A theatrical showcase of uniquely New Zealand productions is hitting the capital.
Three shows at BATS, Downstage, and Circa, delve into our past, present, and future.  
Maori tales are prominent, with the New Zealand International Arts Festival highlight He Reo Aroha returning from a successful worldwide tour, and Te Kaupoi exploring Maori terrorists overthrowing the government.
Te Radar’s Eating the Dog is a voyage of our colourful history and celebrates those who tried, and more often failed, at their endeavours under the southern skies.
The shows shine a light on stories close to our hearts, from small fishing villages to inventing the first aeroplane, and explore what makes us New Zealanders.
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Downstage - Te Radar’s Eating the Dog
Te Radar’s new show Eating the Dog is a metaphor for when ‘things fall apart’.
 “It’s that point in time when events are in a downward spiral, it’s bad, but it could get much worse, because you still have the dog to eat,” says Te Radar.
The show looks at bumbling historic characters who put New Zealand on the map and gave us an international reputation for being ground breakers.
“I just keep finding stories, it stated as a one hour show, and has gone out to two hours. There is no shortage of New Zealanders doing stuff they probably shouldn’t have,” he says.
The show is not entirely a laughing matter, Te Radar says history is important and talking freely about the past is good for the country.
“The taboo has come off a lot of subjects in recent years,” he says.
The show is based entirely based on factual information.
 “It’s easy to mock people, but this is a celebration of failure. Of the great spirit with which we approach things,” says Te Radar.
Te Radar’s Eating the Dog, Downstage, June 29 - July 10.
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Circa Theatre - He Reo Aroha
THE timing for the return of He Reo Aroha to the capital is perfect.
The show has been performed more off shore than at home, so Circa’s Matariki season is a perfect welcome home, says Director Hone Kouka.
He Reo Aroha loosely translates as “Words of Love” and contains musical scores ideal for celebrating Maori New Year, he says.
The musical, written by Miria George and Jamie McCaskill, was one of the highlights of this year’s New Zealand International Arts Festival.
Kouka says the writers wanted to write a warm and real story about being young, Maori, and in love.
Kaia and Pascoe are connected at the hip until Kaia leaves to pursue a glamorous musical career in New York, leaving behind the equally talented Pascoe to continue life as a fisherman.
Living in Paekakariki, Hone Kouka understands the play’s themes of living in a small seaside village.
“Jamie McCaskill grew up on fishing boats and is from the Thames area, so the play is loosely set there.”
After touring internationally for a year and a half, the 80-minute show drew a crowd of over 600 for one show in Honolulu, and was brought home for the NZ International Festival of the Arts.
 He Reo Aroha, Circa Theatre, June 16 - 26
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Bats Theatre - Te Kaupoi
MAORI cowboys rock the nation in Te Kaupoi.
In the not too distant future New Zealand is shaken by internal terrorism, with Maori who protested against the abolishment of Maori seats in parliament blamed for the unrest. Te Kaupoi is a notorious protestor who runs a pirate radio show.
Te Kaupoi  is of course Maori for ‘The Cowboy’.
Writer Whiti Hereaka’s hometown is Taupo and she remembers it as being hot and dry in the summer and a perfect climate for cowboys.
“The Te Kaupoi character just waltzed his way into my head a few years ago, and I wrote it in Wellington,” says Hereaka.
Te Kaupoi is set in Oruanui, a settlement north of Taupo, and Hereaka says the central plateau reminds her of western movies – vast and desolate.
“The scenes at the rodeo are great. It was a challenge to translate the excitement of the rodeo to the stage but this production has done a great job,” she says.
 Te Kaupoi, BATS Theatre, to June 26