Tawata Productions' most recent show was not created for those who like their theatre to stick to the rulebook. If, however, you like your theatre to be a rich combination of onstage dance battles, original urban songs and projected imagery, then Hone Kouka's The Beautiful Ones will tick every box.
This show is constrained by nothing. Set between a nightclub dancefloor and its balcony stage above, The Beautiful Ones is a love story told through the modes of dance, music and multimedia. The cast, a young ensemble of mesmerising voices and fluid movers, make it hard for you to take your eyes off them. Their energy spills from the stage into the audience's table seating, and gives the show an interactive element as they transform patrons into performers.
Songstress Ria Hall may be a bit of a stranger to acting, but she certainly knows how to command a microphone. Her soul-filled singing has a captivating quality that places you in a trance and threatens to never release you. The show's bold soundtrack – courtesy of producer K*Saba and musician Tama Waipara – combined with the work of choreographer Tai Paitai captures the essence of the show's youthful love story. Paitai seamlessly fuses elements of lyrical contemporary, traditional Pacific and hip hop dance and creates stunning silhouettes set against vivid digital imagery.
At times the show feels a bit rough around the edges, but there are some truly endearing moments created by Kouka's writing. The Beautiful Ones is a culturally specific show with a universal theme. It speaks to the fearless ones, the rhythm-loving ones and, of course, the romantic ones amongst us.