Creative Team
2010
Written by Albert Belz
Director Leo Gene Peters
Set & Costume Design Rose Kirkup
Lighting Design Nathan McKendry
Sound Design Thomas Press
Stage Manager Sarah Adams
Production Manager Pat McIntosh
CAST
Tola Newberry, Matariki Whatarau, James Tito, Kura Forrester
2003
Director Nathaniel Lees
Set Design Tony De Goldi
Lighting Design Lisa Maule
Sound Design Warryn Maxwell
CostumeDesign Colin McClean
Stage Manager Jennifer Proctor
Production Manager Marlena Campbell
Publicist Grace Hoet
Operator Glen Ashworth
Assistant Set Builder John Cruikshanks
Steel Work B & P Engineering
Pyrotechnics Graeme Anderson
CAST
John Katipa, Taungaroa Emile, Raj Varma, Fiona Collins
Date & Times
2011
22nd June - 2nd July
TAPAC, Western Springs
Book tickets here
13th - 30th July
Downstage Theatre
2003
Circa Studio, Wellington
Lawson Field Theaes Bay Opera House, Hastings
Opened May 24th 2003
Tickets
Please follow links above to book tickets.
Awhi Tapu
Where do we stand as young people in the community? Who do we follow now all the old people have left?
At the foot of the Urewera ranges lies Awhi Tapu - a desolate forestry ghost town; with the forestry industry closed down most of the inhabitants have left. Wendyl, Sonny, Casper and Girl Girl have only each other and their fertile imaginations to rely on.
This is a story of loss, belonging, but most of all, friendship; it heralds a new wave of writing around Maori issues and characters; direct, unsentimental and challenging.
'Awhi Tapu is about reconciliation, it's about overcoming great loss to discover all that really matters are those who we love most.' - Albert Belz
Reviews
NEW ZEALAND HERALD
‘Two parts comedy, two parts tragedy and several shots of intense drama. ..Don’t miss the opportunity to see this play.’
‘Belz weaves the different elements of the play with great assurance and it builds impressively in emotional power. Considerable humor is generated by (their) attempts to package their story as a Hollywood screenplay starring Denzel Washington ...’
GISBORNE HERALD
‘Sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart rending’
THEATREVIEW
‘The play weaves past and present, fantasy and reality, comedy and tragedy to compelling effect ... he uses insightful humor to make a powerful statement about the consequences of displacing people whose need to stand tall in their own land is deeply rooted.’
SALIENT
‘Awhi Tapu’s revelations of small-town violence and arson generated such heat in this small theatre space that it threatened to consume the audience. With this play Albert Belz flew straight into the top echelon of Maori playwrights.’
Awhi Tapu also received an award from The Human Rights Commission for its "positive contribution towards harmonious race relations - a marvellous story, presented with humour, passion, pathos and hope."

























