Keisha Castle-Hughes will make her first theatrical appearance this June in Nga Manurere, as part of this year’s Matariki celebration. Directed by Katie Wolfe and Hori Ahipene, the show was penned by writer/actress Renae Maihi.

Castle-Hughes auditioned for the part alongside other talented Auckland actors, landing a main role as Wai, one of the four women in Nga Manurere. Castle-Hughes says she is happy to have the chance to get on stage, something she has never done before and is eager to try. Director Wolfe says her “mix of vulnerability and a great sense for comedy” made her perfect for the part.

Nga Manurere follows Manawa’s (Nicola Kawana) journey to reconnect with the son Morehu (Pana Hema-Taylor) she gave up through whangai. Supported by her closest friends Wai, Rina and Jess who are all single mothers, the women are tied together by roots and friendship, but each secretly harbours their own view on Manawa and the son to whom she is a stranger.

At once funny and shocking, the play explores the everyday experience of being a solo mum with honesty and humour. It also reveals a terrible truth that exposes the danger of emotional silence.

Castle-Hughes character is Wai, a young girl from the city who has never been on a marae and still pines for the absent father of her young son. Lana Garland plays Rina, a big-hearted DPB career mum who has devoted her life to her son and relatives. Newcomer Maihi is Jess, an ambitious young family court lawyer who spends more time on her career than with her child. Uncle Rongo (Willian Davis) is grandfather to them all.

Writer Renae Maihi was discovered at the Matariki play conference last year. Directed by Katie Wolfe and Hori Ahipene, the show weaves traditional Maori performance forms such as poi, waiata, haka and moteatea through the fabric of a contemporary urban story. It will be staged in theatre and marae spaces.

This is current New Zealand theatre at its purest, stripped to bare essentials of story and actors, presented by an all star cast that have come together to give voice to our sole-flight mothers.