Build confidence, refine your performance, and deepen your storytelling in a one-day musical theatre wānanga with Matu Ngaropo and Awhimai Fraser.
Join Matu Ngaropo and Awhimai Fraser for a one-day practical wānanga exploring musical theatre, performance and storytelling. Drawing on their experiences across musicals, stage and screen in Aotearoa and internationally, Matu and Awhimai will share practical tools for building confidence, strengthening performance technique and navigating a career in the arts.
The wānanga will include kōrero, vocal and physical warm-ups, and masterclass-style sessions. Participants are invited to bring a waiata or scene they already know and would like to develop, in either English or te reo Māori, with opportunities to receive focused feedback on technique, interpretation and storytelling. The session is also open to those who would prefer to listen, observe and learn without presenting a piece.
Those who feel confident and ready will also have an opportunity to share their work with whānau, friends and a small invited audience. Following the workshop, participants will come away with practical performance tools, greater confidence in their storytelling and technique, and a clearer understanding of what it takes to build a career in the arts.
Āhea | When: Sunday 9 August 2026, 9am-4pm
Kei hea | Where: Tāhū, Te Pou Theatre, 2 Mt Lebanon Lane
Mō wai | For who: Māori performing arts community
Utu | Cost: Free
Roanga | Duration: 7hrs
Awhimai Fraser (Waikato, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Kahungunu) is a singer, actor, songwriter and multidisciplinary creative from Aotearoa New Zealand, working across stage, screen and voice.
Most recently, Awhimai played Anne Hathaway in & Juliet. Her theatre credits also include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Miss Lark in Mary Poppins, Edges, Edwin Drood, Dick Datchery and Alice Nutting in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Red in Red Riding Hood – The Pantomime, Hana in The Beautiful Ones and Kahukuraiti in Whakapaupakihi. Awhimai voices Matangi in Disney’s Moana 2 and performs “Get Lost” on the film’s soundtrack. Alongside Matewa Media, she has proudly voiced Matangi, Elsa and Dolores in Disney’s reo Māori adaptations. Her voice artist work also includes singing on Tangata Pai, Happiness: Season II, Good Grief and Vegas. She plays Māia in five seasons of Toi Time and has performed with leading orchestras and artists across Aotearoa and internationally. Awhimai is a proud tauira of Te Wānanga Takiura o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori and Te Aupikitanga. She honours her whānau in all that she does – e kore te puna aroha e mimiti.
Matu Ngaropo (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Porou) is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, Matu is one of the most experienced actors of his generation. He is best known for originating the role of George Washington in the Australian production of Hamilton.
Alongside playing William Shakespeare in both smash hits &Juliet (national tour), Something Rotten (Court Theatre). However his first taste of major musical work was in Disney’s The Lion King for the Antelope tour through Australia.
Having a strong upbringing in Maori traditional Performing arts he was a founding member of the Modern Maori Quartet and returned to Shakespeare’s Globe in 2012 with Maori Troilus and Cressida.
His other theatre credits include A Midsummer Nights Dream (Bell Shakespeare); The Māori Troilus & Cressida (Globe Theatre London); Othello (Centrepoint); Mums’ Choir (Fortune Theatre); Romeo & Juliet (Downstage); Two Worlds (Edinburgh, London, Melbourne, NYC), Te Awarua (Te Rēhia); Cymbeline (Peripeteia); TU (Tawata); Stark Night Cabaret (AK05); PSA (Circa Theatre), Hamlet, Macbeth, Measure for Measure, The Comedy of Errors (Pop Up Globe Auckland and Sydney).
On screen, Matu recently joined the core cast of “Bust Up” and appears in the feature film “Sgt. Haane”, following roles in “Whina” and “Korero Mai.” A versatile performer across musical theatre, classical works and screen productions, Matu continues to be one of Aotearoa’s most accomplished and dynamic talents.
The Whakapuāwai Programme at Te Pou Theatre is an annual programme offering opportunities for development and connection for the Māori performing arts community.
Need a great headshot but haven’t got one? Come along for 15 mins with photographer Ralph Brown. Ralph will take a few professional pics of you and send the touched up photos to you after the session for your use on your professional profiles.
Intimacy Coordination is about cultivating a safe and professional environment for the crafting of intimate content on screen and stage. This workshop will provide participants with valuable tools and language that will add to your kete & professional practice.
Bringing back our popular Te Pou Awe acting workshops for 2024, we are inviting whānau Māori of the industry to come along and have a play with some acting. Facilitated by Tainui Tukiwaho, covering the many facets of acting and what makes Māori Theatre.
We are grateful to have various organizations, businesses and people supporting many different aspects of Te Pou. We couldn’t achieve what we have without their support. Our Whakapuāwai Programme is sponsored by the following:
