Local artists debut Māori Shakespeare at The Dark Room

Local artists debut Māori Shakespeare at The Dark Room

THE DARK ROOM MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SOLOTHELLO | 11-15 AUG

Adapted and performed by Regan Taylor

Directed by Craig Geenty

Presented by Te Rēhia Theatre Company

OTHELLO is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. The story of racism, love, jealousy, betrayal, revenge and repentance remains relevant to contemporary audiences and has been performed regularly around the world since it was first performed in 1604. It has also been the basis for numerous operatic, film, and literary adaptations.

Watch Maori Performance Mask (Te Mata-Kokako o Rehia) come to life as Regan Taylor unfolds his version of OTHELLO as a stripped back, solo performance. Condensed and adapted from Shakespeare’s source material through the context of Te Ao Maori, SOLOTHELLO sees the passions of Iago, Othello, Desdemona and Rodrigo given voice with a blend of Shakespeare’s text, improvisation, and Te Reo Maori. A dynamic and interpretive way to experience one of history’s more tragic plays.

“...it’s a risk that only a highly skilled and confident actor would take on and Taylor is both of those. Ka pai!” - Theatreview

Educated as part of UCOL’s performing arts programme, Taylor will be familiar to Palmerston North audiences through his performances atCentrepoint Theatre over the past fifteen years, most recently in Te Rehia Theatre Company’s HOKI MAI TAMA MA by Tainui Tukiwaho. Established in 2012 by Regan Taylor and Amber Curreen, Te Rehia is all about presenting innovative Maori theatre that promotes Te Ao Maori. Last year they did a Northland tour of HOKI MAI TAMA MA and presented a theatre-in-education show RUIA TE KAKANO to mainstream schools and kura kaupapa throughout the central North Island.

Aside from a busy theatre schedule, Taylor completed his first major film role in May as Joshua in Mahana, directed by Lee Tamahori and due for release in mid-2016. Mahana is Tamahori’s first New Zealand production since Once Were Warriors, and is based on Witi Ihimaera’s novelBulibasha.

Taylor teams up with director Craig Geenty for the second time since they debuted DESTINATION: DEATH at The Dark Room back in 2008.

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