The Other Side of the Fence

The Other Side of the Fence
Bats 27th – 2nd Feb
8pm

Kia ora koutou

"Don't any of you set foot over this side of the fence again. You hear?" Eggshell tension explodes in this stage adaptation of Witi Ihimaera's 'Pounamu Pounamu', performed by staff and students of Te Wananga o Aotearoa.

'Pounamu Pounamu', published in 1972, was the first book of short stories by a Maori author, depicting the 'greenstone years' of childhood "when the rural village and the marae were the centre of our universe." (Ihimaera)

Ihimaera republished 'Pounamu Pounamu' in 2003 to give a more contemporary edge to the stories, three of which are included in this production: 'One Summer Morning', 'A Game of Cards' and the feature story, 'The Other Side of the Fence'.

'The Other Side of the Fence' was written and directed by Rick Loos and designed by Amanda Dennis. Rick and Amanda, from Mamaku, are married with children and work together on plays, films and community projects. As educators their mission is to spread joy and revolution.

Rick teaches drama at Te Wananga o Aotearoa ki Rotorua. In 2005 he directed Rotorua's first outdoor Shakespeare production, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. He has written a play in te Reo Maori, 'Te Kaipatu' (1997), with help from Remus Heretaunga, and is currently working on a Maori translation of 'The Other Side of the Fence' with Karlos Rutene.

Amanda is a working artist specialising in sculpture, painting and installations. She was the supreme winner of the 'Waste to Art' competition in 2004, and continues to research innovative use of waste. Her first set design was for 'The Proposal' by Anton Chekhov (2002).

The other Wananga staff involved in 'The Other Side of the Fence' are: Evelyn Clarke on costumes, Turike Tairea on lighting design, and Mitsy Strickland and Leah Ratana on music. The producer is Russell Harrison. We are looking forward to showing off the talents of our drama students and to give them the opportunity to perform in the Emerald City.

ENDS

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