoti Theatre Lab, at Allen Hall, the hour-long piece explores the personal journey of a young Kai Tahu woman from uncertainty and addiction to strength and a deeper understanding of her whakapapa.
Woven through this central journey is the Maori creation story, as the gods bring the first woman Hineahuone to life and create Te Wai Pounamu — the South Island.
Directed by Latton herself, the committed cast of local actors — Marama Grant, Nick Tipa, Grace Turipa, Catherine Duval and Manu Syme-Hepi, take the audience on the journey with them, from laughter to tears and back.
Performing as an ensemble, with minimal set and props, they create the feel of the deep forest and the dodgy late-night party with equal assurance, and the fight sequence between Tipa and Syme-Hepi is brilliantly executed.
In a play steeped in te ao Maori, weaving English and te reo together through Latton’s poetic language feels natural and right, and the haunting strains of taonga puoro (Maori musical instruments) played by Ben Whitaker adds to the mystical feel.
Costumes by Amber Bridgman evoke the Maori world beautifully, and lighting by Martyn Roberts cleverly enhances the feel of forest depths.
With its multi-layered approach to storytelling, fascinating tales of Maori mythology and engaging, moving central story, The World’s First Lovers is an impressive achievement in its development season.
It will be fascinating to see where it takes us in its full premiere season, set for June 2023.
