As part of Kia Mau Festival’s He Ngaru Nui programme, plenty serious TALK TALK, takes its first international steps bringing the Aotearoa premiere from Western New South Wales.
With gleeful humour and sharp observation, plenty serious TALK TALK lays bare the full complexity of negotiating culture across disciplines, genres and eras.
Choreographer Vicki van Hout (Wiradjuri) ignites dialogue, celebrating and illuminating the sophistication of the world’s oldest living culture through droll narrative, blended with her own singular indigenous movement.
Behind the scenes, community expectations, consultative processes and obligations crowd the work of First Nation artists. With her trademark wit and incisive analysis, van Hout skilfully lays bare the complexities of negotiating culture across disciplines, genres and eras.
"Parramatta, Western Sydney is my area, where I generate work. I find it very fertile ground. I am walking along the street, I sit in the mall and I see the world. It is this social context I want to place on stage. Even if I’m on stage by myself, as an artist I’m never truly alone as I am bound to bring my family, my community, my peers and mentors to work with me. In this piece I decided to place the usually behind the-scenes action of the indigenous arts making process front and centre. The nuances of the relationship between work developed within its community and the obligations an artistic work has to that community, are what I’m exploring in plenty serious TALK TALK." - Vicki van Hout
He Ngaru Nui is more than just a collection of performances—it is a bold statement about the value and significance of Indigenous narratives. These shows take stories that sometimes feel small, intimate, or unheard, and amplify them on the grand stages they deserve. This programming strand honours the storytelling traditions of Māori, Pasifika and global indigenous cultures, while pushing the boundaries of contemporary performance. It’s about taking stories from our communities and sharing them with the world in a way that is both respectful and revolutionary.
Creative Credits:
Director & Performer Vicki van Hout
Lighting Designer Karen Norris
Sound Designer Phil Downing
Dramaturg Martin del Amo
Videographers Marian Abboud and Dominic O’Donnell
Performers & Collaborators (film) Cloé Fournier, Glen Thomas; (sound) Henrietta Baird & Clair Drew
Producer Fenn Gordon for Tandem
Learn More About Vicki van Hout:
Vicki van Hout is an Indigenous independent artist with over 20 years’ experience.
A graduate of NAISDA Dance College and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York, she went on to perform with major indigenous dance companies, Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre, before joining forces with Marilyn Miller as a founding member of Fresh Dancers. With Marilyn, Vicki performed Dear Carrie for One Extra Dance and Quinkin for the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Her show Briwyant was the first ever show by an independent indigenous choreographer to tour nationally and was nominated for an Australian Dance Award for Best Achievement in Independent Dance.
Vicki was awarded the 2014 NSW Dance Fellowship for established and mid-career artists – the first indigenous winner of the Fellowship.
Learn More About Kia Mau Festival:
Tihei mauri ora!
Ka mihi ki ngā uri o te whenua o Te Upoko o te ika a Māui.
E ngā haukāinga o te rohe nei, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Taranaki Whānui,
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa!
Kia Mau Festival is at the forefront of contemporary Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous theatre and dance in Aotearoa and beyond. We are innovators—pushing boundaries, redefining forms, and forging new paths with creative risk-taking at every step. Right here, right now, we bring together local, national, and international artists in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. We find the intersection where our stories intertwine, creating an experience that is uniquely ‘local’ yet unparalleled in Pōneke throughout the year.
Kia Mau offers a truly unique experience, led by Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous voices at every level—from our leadership to our artists and audiences. Unlike any other festival, we are not just a platform for presentations; we are a hub for kōrero and whanaungatanga.
Our festival serves as a whare where Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists and their communities are supported throughout the creation, development, and staging of their works. By providing a nurturing environment, we empower individual artists, strengthen their capabilities, and enrich the arts sector, celebrating the diversity and talent of Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists.
With our deep understanding of the arts sector and strong relationships with artists from emerging talents to established figures, we identify those at pivotal moments in their careers or with significant projects. By including them in the Kia Mau Festival programme, we support them in taking strategic steps forward. This approach has allowed Kia Mau Festival to make a substantial impact on numerous artists and, consequently, shape the contemporary arts landscape.
Returning to Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui, Aotearoa New Zealand from 30 May – 14 June 2025. Nau mai, haramai! Nau mai, hoki mai ki te hui ahurei o Kia Mau!
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