Raru e Maruakaītā
Presented BY What It Is
Kia orana turou oro mai!
Debuting as a jukebox musical in 2023, Raru e Maruakaītā explores grief, family, laughter and loss in a close-knit community.
Is blood really thicker than water?
Brought to you by What It Is, founders (and recent MFA graduates) Poe Tiare and Hannah present a traditional Cook Islands legend like you’ve never seen it before. Combining both traditional and modern music, this jukebox musical is jam packed with both Cook Islands and contemporary dance!
After finding herself disappointed with the lack of representation in the Poneke arts industry, Cook Islander Poe Tiare has created a show about - and with - Cook Islands people and their culture. And Hannah did all the emails.
Thanks to 2022’s BoostedxMoana campaign, What It Is managed to raise $6000 to put into this show, meaning you are in for an absolute treat!
Meitaki nui, te atua, te aroa - Poe Tiare and Hannah x
“When the opportunity came to audition for a character that’s of Kūki descent, I had to snag it. It’s not about the work, it’s about the culture so our job isn’t to only do a service to ourselves, it’s to do a service for our community as our number one priority.”
Rated M for Mature Audiences (may contain swearing and/or violent/graphic implications of domestic abuse).
What It Is is an emerging creative theatre company based in Te Whanganui-a-tara, Aotearoa. Co-founded by MFA graduates Poe Tiare and Hannah in 2022, it aims to bring different cultures together and be able to celebrate uniqueness on the stage.
