News

By Mags Delaney-Moffatt

Well, what a week that was! The sun shone in the sky and the stars shone on the stage.

At the beginning of the week there were 17 not very sure of each other individuals going through the process of getting to know one another (and me) and learning about a Shakespeare play they weren’t too familiar with. By Friday they were as tight a band of performers as I have ever worked with.

The Friday night performance was excellent because during the week everyone had worked together so well.

They came up with ideas for their characters and how they interacted with each other.

The most telling comment made by one of them was how great it was to be with others, who like them, were passionate about performance, as in their drama classes some students were just in it ‘for an easy pass.’  (That upset me to hear)

Drama is such a powerful tool – it brings about a growth in confidence, develops teamwork and leadership as well as much enjoyment.

From Monday’s ‘I’ll never learn all those lines’ to Friday’s ‘Can we do this again next week?’ it was a real pleasure to be a part of it for me to see young actors develop not only as characters but as people.

I think old William Shakespeare would have been as delighted as I was to see his work brought to life in such a joyous way.

Written by Mags Delaney-Moffatt

As part of my community engagement programme I love being asked to go out to schools to help them to access performance or just to experience the wonderful world of drama.

This year has been a little different as I have been privileged to work with a fabulous group of people whose school days were a while ago. The Northbridge Village Theatre Group was set up by residents who enjoy theatre.

I was invited first of all to go speak about The PumpHouse and it’s history and talking about the work I do as part of Shakespeare in a Week I was asked back to do some ‘drama’ with the group.

First we tackled some Shakespeare in the form of the Witches scene from the Scottish Play. We worked the words into a soundscape which was really atmospheric and ethereal. It was such a fun experience that the group asked if they could do more.

So I reached into my scripts bag and brought out my version of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol (which was performed here at The PumpHouse on three occasions pre COVID).

It was decided to perform as a ‘staged reading’ – with hats for different characters and sound effects.

The group were cast by invitation and ‘volunteering’ – some people took on two or three parts. We even had a dedicated ‘sound effects’ person, Ira, who was in charge of the rattling chains and the dinging bells. The group thoroughly enjoyed the experience and and want to do more next year.

Drama is such a powerful tool – it brings people together as well as building confidence and esteem – that’s why I love it so much! I am hoping to get out and about in the community again next year – happy to be invited to come and work with your group.

The festive season is a time of joy, merriment, and traditions – much like the theatre experience! In fact, theatre has played a significant role in shaping the festive spirit that surrounds Kirihimete.

Of course, there’s the obvious: biblical stories like the Nativity story have been staged frequently throughout history at religious festivals. The Yuletide also shines bright in the title of one of Shakespeare’s plays, Twelfth Night, which takes its name from the tradition of celebrating the twelfth night of Christmas. While the play isn’t about Christmas, it is often performed at Christmastime or with rich festive themes.

The 19th century marked a golden age for Kirihimete, thanks in large part to the Victorian Era’s enthusiasm for festive celebrations. Charles Dickens, with his timeless classic A Christmas Carol (written in 1843), brought the holiday spirit to the forefront of literary and theatrical culture. The story’s themes of redemption and generosity resonated with audiences, and stage adaptations quickly became a holiday tradition the following year (1844). The Christmas that we are familiar with now owes many of it’s origins to Charles Dickens, who is known as the man who “invented” Christmas!

Charles Dickens himself even used to do a reading of A Christmas Carol at Christmas – according to Wikipedia he did it a whopping 127 times until his death (he was only 58 when he died – so that’s a lot of readings!)

Pantomimes are also a huge favourite to be performed at Christmas time. Derived from the Italian commedia dell’arte, pantomimes often feature fairy-tale characters, slapstick humour, and festive themes, providing families with a lighthearted and magical escape during the holiday season. But, why are pantomimes performed at Christmas? There are a few theories! One is that it harks back to Medieval mummers plays. A mummers play was a traditional folk play performed in masks, often inspired by the tale of Saint George and the Dragon, which involved stage fights, magical creatures and humour. Another past Christmas tradition with links to pantomime’s anarchic and liberating spirit is the Tudor Feast of Fools, which was presided over by the Lord of Misrule. One of the main reasons Panto’s are performed at Kirihimete in modern times is likely because they’re mainly tailored to families and children.

And of course, in the 20th century, new technologies brought Christmas theatre into homes across the globe. Radio plays and TV embraced the theatrical Christmas traditions, and Broadway too! Elf: The Musical, Annie, Billy Elliot, and Rent are all musicals with festive themes.

Today, Kirihimete in the theatre continues to thrive, with both traditional and contemporary productions. We are lucky at The PumpHouse to have the beautiful tradition of Tim Bray Theatre Company’s The Santa Claus Show entertaining and enchanting audiences each year.

Tim Bray Theatre Company’s The Santa Claus Show ’23

So if you feel you are lacking in Christmas cheer, perhaps a visit to your local theatre would do a world of good! We guarantee you’ll feel the warmth of shared entertainment and connection to your community, and leave feelin’ that Christmas joy!

I was lucky to attend the 2023 EVANZ (Entertainment Venues Association Of New Zealand) conference in Ōtepoti last week – and wow! What an experience it was – an absolute highlight of my time with The PumpHouse Theatre.

My presentation at the EVANZ conference

I was the recipient of the Hamilton the Musical Internship Scholarship through EVANZ and Spark Arena, so I attended the conference to do a presentation about my internship. What I didn’t realise is that I would come away with an absolute wealth of valuable knowledge about the Entertainment Venues community. There were all sorts of incredible seminars, presentations, and panels on various topics. A highlight was the Knowledge Café, a bit like speed dating, we hopped from table to table digesting wisdom from experts on many topics such as:

• Manaakitanga – how to enhance the mana of the people who use and interact with our venue
• Accessibility & Inclusivity – ensuring everyone who comes to our venue has an equal experience
• Embracing the inevitable robot uprising (kidding) – how to use AI for marketing wizardry and more.

I do feel I am now equipped with the expertise on how to continue to make sure our venue is a welcoming wonderland for everyone.

The Regent Theatre, Dunedin

I had the exciting privilege of touring The Regent Theatre (so beautiful!) and the Forsyth Barr Stadium. We had a brilliant talk from keynote speaker Sir Ian Taylor who is a real inspiration. Oh, and I got to attend the prestigious EVANZ awards night!

Meg at the EVANZ Awards Night, Dunedin Town Hall

Three days of pure inspiration that was like a festival of knowledge and networking. Until next time, EVANZ!

EVANZ Awards 2023, Dunedin Town Hall

The theatre is currently buzzing after an exciting weekend! Our PumpHouse Picnic on Sunday 12th November was a vibrant day of fun with people coming from all over the city (and some from out of town, too!) to support and celebrate our wee arts hub on the Shore.

We were blessed with a sun-kissed day where many special memories were created. The community was able to tour every inch of our theatre, and it was an absolute treat to see little ones dancing on our stage, heritage buffs exploring the building, and people of all ages basking in the beauty of Killarney Park and Lake Pupuke.

We had a beautiful array of market stalls in the park, courtyard, amphitheatre and foyer. The food trucks took over our car park and provided some delicious nourishment throughout the day. We were thrilled to host some local entertainers in our Genevieve Becroft Auditorium so that people could get a sneak peek of what it’s like to experience a show at The PumpHouse!

We send our heartfelt thanks to the PumpHouse board and staff, our volunteers, raffle donors, and the entire community who contributed to a day filled to the brim with aroha. These shared moments with our community are a very important part of our kaupapa, and we look forward to providing space for more of this in the future!

We’re thrilled to announce The PumpHouse Picnic Fundraising Raffle!

Support The PumpHouse Theatre and win some amazing prizes generously donated by local Takapuna businesses. Your $10 ticket gives you the chance to win:

• A Takapuna Mini-Break – including your own Volkswagen all-electric ID.5 to drive for the weekend thanks to Tristram European, a luxurious stay on Takapuna Beach at the Emerald Inn, restaurant vouchers to spend in Takapuna, and double passes to both Shakespeare in the Park 2024 and Tadpole Production’s show in May 2024
• An Unforgettable PumpHouse Night Out – $100 to spend on a scrumptious pre-show meal and French Rendez-vous Café and tickets to both Shakespeare in the Park 2024 and Tadpole Production’s show in May 2024
• A Summer Indulgence Pack – a hamper of sweet treats, cheeses and drinks, shopping and book vouchers and a double pass to Shakespeare in the Park 2024

Tickets are available in person from The PumpHouse Box Office from 6th November and at the PumpHouse Picnic until 7pm on 12th November.
The winners will be drawn on 14th November and notified by phone.

Terms and Conditions

• Raffle tickets are only available for purchase at The PumpHouse Theatre between Monday 6th November and Sunday 12th November 2023.
• Tickets cost $10.00 each.
• The winners will be drawn on Tuesday 14th November at 10:30am at The PumpHouse Theatre by a member of the North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust Board.
• A total of three draws will be held, one for each prize. Every entry has the opportunity to win each of the three prizes, however winning entries are not reentered into subsequent draws.
• Winners will be contacted by phone and announced on The PumpHouse Theatre’s social media channels.
• Winners may be asked to have their photo and first name used in promotional social media posts by The PumpHouse Theatre.
• Prizes are not transferable for cash and are valid only for the times and/or before the expiry dates listed on the relevant vouchers.
• If the winner is unable to be contacted within 7 days of the prize draw, a new winner will be drawn.
• Total value of all prizes is $1,500.

If you’ve purchased tickets from The PumpHouse recently you may have noticed that our booking fee has increased from $5.00 to $6.00 per booking.
This is a change we’d made reluctantly but was necessary to offset increased supplier costs which happened alongside reductions in funding from Auckland Council and our other core funders. It’s the first time we’ve increased booking fees since 2015.

Many people don’t realise we’re a not-for-profit charity and rely on fees, donations, and grant applications to cover our annual operating costs. Specifically, the booking fee covers many of the costs associated with selling a ticket which include paying our staff a fair wage, and paying them when they attend meetings and training, payment processing costs, web hosting and ongoing support from our various partners such as Windcave, Patronbase, Eftpos Now and Worldline.

We think the fees we charge are fair and offer much better value for money that other ticketing agents. It’s the same cost if you book online or prefer to give us a call, and we offer free transfers (subject to availability and other conditions) if you need to swap the date of the show you are attending.

Nevertheless, there are two ways of avoiding booking fees. You can purchase your tickets at the box office one hour before each performance. You may not get your first choice of seats or miss out on tickets, but you won’t pay a fee.

You can also join Friends of The PumpHouse. Along with ticket discounts and invitations to special events, Friends of The PumpHouse don’t pay any booking fees for 12 months from the date of joining. You can join online at https://pumphouse.co.nz/join

Written by Mags Delaney-Moffatt

The PumpHouse Theatre came into being because of the dedication and hard work of volunteers who came from the local community. The PumpHouse Theatre still needs its volunteers who help the small staff team to look after and run the venue.

Could you be one of those volunteers?

Why volunteer?

People choose to volunteer for a number of reasons. For some people it offers them the chance to give something back to the community or to make a difference to the people around them. Others may see volunteering as an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. There are variety of volunteering activities you can get involved in e.g., helping distribute flyers and posters as a community networker, offering your handyperson or gardening skills, ushering, helping with Creative Talks, events like our open days, updating databases amongst others. Some opportunities are a one off and others are a few hours a month – there is something for everyone.

By volunteering at The PumpHouse Theatre we hope to provide opportunities to:
• use the skills you already have purposefully
• learn new skills
• gain experience
• meet new people
• develop a sense of community
• boost self confidence
• develop your CV (if applicable)
• gain a reference to take to employers or college/ university (if applicable)

🤝🏼 Volunteers come from all walks of life and offer time and energy freely and by choice.
🤝🏼 When you volunteer, it is up to you how much or how little you can offer.
🤝🏼 Every bit counts and you are never too old or too young to get involved.
🤝🏼 Volunteering can be a lot of fun and help you meet new people and make new friends. It can give you the opportunity to learn new skills, be a way of getting involved in your community and give you the satisfaction of contributing towards it. Volunteering can also help you to gain experience which might be useful if you are looking for paid employment.
🤝🏼 Volunteers are not a substitute for paid workers, although to many organisations like us with a small team volunteers are essential to deliver their services and add extra value to their work.

Here are 3 reasons why you should consider volunteering
1. Volunteering establishes strong relationships,
2. Volunteers are healthier and live longer,
3. Volunteering is good for our community and society in general.

If you are interested in volunteering at The PumpHouse contact Mags – mags@pumphouse.co.nz

Nā Mark Wilson i tuhi | Written by Mark Wilson

Tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora koutou katoa

Ko Pīhanga te maunga

Ko Taupō-nui-a tia te roto, Ko Whanganui te awa

Ko Te Arawa te waka

Ngāti Tūwharetoa ahau

No Taupō tōku whanau

No Whanganui ahau

Ko Wilson tōku whanau

Ko Paula tōku māmā

Ko Mark tōku ingoa

Greetings and good health to everyone reading this blog! It is Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and I thought I would start this off by letting you know a little bit about myself. Written above is my Pepeha. Your Pepeha is a formal introduction that I find more often than not helps to build quick bonds at Māori-led gatherings and failing that grounds you in who you are. I see it as a Tangata Whenua 6 degrees of separation. Someone is bound to know you, or your family, or your tribe, where you come from, or the mountains and rivers that sustain you and yours.

When I was taught how to write my Pepeha I was instructed to follow the path of a river to where it reaches me so here goes:

Ko Pīhanga te maunga

Pīhanga is my mountain: In myth, the beauty of Pīhanga is said to have caused a fight between Tongariro and Taranaki. The mountains came to blows. Tongariro was the victor and forced Taranaki to flee. The grand exodus of Taranaki is said to have formed the Whanganui River, which I also have ties to.

Ko Taupō-nui-a tia te roto

Taupō is my lake: The initial eruption of SUPERVOLCANO Taupō happened 1800 years ago and had one of the largest explosions in our planet’s history!

Ko Whanganui te awa

Whanganui is my river: Did I say I had ties to this river?

Ko Te Arawa te waka

Te Arawa is my canoe: When my ancestors sailed to Aotearoa they came on one of seven great canoes, Aotea, Kurahaupō, Mataatua, Tainui, Tokomaru, Te Arawa, and Tākitimu. My whānau has ties to Te Arawa.

Ngāti Tūwharetoa ahau

My tribe is Tūwharetoa: The translation of Tūwharetoa is ‘House that stands strong’

No Taupō tōku whanau

My family is from Taupō: ALL of my ancestry hails from Taupō which is why it pops up in my Pepeha a lot. However, I haven’t spent a lot of my history in Taupō…

No Whanganui ahau

I am from Whanganui: It is important to me that my hometown is included in my Pepeha. While it is important to know where your ancestry comes from, you also have to remember where YOU come from.

Ko Wilson tōku whanau

My family name is Wilson: Not everything in my Pepeha is Māori, my family name comes from my grandmother, Hine or Sue, who married my pākehā grandfather, Eugene. The name was very important to my grandmother and it was her wish that I carried on the family name. A huge honour and burden as I am the last Wilson.

Ko Paula tōku māmā

My mother is Paula: Parents are very important to who you are. So it goes without saying I include the most important woman in my life! Love you, mum.

Ko Mark tōku ingoa

My name is Mark: This one is pretty self-explanatory 😀

Every Pepeha is different and unique and in my opinion one of the most personal ways to introduce yourself. There are a tonne of templates and resources online to help you create your Pepeha like THIS link here. Consider giving it a go for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. Who YOU are is important.

Here are a few of The PumpHouse staff’s favourite things…

James

Favourite Word: Manaakitanga – something we try and show everyone who visits The PumpHouse
Favourite Custom: The Haka, especially as a sign of respect or celebration.
Favourite Colour: Whero

Mags

My favourite word is aroha
My favourite colour is whero.
And I liked this whakatauki I found during mindfulness month:
Manawa ki waho
Tae atu ki te rangi ka manawa ano
Breathe in breathe out Reach to the sky and breathe again

Meg
My fav colour is kōwhai, even though I wear a lot of māwhero!
All of Te Reo Māori is sooo beautiful to my ear. Tīkiti is a word I use a lot! But I looove ngangahau (spirited, zealous, vibrant, vivacious, lively, animated) – as I feel this describes me very well!
What do I love about Māori culture? The rich traditions, deep connection to nature, and strong sense of community – it is unmatched.

Mark
My fave colour is pango – I am basic.
My fave word: Ngenge, which is tired, cause I am tired all the time

Helena

Kōwhai is my favourite colour because of the tree in our garden and the Tūī that love it too. Kia ora is my favourite word as it was something I heard from my youth in the UK, and never realised it was Māori and that I’d be living here all these years later.