STRANGE RESTING PLACES is a made-for-television play starring Paolo Rotondo and Rob Mokaraka. It shines a light on the emotional bonds of New Zealand’s wartime history in a story about a young Maori soldier and an Italian deserter.
The six-part series ATAMIRA is an original concept for Maori theatre and New Zealand television that brings feature-length Maori plays to the small screen for the first time.
Boasting a dream team of New Zealand’s film industry talent – producers Ainsley Gardiner, Katie Wolfe; actors Keisha Castle-Hughes, Paolo Rotondo and Rob Mokaraka; actor/ director Rawiri Paratene; directors Tammy Davis and Rachel House - ATAMIRA is an exciting blend of creative disciplines. The series premieres on Wednesday, 25 April at 12.10pm with the critically acclaimed Strange Resting Places, a story about a young Maori soldier and an Italian deserter in WWII. The five remaining plays will screen on Sundays at 8.30pm.
The six plays are:
• Strange Resting Places by Paolo Rotondo and Rob Mokaraka
• Awhi Tapu by Albert Belz
• Purapurawhetu by Briar Grace-Smith
• When Sun And Moon Collide by Briar Grace-Smith
• Irirangi Bay by Riwia Brown
• The Prophet by Hone Kouka
Each of the episodes provides a unique perspective of both historical and contemporary New Zealand and also features a behind-the-scenes look at the each of the plays. ATAMIRA is the brainchild of award-winning production house Black Inc Media and Taki Rua Productions, New Zealand's leading Maori theatre company.
Executive producer Bailey Mackey says the series aims to bring theatre and contemporary Maori stories to a wider audience. “We want to bring the magic of theatre to a traditionally non-theatre-going audience.”
maoritelevision.com
'Joshua was special, the chosen one, the prophet. Five teenage cousins have returned home for another cousin's unveiling. Over the three days there, they begin to deal with the new roles they must accept as adults. '
'... a compelling piece of New Zealand theatre.' Dominion Post
'Hone Kouka achieved early recognition with his plays on Maori themes as the youngest playwright to win the Bruce Mason Award. Hone has been widely acclaimed as one of the most exciting playwrights to emerge in New Zealand.'
huia.co.nz