TKPP - Toi Ako Te Kauwhata

Te Kauwhata Performance Project (TKPP) is a collaborative project designed to engage people in our community who have a story to tell, who enjoy performing, or perhaps have a knack for writing, design or technology. It is an opportunity to bring people of all ages, skills and backgrounds together through creativity, to share skills, build confidence and celebrate who we are as a growing community.
While we do aspire to a performance, the process is just as important. Join us!

The project will be delivered in four stages:

Phase 1: Story
You will see the Toi Ako Team out and about on the streets and at events in May and June 2026 to talk with the people in our community, gather memories, stories and ideas. Where permitted we would also like to photograph the people we interview for use in later parts of the project. We will also be connecting with people who may be interested in joining us for the next phases of the project.

Phase 2: Play
In a series of workshops through July and August we will use drama games and devising processes to explore the story ideas gathered in phase 1. As we play we will tease out pieces of work that we would like to share back to our community.

Phase 3: Production
We will shape our workshop pieces into a production, adding in elements such as props, costume, set, music, technology. We will rehearse through September and share our performance with an audience in October.

How can I get involved?

We would love your involvement, whether on stage or behind the scenes. We will need actors, musicians, dancers, costume design and sewing, set design and construction, AV design, make up and hair, stage management, front of house management, marketing assistants and much more.
Please contact us on 0212225682 or [email protected] and we will add you to our project team.
If you can make it we'd also love to see you at our first team meeting/project launch on Sunday 14 June, 10am at Toi Ako Artspace.

Thanks to Creative Communities Waikato for making this possible.