Raising the Titanics

When Api Puoro one of the founding members of the “Titanics” is taken to hospital having fallen ill, Aroha Devine, a journalist and daughter of the bands manager Louie Devine and one of the lead singers Ripeka Tipene, takes it upon herself to discover the real history surrounding the Titanics and why they failed to reach the peaks they seemed so destined to conquer.

However her search for the truth is not as easy as she first thought with both her parents proving difficult to probe. Using all her journalistic nous, Aroha takes it upon herself to discover the truth. Meanwhile Aroha’s mother Ripeka is forced to face a secret of her past. When finally all the band members are united the whole truth is revealed. The Titanics play one more time.

‘Raising the Titanics’ is a magical showpiece that journeys from the present day, back to the golden age of the Maori show band era to reveal what really sunk the Titanics who were perhaps the greatest Maori show band never to have existed. Somewhere beneath the oceans of music, mirth and memory lies the truth.

A new play by award-winning playwright Albert Belz, directed by Raymond Hawthorne.

Starring Tama Waipara, Fran Kora, Wesley Dowdell, Bronwyn Turei, Miriama McDowell and Faye Smythe.

Presented by Taonga Whakaari: Maori Playwrights Festival as part of Matariki Festival 10 in Auckland and Papakura.