Rangi and Mau's Amazing Race

Christchurch based performing arts collective Pacific Underground brings their newest play "Rangi and Mau's Amazing Race" co-devised by Tanya Muagututi'a, Joy Vaele and Ave Sua, to Auckland's The Edge as part of the 'Pick & Mix' programme on Saturday 17 July at 11am.

The humorous and educational play tells the story of a two teenagers - one Samoan and one Maori - who need to complete their Matariki homework assignment. With the assistance of a magic genie that sets down some challenges they embark on an Amazing Race where they explore significant historical events in New Zealand, and discover the similarities in each others cultures.

Pacific Underground was established in 1993, and presented ground breaking theatre with it's first ever tour to Auckland in 1994 at the Herald Theatre with the play "Fresh Off The Boat" by Simon Small and Oscar Kightley. Pacific Underground returned annually with a national schools tour or a main bill theatre show until in 2004 took a break from theatre shows and moved more into delivering music shows, and events based in Christchurch.

"It's good to come back to the The Edge with this show. We're really proud of it, and presenting it in this venue especially is a good way to acknowledge our own journey. We've been here twice with Fresh of the Boat and Oscar's play Dawn Raids in 1998." says producer Tanya Muagututi'a.

The return of Pacific Underground to the Edge comes at a time when Matariki is increasingly and more widely celebrated around New Zealand. Rangi and Mau's Amazing Race was part of a mini tour to Dunedin, Christchurch and Palmerston North as part of the Matariki celebrations in each centre was performed in Marae and to schools in the regions, receiving excellent reviews and feedback.

Dominion Post's Karlo Mila describes it so. "I laughed so much that my four-year old felt the need to cover my mouth with his hands....Watching it felt like a bicultural coming of age. It was a Samoan and Maori celebration oozing inclusivity where people of diverse ethnic backgrounds could galvanise around something incredibly special about the indigenous people of this place."