Makerita Urale

Last updated

Vaosa ole Tagaloa Makerita Urale MNZM is a documentary director and playwright, and a leading figure in contemporary Polynesian theatre in New Zealand. [1] She has produced landmark productions in the performing arts. She is the writer of the play Frangipani Perfume, the first Pacific play written by a woman for an all-female cast. [2] Working in different art mediums, Urale also works in film and television. She is the director of the political documentary Children of the Revolution that won the Qantas Award (2008) for Best Māori Programme. [3]

Contents

Early life

Urale was born on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. [4] The family moved to New Zealand in the 1970s where they lived in Wellington.

In 2010 Urale received the Fulbright New Zealand Pacific Writer’s Residency at the University of Hawai’i. [4]

Biography

Playwright

In 2000 Urale's play Frangipani Perfume (1998) was listed Top 10 plays of the decade by literary magazine The New Zealand Listener . [5] The play was first staged at Bats Theatre in Wellington in 1998 with a cast of three women that included her sister Sima. The director of the first production was Erolia Ifopo [6] followed by other directors when the play toured the country and internationally. In 2004, the play was published by Play Press [7] and is a key text in theatre studies [8] at schools and universities. [9] The play is about three sisters, born in the tropical islands of Polynesia, who move to New Zealand where they work as cleaners. The story explores the women's dreams and aspirations through the use of lyrical poetry, imagery and stylised movement. The play was nominated for Most Original Production at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. The play has toured in New Zealand as well as internationally, including to Canada, [10] Australia [11] and UK. It has also had playreadings in Toronto and New York. [12]

Urale has written plays for children, including The Magic Seashell and Popo the Fairy [6] as well as children's books [13] and feature articles in magazines. [14]

Frangipani Perfume is a dense and complex piece, interrogating the Pacific diaspora through an array of theatrical strategies.

— Hilary Alba, Australasian Drama Studies, October 2006 [2]

Producer

In theatre, Urale was the producer of a number of major productions for the bi-annual New Zealand International Festival of the Arts in Wellington. She was producer of A Frigate Bird Sings (1996) directed by Nathaniel Lees and co-written by Oscar Kightley and Dave Fane, staged at Downstage Theatre. The play was nominated Best Production, Best Director and Best Set Design at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. [15] Other productions include Ricordi (1996) at the State Opera House, written by Peter Wells and directed by Colin McColl, Beauty and the Beast (1998) staged at St James Theatre, and the Samoan operatic work Classical Polynesia (1998) directed by Iosefa Enari and starring Jonathan Lemalu. [16] Other theatre productions include The Debate (1995), Duty Free (1998), five short plays by Māori writers directed by Tanea Heke, Two Days in Dream (2003) written by Mario Gaoa, Sex with Strangers (2004) directed by Colin Mitchell [17] as well as working on Paradise (2003), directed by Lemi Ponifasio for Auckland Festival. In 2007, she was the event producer of the opening festival of Tagata o le Moana, the permanent Pacific exhibition at National Museum of New Zealand, which brought together performers and artists around the country. [18] In 2008, she produced the short film Journey to Ihipa directed by Nancy Brunning. [19]

In the arts, there is light, hope and breathtaking beauty in innovation, courage and creativity. (Makerita Urale 2021) [20]

Documentary film director

Urale has directed a number of documentaries, including Savage Symbols (2002), which premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival, [21] Gang Girl – Tarnz's Story (2005), [22] Mob Daughters (2006) and Nesian Mystik (2006). The award winning documentary Children of the Revolution [23] focused on the children of iconic political activists in New Zealand as well as landmark protest movements during the 1970s and 1980s. The documentary featured interviews with Māori activists Tame Iti, Māori Party Member of Parliament Hone Harawira and his wife, former NZ Green Party MP Sue Bradford, musician and Polynesian Panthers Minister of Culture Tigilau Ness, anti-apartheid leader John Minto. Hip-hop star Che Fu is the son of Ness, and he features as one of the children. [22] Other works include freelancing for the television arts series The Living Room, [22] The Gravy, a short experimental documentary The Other Day in Paradise as well as directing an AV installation in the permanent Pacific exhibition at the National Museum of New Zealand. Urale has produced numerous music videos including Reverse Resistance, Groovilation, Ko Wai Ka Hua and the underwater Sub-Cranium Feeling for King Kapisi, directed by her sister Sima. [24] Filmed underwater, the music video won best music video awards including Flying Fish, BFM and TVNZ Mai Time. [25] In 2003, the video received an award from New Zealand On Air for contribution to music video making in New Zealand.

Arts leader

Since 2011 Urale has worked at Creative New Zealand, the arts funding and advocacy agency of the New Zealand Government. In 2023 she was in the role of Senior Manager Pacific Arts. [4]

In the 2024 New Year Honours, Urale was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Pacific arts. [26]

Personal life

Urale has two brothers and three sisters, who also work in the arts and media. Urale's sister Sima Urale is a filmmaker and brother King Kapisi is a hip-hop artist. [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BATS Theatre</span> Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand

BATS Theatre is a theatre venue in Wellington, New Zealand. Initially founded as the Bats Theatre Company in 1976, then established in its current form in 1989. BATS Theatre has seen the development of many performing arts talents of New Zealand.

Ramon Te Wake is a New Zealand trans woman documentarian, singer-songwriter and television presenter. Her first presenting job was for Māori Television, where she was one of three people fronting Takatāpui, which is Maori Television's first ever LGBT show.

Nathaniel Lees is a New Zealand theatre actor and director and film actor of Samoan descent, best known for film roles in The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and for starring in Young Hercules as Chiron the centaur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar Kightley</span> Samoan-New Zealand actor and writer

Oscar Vai To'elau Kightley is a Samoan-New Zealander actor, television presenter, writer, journalist, director, and comedian. He acted in and co-wrote the successful 2006 film Sione's Wedding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Henare</span> New Zealand actor

George Winiata Henare is a New Zealand actor with a career spanning over 50 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hone Kouka</span> New Zealand playwright, theatre director and producer

Hone Vivian Kouka is a New Zealand playwright. He has written 13 plays, which have been staged in New Zealand and worldwide including Canada, South Africa, New Caledonia and Britain. Kouka's plays have won multiple awards at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards, the 'Oscars' of New Zealand theatre. Kouka has also worked as a theatre director and producer. In 2009, Kouka was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to contemporary Māori theatre.

Sima Urale is a New Zealand filmmaker. Her films explore social and political issues and have been screened worldwide. She is one of the few Polynesian film directors in the world with more than 15 years in the industry. Her accolades include the Silver Lion for Best Short Film at the Venice Film Festival for O Tamaiti (1996).

Nancy Brunning was a New Zealand actress, director, and writer who won awards in film and television and made a major contribution to the growth of Māori in the arts. She won the best actress award at the New Zealand Film Awards for her lead role in the film What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? (1999). In 2000, she won the Best Actress in Drama award at the New Zealand Television Awards for her lead role in the television series Nga Tohu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victor Rodger</span> New Zealand playwright

Victor John Rodger is a New Zealand journalist, actor and award-winning playwright of Samoan and Pākehā heritage. Rodger's play Sons won acclaim at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards (1998) and received the Best New Writer and Most Outstanding New New Zealand Play awards. In 2001, he won the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award. Other plays include Ranterstantrum (2002) and My Name is Gary Cooper (2007), produced and staged by Auckland Theatre Company and starred a Samoan cast including Robbie Magasiva, Anapela Polataivao, Goretti Chadwick and Kiwi actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Briar Grace-Smith</span> New Zealand Māori scriptwriter

Briar Grace-Smith is a screenwriter, director, actor, and short story writer from New Zealand. She has worked as an actor and writer with the Maori theatre cooperative Te Ohu Whakaari and Maori theatre company He Ara Hou. Early plays Don't Call Me Bro and Flat Out Brown, were first performed at the Taki Rua Theatre in Wellington in 1996. Waitapu, a play written by Grace-Smith, was devised by He Ara Hou and performed by the group on the Native Earth Performing Arts tour in Canada in 1996.

Hori Ahipene is an actor and director in theatre, film and television in New Zealand. He is also an award-winning playwright with the Māori play Hide 'n Seek co-written with Hone Kouka. He became a well known face in New Zealand for his dramatic performances in films such as Jubilee (2000) as well as parts in The Piano (1993) and a guest role Xena:Warrior Princess in 2001. A versatile actor he has also played lead roles in television sketch series including the 1990s hit Skitz, The Semisis, Telly Laughs and Away Laughing. Most recently he was in the core cast of Maddigan's Quest and currently playing the role of Angel in the television drama Outrageous Fortune. He is an accomplished director with more than 15 years in the arts industry. He was a senior director on Skitz as well as long running Māori-language programmes Korero Mai and Pukana. He was a creator and co-writer of the sitcom B&B with comedian Te Radar for Māori Television.

Claudette Hauiti is a New Zealand journalist, broadcaster and political commentator. She was the producer of the award winning programme Children of the Revolution. Hauiti was a New Zealand politician and member of the House of Representatives in 2013 and 2014 as a member of the National Party.

Mīria George is a New Zealand writer, producer and director of Māori and Cook Island descent. Best known for being the author of award-winning stage plays, George has also written radio, television and poetry, and was one of the film directors of the portmanteau film Vai. In November 2005, she won the Emerging Pacific Artist's Award at the Arts Pasifika Awards. Mīria George was the first Cook Islands artist to receive the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency at the University of Hawai'i.

Anapela Polataivao is a New Zealand actor, writer, and director of stage and screen.

Goretti Chadwick is a Samoan-New Zealand stage and television actress, writer, director and tutor.

Albert Alexander Amahou Belz is a New Zealand actor, writer and lecturer.

Taki Rua is a theatre organisation based in Wellington, New Zealand that has produced many contemporary Māori theatre productions. Taki Rua has been going since 1983 and has had several name changes over that time including The New Depot, Depot Theatre and Taki Rua / The Depot. The full current name is Taki Rua Productions. Since inception the mission of Taki Rua has been to showcase work from New Zealand. Because of this and the longevity of Taki Rua many significant New Zealand actors, directors, writers, designers and producers have part of the history including Riwia Brown, Nathaniel Lees, Rachel House and Taika Waititi.

Dianna Fuemana is a New Zealand writer, director and performer. She writes for theatre and screen. Her solo play Mapaki was the first that brought a New Zealand-born Niue perspective to the professional stage. In 2008 Fuemana won the Pacific Innovation and Excellence Award, at the Creative New Zealand Pasifika Arts Award. Fuemana was one of nine women writer-directors of the 2019 feature film Vai.

Rob Mokaraka is a New Zealand playwright and actor. He affiliates to Ngāpuhi and Ngāi Tūhoe.

Jason Te Kare is a New Zealand director, playwright and actor.

References

  1. ↑ "Pacific waves to hit Cambridge". University of Cambridge, UK. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Play review by Hilary Alba". Australasian Drama Studies. October 2006. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  3. ↑ "Children of the Revolution". NZ On Screen. Archived from the original on 29 September 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 "The team". Creative NZ. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "La Mama Theatre, New York". Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  6. 1 2 The Native Chef by Erolia Ifopo Archived 18 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine , UNESCO Paper, Fiji, 25 November 2002.
  7. ↑ "National Library of Australia". Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  8. ↑ Davidson, Verity. "New Zealand/Aotearoa Plays and Playwrights: In Search of Our Theatre". Research in New Zealand Performing Arts. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  9. ↑ "Playmarket New Zealand Playwrights' Agency". Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  10. ↑ "Frangipani Perfume". Public Energy. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  11. ↑ "More New Art Goes to Market at APAM". Australian Council, Government of Australia. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  12. ↑ "Frangipani Perfume". Maidment Theatre, University of Auckland. Archived from the original on 24 May 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  13. ↑ "Keynote Speaker". Regional Arts Australia. Archived from the original on 25 June 2002. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  14. ↑ "Godzone". New Internationalist Magazine. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  15. ↑ Awards Archived 14 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine Chapman Tripp Awards, Otago University. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
  16. ↑ "New Indigenous Voices 2008". La MaMa E.T.C. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  17. ↑ "Sex With Strangers" Archived 10 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine , Brown Pages Directory. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
  18. ↑ "Tangata o le Moana Opening Festival - Labour Weekend 2007" Archived 22 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine , Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
  19. ↑ "Journey to Ihipa" Archived 7 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine , NZ Film Commission.
  20. ↑ "Aho Tini 2030" (PDF). Wellington City Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "A View To Tattoo". Victoria University (NZ). Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  22. 1 2 3 "Gang-girl: Tarnz' Story". NZ On Screen. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  23. ↑ "Maori Documentary Winner at Qantas Awards 2008". Scoop.co.nz. 15 September 2008. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  24. ↑ "Cyclone Sima heads to Hawaii". Fulbright New Zealand Quarterly. 10 (3). 2004. Archived from the original on 18 May 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  25. ↑ May, Sue (26 February 1999). "New Zealand Music Awards 1999". NZine. Archived from the original on 21 October 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  26. ↑ "New Year Honours 2024: the full list". The New Zealand Herald . 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  27. ↑ "Fulbright New Zealand". Archived from the original on 18 May 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.