The Tamatane Project
Written in 2002 for 'Arts Online'
In 2001 Kerry Lynch the H.O.D. of Drama at Otahuhu College and 12 of his senior pupils presented an original production titled Tamatane in China. Otahuhu College is the largest decile 1 school in New Zealand. This article documents their remarkable story and it offers some insights into the Devising process of a bi-cultutral/multi-cultural production.
AN UNFORGETTABLE PHONE CALL
In November of the year 2000, I received a phone call from Steve Bradshaw who had been recently appointed as an Arts Officer for the Auckland City Council. Steve asked whether my students and I would be interested in doing some performance work for the council in 2001. I immediately said yes to Steves proposal and explained to him that we had just taken a show over to the North Shore and that we were keen to do more of the same .In response to this Steve said "Great , your first gig will be in May, it will be in China! and all expenses will be paid".
This somewhat surreal conversation marked the beginning of what I have called the Tamatane Project. This project had a research/conceptual period in January and February, a rehearsal period between March and the middle of May and a tour of China from May the 16-23rd. Following our performances in China, Tamatane was performed on 13 other occasions to audiences in greater Auckland.