Theatre

Manawa Ora: Tōku Whakaruruhau

Witness what happens when some of Aotearoa’s top performing artists collaborate with an ensemble of young storytellers from youth organisation, Ngā Rangatahi Toa. Real, moving, and an absolute must-see.

$15 - $25
60 minutes, no interval
4 - 6 October 2023

From critically acclaimed creative youth organisation, Ngā Rangatahi Toa, comes a deeply moving theatre work crafted from the experiences of some of our city’s most radiant rangatahi.

Devised from scratch in the week before the season, the show is a raw, honest and empowering retelling of the experiences of an ensemble of rangatahi from all over Tāmaki. Guided by some of Aotearoa’s top performing artists, the rangatahi command the stage through dance, song, rap, drama and more. 

Those guiding the rangatahi through the creation of Manawa Ora: Tōku Whakaruruhau will include treasured Grey-Lynn rapper Diggy Dupé, the highly-respected Freshmans Dance Crew and Karlos Saunders Tunks of Kora. Theatre rangatira, Hadleigh Pouesi and Chris Graham will co-direct the show, weaving the rangatahi’s stories together into an unmissable experience. 

With 2023 marking the second year that Manawa Ora will be staged in Q Theatre's Loft, the rangatahi are excited about returning to the stage to present another phenomenal performance. If you’ve been looking for a show to be deeply moved by, this is it.

Nau mai haere mai! 

Presented by: 
Ngā Rangatahi Toa 

Sponsors: 
Next Gen 
One Percent Collective 
Foundation North 
SkyCity Community Trust 
Creative New Zealand

Image credit: 
Shelley Te Haara 

Audience warnings: 
Themes of self-harm. 

  • 6 - 14 June 2025
    Theatre

    Wrest

    At the scene of a violent crime, a woman watches herself split in two, a mysterious doppelgänger emerging. Wrest is a surreal thriller, untangling the monstrosity of early motherhood.
  • 25 - 29 June 2025
    Comedy

    Black Faggot

    The critically acclaimed playwright and producer Victor Rodger’s powerfully funny play comes to Q Theatre for the first time.
  • 25 June - 5 July
    Theatre

    SAINT JOAN by Bernard Shaw

    Peasant – Soldier – Saint – Flyleaf Theatre Company presents Saint Joan, Bernard Shaw's epic about the life and death of Joan of Arc.
  • 10 - 12 July 2025
    Theatre

    Suitcase Show

    Trick of the Light Theatre present an eclectic box set of short stories. Dark, spiky, and comic, they touch on climate change, love and death, travel, and secrets that we carry with us.