Synopsis A Journey between Two Worlds This is a story of Paikea’s spear and Paikea’s Whale. When Paikea the ancestor first arrived on his whale he brought spears of mauri – life force and knowledge as gifts from the gods. Paikea threw one spear into the future to flower when the people were troubled and the life force was needed most. Koro’s granddaughter Kahu is the promised spear waiting to fulfil that destiny. One thing prevents her from flowering – her grandfather, a man dying to ensure survival of his tribe, to protect his shores. Paikea’s whale is a thousand years old and guarding his herd. The ancestral migratory paths are dangerous and full of obstacles. Haiwaki, his place of birth is dying, his herd is under attack. Koro and the Whale are the leaders of two worlds under threat. But tradition blinds them both. Only one thing can save them. Sacrifice. Koro must sacrifice his grand daughter and the whale must sacrifice himself. Or innocence will drown.

The Authors Note: “ New York sounds a strange place to write ‘The Whale Rider’ but that’s where it was written, in the summer of 1986. At the time I was working as Consul at the New Zealand Consulate, and I lived on the 33rd floor of an apartment building overlooking the Hudson River. One morning, I heard all these helicopters flying around my building and, when I looked out the window, I saw what the commotion was about. A whale had come up the Hudson River and was spouting opposite the Naval Base. I cried when I saw that whale because I took it as a sign that I shouldn’t feel alone on the other side of the world, and that I was being remembered by the people of Whangara. The appearance of the whale coincided with a visit of my two daughters, Jessica and Olivia, to New York. As all families do, we took in the sights – the Statue of Liberty, and so on – and also went to see children’s movies like “Caravan of Courage”, “An American Tail” and the latest Star Wars movie. It was Jessica who stood on the pavement after one of the movies and asked me, “Daddy, why are all the heroes boys? And why are the girls always there just to be rescued and to yell ‘Save me, save me, I’m so helpless?” She cracked me up. Well, I put two and two together. I wrote a story about a whale, based on all the whale mythologies of the East Coast. And I also wrote a story about a girl who rides a whale, becomes the hero and saves her tribe. I wanted to affirm the place Maori have in New Zealand literature. I also wanted to affirm the place of young women in a patriarchal world. Just as the ancient bull whale says to Kahu at the end of the book, I also say to all young women of the world: “Fulfil your destiny” Witi Ihimaera

Cast List Koro Nanny Flowers Kahu (Pai) Rawiri Rehua Tuoto Te Rangi (The other side of Heaven) Aunty Bumpy/Ancient Whale Queen Toko Paki Koia Daniel Pai - Understudy Dancers Tipuna Ancestor/ Paikea Kapa Haka Rawiri Paratene Vicky Haughton Joylene Davis Karlos Drinkwater Hinewehi Mohi Sophia Rapana-Taiapa Mabel Wharekawa-Burt Esther Davis Piripi Davis Paora Davis Wiremu Barber Pairama Tutara Rangimarie Pomare Amanda Chan Isbert Ramos Mediacejas Greydis Montero Liranza Peter Rewi Maaka Pepene Matariki Kapa Haka Group Puka Moeau & Pania Papa, Directors Click on the names for more information...

Production Credits Based on the novel by ~ Witi Ihimaera Director ~ Toby Gough Producer ~ Logan Brewer Production Designer ~ Robert Gillies Executive Producer ~ Asia Pacific Partners Limited Original Songs by ~ Hinewehi Mohi Original Score ~ Wayne Laird Costume Designer ~ Jane Holland Lighting Designer ~ Brian Caldwell Choreographer ~ Maaka Pepene Click on the names above for more information... Cultural Advisors : Henare Te Ua, Hone Taumaunu Lighting Programmer : David Seaton Lighting Producer : Steve Reywick Lighting Operator : Ken Frost Stage Manager : Phil Evans Deputy Stage Manager : Josh Hyman Assistant Stage Manager : Jacqui Godfrey Production Manager : Pak Peacocke Production Assistant : Ayliss Ripley Make Up Artist : Eithne Curran Moko Designs : Blaine Te Rito Scenic Artist : Paul Radford Head Staging Tech : Russell Fox Head Flyman : Ray Pafalani Flyman : Dave King Stage Crew : Shane Wilson Grip Equipment : Brian Harris Lighting Dept : Chris Mc Kenzie (Kenderdine Electrical) Sound Dept : Greg Peacocke (Oceania) Sound Operator : Paul Jeffrey Flying Systems : Third Stage Sculptors : Kate Lang, Allen French Metal Work : Nick Walter, Joseph Jack Koti Carpentry : Marco Trever Major Props : Jennifer Ward Inflatables : Waric Bell (Fabric Shelter Ltd) Giant Squid Fabrication : Glass Hammer Ltd Star Cloth Fabrication : Al Green Rhian Karnation Costume Supervisor : Jaindra Watson Pattern Cutter : Jennette Buffett Textile Artist : Paula Collier Weavers : Vicky Stark, Melaney Kemp Machinists : Erin Cooney, Lachlan Mayclair, Maron Jakobtorweihen Costume Assistants : Larissa Lofley, Katrina Wilson, Kristina Heep, Fiona Foster

The Music Traditional haka, song and the rhythms of the Maori cultural Kapa Haka will be layered into the score producing one of the most original musical scores presented for the theatre. It is proposed to produce six major songs and a rich sound score of whale and natural sea sounds woven into the composition singles. Songs – lyrics by Hinewehi Mohi Song of Destiny - The Call of the Whales Mana A Grandfathers Love Rángimarie Paikea Action Song Paikea Haka The Score – compiled & composed by Wayne Laird The Community of Whales Kapa Haka Human Community Music of the Sea Epic Lyrical Natural Sound Score of the Whales Young Boys Kapa Haka Group The Sounds of Patagonia Ethereal Music of Whales Brain The Throbbing Propeller Sounds of Harpoons The Music of the Ancestors Aerial Sea Ballet with The Golden Master The Music of the undersea Nuclear Trench The Whale Chorus The Deep Dive Music