TE POU HERALDS IN A DIGITAL FUTURE FOR THEATRE IN AOTEAROA

Te Pou Theatre are set to unveil their innovative new theatre Whare Whakaari Matihiko on 11 August, an immersive digital space all about manaakitanga, sociability, adaptability, and nurturing Māori theatre.

For the first time, theatre audiences will have a chance to come together and enjoy digital theatre in a new and dynamic way. Not just a space to host performances over Zoom, Whare Whakaari Matihiko will be a highly social environment that reflects the whanaungatanga and sense of kotahitanga fostered in-person at Te Pou Theatre and within the performing arts in Aotearoa.

“We know that going to Te Pou to experience performing arts is about more than the art; it's the connection, it's the kōrero, it's about experiencing the arts together. This Whare Whakaari Matihiko lets us keep inviting in our arts loving community in a fun and innovative way.” says Kaihautū Taha Whānau, Amber Curreen.

Te Pou will open Whare Whakaari Matihiko with a music filled sharing of the new work-in-development, Kōpū: A Cheeky Peek, written by Tuakoi Ohia who leads the incredible creative force of Brady Peeti, Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana, Jane Leonard, Te Arohanui Korewha and Ngākirikiri Kershaw. The showing will give audiences a sneak peek into this ballad of a show — hear from the performers, see snippets from the production and enjoy the musical prowess of these young wāhine Māori as they play with the music of Kōpū.

Created as part of Te Pou’s Whakawhirinakio Project, this digital theatre will allow audiences across the motu to actively participate in the rich Māori arts community Te Pou nurtures year-round, and ensure Te Pou continues to be a fertile ground for the development of Māori performing arts. The platform offers artists more options to be able to present work affordably, creating a reliable and thriving future for Māori practitioners.

The platform will combine live-streamed shows within an architecturally designed digital foyer, in which live audience avatars can mix and mingle, just like a physical foyer. Performances in Whare Whakaari Matihiko will be interactive too, with audiences able to share emojis and chat during the show. When Te Pou’s physical doors open again, they hope to offer a hybrid theatre model, with shows that can be enjoyed both online and in-person.

To create a digital space where they could have their own mana over the way they hold their audiences and artists, Te Pou worked closely with the Māori and Pasifika led RIVER Digital Growth Agency to develop this inventive new platform, including the backend and ticketing, as well as with DOTDOT as part of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage funded pilot project to develop the social foyer and event experiences.


Kōpū: A Cheeky Peek plays
Thu 11 August, 7PM
Digital Foyer open from 6PM
Whare Whakaari Matihiko
Tickets available here.