Taki Rua Productions presents its Te Wai Paapaku Season of
Strata
By Kirk Torrance
Directed by Tim Spite

"The idea for Strata grew out of a writers group that I belong to called 'Writer's Block'. Taki Rua Productions presents its Te Wai Paapaku Season of
Strata
By Kirk Torrance
Directed by Tim Spite

"The idea for Strata grew out of a writers group that I belong to called 'Writer's Block'.It is run by one of New Zealand's pre-eminent playwrights, Hone Kouka in conjunction with Taki Rua Productions. Hone and Taki Rua Productions saw the need to develop New Zealand playwrights and devised a plan to guide interested theatre practitioners in to writing and staging their own shows," says first time playwright Kirk Torrance.

Set in the late 1800's on the rugged West coast of the South Island, Strata is the story of brothers Angus (Kirk Torrance - STICKMEN) and Mo (Grant Roa - WHALE RIDER), and Angus' search for redemption 1000ft underground.
26 September - 11 October,2003
8pm
BATS Theatre, Wellington
Mo, a mountain of a man, is a simpleton, relying absolutely on his younger brother since childhood. Angus has become provider, protector and only friend.

Angus has lured Mo into many mines with the promise of earning enough money to get back home. Now working as strike breakers in the union stronghold of the West Coast, all Mo wants is to feel the sun on his back instead of 1000ft of earth.

Into the pit comes Pushy (Malcom Murray - SHORTLAND ST), their trucker, a Welshmen who is not what he seems, offering Mo the possibility of independence and hope in the face of tragedy.

Strata is proudly presented by Taki Rua Productions as part of its Te Wai Paapaku strand. Te Wai Paapaku supports emerging talent and provides professional development for the next generation of theatre practitioners.

"The idea for Strata grew out of a writers group that I belong to called 'Writer's Block'. It is run by one of New Zealand's pre-eminent playwrights, Hone Kouka in conjunction with Taki Rua Productions. Hone and Taki Rua Productions saw the need to develop New Zealand playwrights and devised a plan to guide interested theatre practitioners in to writing and staging their own shows," says first time playwright Kirk Torrance.

"By profession I am an actor and have worked in the Wellington theatre scene for the past eight years. I also work in the film industry (STICKMEN, FISHSKIN SUIT), television (SHORTLAND ST, DUGGAN, MAATAKU), as well as radio. I joined Writer's Block as a means of creating work for myself, so that I did not have to wait by the phone hoping someone would ring me for work."

26 September - 11 October,2003
8pm
BATS Theatre, Wellington
$15/$12
Ph (04) 802 4175

BIOGRAPHIES

TIM SPITE

Tim Spite graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 1991.

As an actor he won Best Newcomer in the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards of 1992 for his performance in BLUE REMEMBERED HILLS.
He was nominated in 1999 for his performance of lucky in WAITING FOR GODOT at Circa Theatre, and won best actor in 2000 for his role in FLIPSIDE.

Tim has co-written and performed in many Wellington productions, including BACK STAGE WITH THE QUIGLEYS, THE RABBITERS DAUGHTER, THE LEAD WAIT, UNDER VERNON, TOO HIGH THE SON, SEEyD, INSALT and SAND. Of these TOO HIGH THE SON, SEEyD, INSALT and SAND won Most Original Production in 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2002 respectively. INSALT also won him the Designer of the year award, 2001.

The last 12 months has seen him in eight consecutive shows: RICHARD III and BLACK COMEDY at Downstage; SAND in a found space; and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST, WIND IN THE WILLOWS, OXYGEN and ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE at Circa.

Tim was also known as the BNZ cricket groundsman on television for eight years.

GRANT ROA

For the past eight years Grant has been working in film, theatre and television. From LORD OF THE RINGS to McPHAIL & GADSBY, BOOKS IN HOMES to presenting SATURN SPORTS. He recently featured in the internationally acclaimed film WHALE RIDER.

MALCOLM MURRAY
1995 graduate of Toi Whakaari, has worked in theatre productions through-out NZ, most recently THE FACEMAKER, Circa 2002 and the 2001 North Island tour of Roger Hall's A WAY OF LIFE (NZ Actors Company). Television credits include COVERSTORY, DUGGAN, and a lengthy stint on SHORTLAND STREET