Kōanga Play Readings | Pōhoroi
Turene Jones & Rainton Oneroa

Join us at Te Pou Theatre for an intimate evening of play readings, celebrating the development of new works by Māori playwrights at Kōanga Festival 2024. The Kōanga Playwrights Programme is the beating heart of the festival. In this special play reading event audiences are invited to hear brand new plays read publicly for the first time following a week of workshopping with top Māori performing arts creatives.  

The Ātaahua Store nā Turene Huiarau Jones 

It’s closing time at the Ātaahua Store, the night before Matariki. Everyone’s out celebrating…everyone except Ruia, Cayleigh and Gabby, who are stuck at work with their manager, Blake, biding their time until they can leave join in the festivities. Their plans are dashed when some of Hine-ingoingo’s carnivorous children escape from their prison. Vicious beasts roaming the streets isn’t an uncommon occurrence, so the area goes into lockdown. Annoyed more than fearful, Blake triggers the store’s shields which malfunction. The workers must scramble together a makeshift barricade and survive each other’s company until the authorities clear the area of the deadly creatures.

Turene Huiarau Jones (Rongowhakaata & Te Arawa)

Turene is a writer from Rotorua. She has been involved with storylining for TV, scriptwriting for a transmedia series, written the play I Ain’t Mad At Cha, and is in the process of writing her debut novel. Turene’s writing is centred around Māori issues, especially systemic racism. Though she writes about serious topics, Turene injects humour wherever she can. It’s been a while since Turene’s even considered writing a script since their entire mental (and oftentimes physical) capacity has been overwhelmed with writing a novel. Nevertheless, they are excited to get back into playwriting!

Marmite & Honey nā Rainton Oneroa

Marmite & Honey is set at a Tangi , over the course of twenty-four hours we see each of the characters’ relationships tested. Growing up and attending tangis I was exposed to how we all dealt with death differently. How young men shield themselves with humour, while aunties kept themselves busy to provide for the grieving, and postpone their own grief. Kids playing rugby, not realising the significance of the moment until the last minute. Uncles hunting, fishing, playing cards – anything but talking about it. The play is a commentary on how generational trauma affects us today so we can have an open dialogue around a notoriously taboo subject.

Rainton Oneroa (Te Aupōuri)

A young Māori storyteller from Te Kao (Te Aupōuri), Rainton is active in the arts and works across multiple mediums. In 2021, he released his first EP exploring his experience as Māori and his identity manifests in his personal relationships. A recent graduate of ‘The Actors Programme, Rainton has been immersed in theatre and screen, being involved with Ahikāroa and ‘Bullrush’ at Basement Theatre. This is Rainton’s first play.

After the play readings, come along to Ngā Rorirori by Hone Kouka in our main theatre. Tickets for all Kōanga shows are available here.