Maori Theatre Trust Formed

Te Ao Hou, September 1966, Page 57

Maori Theatre Trust Formed A nation-wide appeal to raise funds for the newly-formed Maori Theatre Trust was launched in Gisborne with a recital by the American soprano, Dolores Ivory, and Auckland mezzo-soprano, Hannah Tatana. The five members of the trust are Mr P. Keiha, Mr D. Selwyn, Mr T. Te Heu Heu, Mr Puoho Katene and Mr T. Taurima. The trust is soon to present its first production. It will be a mythical folk opera, Uenuku, which was due to go into rehearsal in mid-August, after 40 of the best Maori voices in the country had been found. The script for Uenuku was written by Pei Te Hurunui Jones from an old Maori myth about the Rainbow gods. The musical score was written by Paul Katene in collaboration with Thomas Taurima. There is no orchestration, and the programme's only accompaniment will be a few effects from flutes, conch shells and authentic Maori percussion. It is hoped that the Trust will tour Russia next year with the opera.