Placeholder Productions is bringing Michaella Steels new play to the stage, Tūī Girls is set to make it’s premiere season at Te Whaea Basement Theatre as part of Kia Mau Festival’s 2025 He Toi Hou – New Works programming pou.
Nanny’s dead, the girls know this, but this doesn’t stop them from making her cups of tea. It’s not like they’re doing it for no reason – she just keeps asking for them, and there’s no way they’re gonna tell her no.
When Nan returns to spend her last few days with her beloved mokos before te rerenga wairua, the four girls are thrilled. So thrilled, in fact, that they decide to throw her a fun-eral.
However, as the dawn approaches and the closing of Nan’s coffin grows near, the four girls must come to terms with the fact that some conversations will never have an ending, while others will never begin at all.
He Toi Hou brings together the most innovative and thought-provoking contemporary Indigenous arts. This pou is a testament to the spirit of creation and offers a space for fresh, dynamic works to make their debut, allowing audiences to experience the raw power and authenticity of new voices or old voices in new ways.
CAST
Maea Janelle Shepherd (she/her) Ngā Puhi | Ngāti Awa – Nita
Ngaronoa (Gahh) Awhina Lazarus (she/her) Ngāpuhi – Manaia
Hellena Faasili (she/they) Samoa – Diana (Dee)
Ruby Carter (she/they) Ngāti Porou – Estella (Tess)
Tarsha Te Rure (she/her) Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa, Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe – Nanny
PRODUCTION TEAM
Alia Marshall (she/they) Tūhoe – Director
Ollie Harding (he/him) Production Manager, Set Design/Construction
Michaella Steel (she/her/ia) Tainui | Rarotonga – Playwright
Hāmi Hawkins (he/they) Kahungunu | Ngāti Wai – Lighting Designer & Operator
Shem Dixon (she/they) Pahu | Tonga – Stage Manager
Teddy Dickison (he/him) Set/Costume Design & Construction
Placeholder Productions is a Pōneke based theatre company, with a focus on uplifting Māori and Pacifica voices and stories. Our goal is to create rich, collaborative theatre that celebrates Aotearoa and Te Ao Māori. Tūī Girls will be our official debut, but we are always busy plotting and scheming away.
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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