Overview
Go to Manawa Ora: Stories from the Street and you're definitely not in for something light and fluffy . The performance is the result of a collaboration between established musicians, actors, artists and 12 rangatahi (young people) who've had it tough.
The young performers tell their stories through their chosen art form combined with art and music. These are teens who've fallen through the cracks and know all about things like poverty, crime and family abuse.
Directed by Fantail film maker Curtis Vowell, Manawa Ora received rave reviews after its premiere in October and it's easy to imagine why. Performed from the heart, the rangatahi's stories might not be uplifting but their determination to overcome challenges in their lives sure is.
The mentors include Ladi 6 and Chip Matthews (Opensouls and Eru Dangerspiel), Oscar Kightley, actor Pana Hema-Taylor (Boy), rapper and performance poet Tourettes and artist Josh Paki, among others.