When & Where
Harkness Henry’s Emporium of Scintillating Wonders (The Pavillion), Hamilton
Thursday/Rāpere 29 February 2024
8:30pm – 60 Minutes (No Interval)
Meet the Company
Rutene Spooner
He/Him
Rutene is of Ngāti Porou and Ngaruahine descent. Since graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Musical, the singer, actor and entertainer has toured nationally and internationally for various theatre and corporate entertainment companies.
He has appeared in such musicals as: Anything Goes, The Buddy Holly Musical, Grease, Avenue Q, Lacage Aux Folle, Oklahoma, Chicago, Billy Elliot (New Zealand premiere), Jersey Boys (Australian Tour) and a previous member of the Modern Māori Quartet to name a few.
The award-winning cabaret performer has been described by New Zealand Herald as “a stalwart on the Auckland cabaret scene” and has toured his works both nationally and internationally to great acclaim.
Outside of his busy performance schedule, Rutene also works as a creative producer, television director and performance coach.
Rutene is a proud kaihaka of Te Kapa Haka of Whāngara-Mai-Tawhiti and a dedicated union member of the New Zealand Actors Equity.
Shea Kokaua
Kaiarataki Pēne / Patooro | Band Leader & KeysHe/Him
Shea Kokaua started playing piano at a young age where he found his passion and love for music. Graduating from the National Academy of Performing Arts (NASDA), he then went on to complete his Honours in Media Arts and Masters of Arts (Music). Since graduating he has performed in musicals, plays, touring shows, had his short film directing debut (Anywhere But Nowhere) and music-directed shows in Aotearoa. He is also currently teaching music and drama at Tangaroa College in South Auckland.
Shea is grateful to be the band leader in ‘Thoroughly Modern Maui’ and hopes to continue pushing creative works that tell important thought-provoking stories, represent pacific whānau on stage and encourage diversity within the NZ creative arts.
Bray Jeffrey
Kaiwhakatangi Kīta | GuitaristThey/Them
Bray (Ngāti Naho, Ngāi Tahu) is a Tāmaki Makaurau-based musician, songwriter and theatre-maker. Since graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor’s in Popular Music, Bray has written several musicals with the most recent, “Figuring It Out” having a staged reading in New York in 2022, marking a first for them and their writing partner Adam Spedding.
Outside of the theatre realm, Bray plays for local Tāmaki bands, Treenurse, Bridges, Rewind Fields, Jaam and Lucky Boy^. They are set to release their original music in early 2023 simply under, Bray.
You can find Bray on Instagram and Tiktok @songswithbray
Rhohil Kishore
Kaiwhakatangi Taramu | DrummerHe/Him
Rhohil Kishore has worked alongside New Zealand’s foremost actors, directors and musicians, and played across the country’s leading venues. He is a multifaceted musician and educator who is well versed in all aspects of the music industry, including studio session work, theatrical and musical improvisation, commercial pop music and jazz performance. Rhohil’s sensitivity to dialogue and integration into dramatic performance has garnered critical acclaim, especially during his 171 performances at the Pop-Up Globe.
Tim Shacklock
Kaiwhakatangi Kīta Panguru | BassistHe/Him
Tim has been a freelance musician for over 8 years in and around Auckland city. Lately he has been engaged chiefly as a classical double bass player, working with Auckland orchestras such as the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, NZ Barok, Handel Consort and the Auckland Choral Society. He also has a love for more contemporary music, playing regular jazz gigs with the band Pachucos Collective and working in pit bands for stage shows and musicals. Working with the team on Thoroughly Modern Māui has been both a professionally and personally rewarding experience, especially the opportunity to extend the show’s reach beyond Auckland City
Matariki Whatarau
Ringa Tohu | DirectorHe/Him
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Tamaterā
Born in Waitākere, Tāmaki Makaurau, I moved around a bit growing up; Starting with Tokoroa in the South Waikato then jumping over to Beijing, China for five years before finishing off my high schooling in Lilongwe, Malawi in the Heart of Africa.
Upon returning to Aotearoa as an 18-year-old, I had a keen interest in performing arts and so, at that time, a move to Te Whanganui-a-Tara to study was the most obvious choice. I studied acting at, the now defunct, Wellington Performing Arts Centre till I was old enough to carry on to Te Kura Toi Whakaari o Aotearoa, The New Zealand Drama school.
After five years of studying, I felt ready to embark on a career in the performing arts. In the late 2000s, Tāmaki had really taken over as the epicenter of TV and Film in Aotearoa so, in search of mahi, I shot up the line and made Auckland my home for the next 10 years or so. While there, I worked as a gigging actor catching various roles here and there for stage and screen.
I also founded, alongside some mates, the Modern Māori Quartet (MMQ). Starting off as a side hustle to make some coin in between our acting jobs it quickly shot off. We’ve performed all over the motu, recorded a couple of studio albums, hosted a couple of TV shows and toured extensively overseas.
Matt Eller
Pukenga Oro | Audio EngineerHe/Him
Evoke Audio
After graduating with a Diploma in Entertainment Technology from Toi Whakaari in 2011, Matt worked as a freelance contractor, working with Theatre Companies and Performing Artists on a wide range of performances and projects as a sound designer, engineer and operator. With a passion for music and being a musician himself, in 2015 Matt focussed his career on live audio engineering working with various musicians. He was fortunate enough to have this work take him around New Zealand and tour internationally. 2020 saw a pivot to expand into Audio Post Production. Working with co-founder Ricky Simmonds, Evoke Audio was formed.
Molloy
Kaihoahoa Tūrama | Lighting DesignerThey/Them
Molloy is a well regarded technician, known for professionalism, drive and dedication to the art of live performance. has a solid grounding in all aspects of technical production, with an extensive complement of production credit mentions across a variety of key production roles.
Molloy is a graduate of the Unitec Bachelor of Performance and Screen Arts, with dual majors in Lighting Design and Stage & Technical Management. Molloy enjoys challenging traditional lighting design concepts, as well as creatively integrating technology into performances to engage audiences in the emotional development of the works. Some of their notable design achievements include Hungover: A New Musical, Close City, Tassel Me This, and Footnote Dance Company’s Transfer tour.
Khalid Parkar
Kaihautu / Kaihanga Hōtaka | Producer & Production ManagerHe/Him
Khalid has been involved in projects nationally and internationally and has technical experience in theatre, events and festivals. Khalid has taken on many roles, including, Technical Operator, Designer, and Production Manager with companies such as Auckland Theatre Company, NanoGirl Live, and Auckland Arts Festival. He has a desire to collaborate with others and enjoys the problem solving that is required in the process of any project. Khalid’s passion for the industry started young and the same passion still drives him in his work today.
Khalid’s specialised experience in lighting, audio, and video operation and design makes his skills widely applicable and desired. He has recently added a new string to his bow, representing and supporting Rutene as his producer and collaborator.
Dramaturge - Katie Prior & Renee LyonsMusic - Te Aihe Butler & Rutene Spooner
Costume - Tina Thomas
A special thanks
This show was developed in partnership with Auckland Live and we can not thank them enough for their mahi and support.Our thanks to Kate, Hinemaia, my entire whānau, Khalid, Jamie and the team at Pilot, Evoke Audio, Chris Marshall, Renee Lyons, Darleen Mohehkey, Te Aihe Butler, Jason Te Mete, Janelle Bish, Brady Peeti, Laura Kokaua, Jack Barry, 2113 Creative
Geoff Turkington, Gareth Aymes, and the entire team at the Hamilton Arts Festival!
and so many more... Thank you!
