Whiria te tangata, whiria ngā toi, whiria ngā hapori
Meet the collaborators from Te Rēhia and Dust Palace
Amber Curreen
Nga Puhi, Te Rarawa, Te Roroa
Co-Writer, Creative Producer, PerformerAmber Curreen (Ngāpuhi) is a kaupapa Māori focused arts manager, playwright (MAHUIKA & Te Rōhi) and performer who leads Te Rēhia Theatre Company and is a founding leader of Te Pou Theatre, Auckland’s Māori home for theatre. Through these organisations Amber has produced national and international tours of works to festivals, theatres and marae including works like SolOTHELLO which has toured to present with other indigenous presenters Native Earth (Toronto) and Yirra Yaakin (Perth) and will go to FESTPAC next year. She’s worked in collaboration with other companies to deliver festival works like Astroman in 2019 with Auckland Theatre Company and Black Ties with ILBIJERRI this year. 
Tainui Tukiwaho
Te Arawa, Tuhoe
Co-writer, Director, PerformerTainui Tukiwaho (Te Arawa, Tuhoe) is an experienced theatre maker, reo Māori speaker and has been a company director, producer, director, actor and writer of Māori theatre for a number of organisations over the last ten years including SmackBang Theatre Company, Te Rēhia theatre, Takirua and Ruia Taitea Creative. Tainui is highly experienced with te reo Māori theatre direction. 
Eve Gordon
Co-Creator, Costumes, PerformerEve, affectionately known as NZ circus’s Beyonce, discovered physical storytelling at drama school. It very quickly became her vocation, passion and her life’s drive.Graduating with a Bachelor of Acting in 2002, Eve has been working as a circus performer, actor, experimental filmmaker, costume-creator, and producer for the last 15 years.As well as training her acts, running the The Dust Palace Productions and heading The Dust Palace School, she has also co-directed all 15 of The Dust Palace’s full-length circus theatre works since 2009 – convincing many she keeps a troupe of nocturnal elves.Andrew Gibson
Technical Director, RiggerAndrew has been working in the events and entertainment industry for over twenty years. Coming up through university and amateur theatre in Christchurch, Andrew took a ‘year’ after completing his studies to decide his future direction. Andrew specialises in stage mechanics and rigging through to technical management. He co-founded Entertainment Production Services with Vicki Cooksley in 2011 providing technical support to events and productions throughout New Zealand. Andrew was the head rigger for the World of Wearable Art for ten years and currently spends most of his year working on arts festivals and musical theatre productions.
Jane Hakaraia
Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga
Set and Lighting DesignerJane Hakaraia is a freelance Theatre and TV designer. She has a degree in Product Design from Unitec and undertook an honours degree in Sustainable Furniture Design at AUT. In 2014 she received the Excellence In Theatre award at the Auckland Theatre awards. She regularly works with Blue Bach Productions as Art Director on their TV offerings and worked with Māoriland Film Festival on the design of their indoor and outdoor spaces at the Māoriland Hub in Otaki. Companies she has worked for include Bullet Heart Club, Massive Company, Silo Theatre, Brilliant Adventures, Auckland Theatre Company, Te Rēhia Theatre Company, Taki Rua, Hapai and Hawaiki Tu. 
David Atai
Sound DesignerMeet the multi-faceted musician and artist with over 20+ years of experience, best known for his work with Nesian Mystik as a guitarist and producer. David has collaborated with chart-topping artists in New Zealand and contributed to iconic television series such as Bro Town. With expertise in production, recording, engineering across all genres, mentoring, and captivating performances for intimate gatherings or massive crowds of 40k+, David has been instrumental in developing programs that encourage and strengthen the musical abilities of aspiring musicians, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to pursue their dreams. David Atai is a true visionary, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry while empowering the next generation of talents.
Freddy Matariki Carr
Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe
Performer (2023) Freddy Matariki Carr is a kaitiaki, shapeshifter and facilitator of Ngāti Awa and Ngāi Tūhoe decent. Based in her turangawaewae, Whakatāne, Freddy has been actively reconnecting people and place, bridging the pakeha and maori worlds and regenerating te taiao/natural environment with a focus on fresh water.She supports rural schools and community groups through flax-roots kaupapa to restore natural spaces and is currently co-facilitating atua wahine, dance ceremonies with Dr. Ngahuia Murphy and The Wahine Korikori collective.Freddy holds a double degree from La Universidad de EAFIT Medellin, Colombia and Victoria University of Wellington. In 2019 Freddy studied Indigenous Performing Arts at Te Wananga o Aotearoa, focussing on kapa haka and theatre.
Geoff Gilson
Circus DirectorIn 2008, Geoff returned to New Zealand from a two-year dancing stint on a Caribbean cruise ship to premiere a show that was to be The Dust Palace’s inception.Geoff has been in the industry since his graduation from dance school (2001), and danced for a plethora of companies, including Vospertron, Winning Productions, and Michael Parmenter.Upon meeting Eve on that fateful day in 2008, Geoff was seduced by the glamour and camaraderie of circus, where he has risen through the ranks and become a veteran of multiple disciplines.Oh yeah, he also has a Master’s in Performance and Media Art researching the interplay between ecology, capitalism and the body.
Joe Dekkers-Reihana
PerformerJoe was born in Kirikiriroa and grew up all over the motu. First acting as a child in his mother's art projects through her studies in Waikato. Jo was in Wellington when he decided to pursue a career in the arts. He went from Onslow college, to Te Rakau Hua o te Wao Tapu with Jim Moriarty, to Long Cloud with Willam Wassenar and then studied at Toi Whakaari Drama School. Joe is in four bands 'Loud Ghost, 'New Telepathics, 'Andrew Fagan and the people' and 'Cheap Sav For Dead Friends'. Joe’s play 'The Wall' will premiere in 2023.
Ellyce Bisson
Performer (2023)Ellyce is a New Zealand based dancer, actor and circus artist - specialising in Aerial Hoop, Corde Lisse and Partner Acrobatics. After graduating from Apollo Theatre College in 2017 and discovering circus arts in 2018, Ellyce has found her joy in combining the technical skills, and opportunity for physical expression that each art form offers. Currently Ellyce is working as a company member for The Dust Palace Circus Theatre and dancer for Luck and Schooney Productions. Recent works include Haus of Yolo (2023) and Naked and Dangerous (2023)
Paku Fernandez
Ngāti Porou, Kai tahu
PerformerPaku Fernandez is budding performer with screen roles already under his belt including Shortland Street (2021-2022), The Duckrockers (2022), The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana (2022) and a new film in production set to be released in 2023. 
Luis Mierelles
PerformerLuis was born in Brazil, and has Indigenous and African genealogical connections, but has been living in Aotearoa for the last 10 years. He is passionate about supporting communities in need and the performing arts - particularly circus.His training began in Brazil with samba and capoeira, and here in Aotearoa he has performed with The Brazilian Divas Performance Company. From there he went skywards and began aerial circus training, and in the last 5 years has performed in a number of shows for both React Circus Company and The DustPalace Circus Theatre Company. In 2023 performed as a core member of the cast of HAUS of YOLO - touring to Splore and Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival, and has been developing his new Boylesque in the process.
Edward Peni
Stage ManagerEdward is a Tamaki Makaurau based Theatre practitioner who has worked across the creative field as an actor, stage manager, director and producer. He has worked with major theatre companies within Auckland including Silo Theatre, Auckland Theatre, NZ Opera, Auckland Arts Festival, Potent Pause and Te Pou Theatre. Recent producer credits include O Nofoa with Te Pou Theatre (2017), a Samoan translation of Eugene Ionesco's The Chairs, as well two successful seasons of Skin Hunger by Tatiana Hotere as part of the Auckland Fringe Festival 2022 and Summer at Q 2023.Edward has worked with Michael Lawrence as actor in Harold Pinter's The Hothouse (2008 & 2018) as Lush, as well as co-directing Potent Pause's successful production of Pinter's seminal work, The Homecoming which was presented at the Auckland Old Folks Association in 2022. Other directing credits include the premiere of TWACAS - The West Auckland Cardigan Appreciation Society by Sam Berkley in 2010, The First Asian All Black by Renee Liang in 2011 and Tainui Tukiwaho's The Sun and Wind at Circa Theatre in 2023 which will be remounted at the Auckland Arts Festival in 2024.His Theatre skillset have also seen him transpose to them into the realm of Urban Regeneration working as a Placemaker at Eke Panuku Development Auckland since 2017 which has fostered an integration of his empathic people leader skills with an understanding of place to influence and inform good design to enable strong connections between people and place.
Te Rongopai Cureen-Tukiwaho
Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa, Tūhoe, Tūhwaretoa
PerformerTe Rongopai (11) is a developing young actor and tauira of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kōtuku. He starred in Hemo is Home in 2023 and has featured in short film Maumahara (2022) and TWOA Matariki campaign (2022). 
Mia Van Oyen
Ngāpuhi, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou
Performer Mia is a young performer who has worked across theatre, film and television. She has appeared in a number of short films, along with a role on the television series Wellington Paranormal. Her theatre credits include Billy and the Curse of Falling Limbs, Wednesday to Come and Hyperspace. Mia grew up in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Rachael Dubois
ProducerRachael Dubois (nee Dyson-McGregor) is a theatre-maker, producer and facilitator based in Auckland. She has a Bachelor of Performing Arts from UNITEC (2004) and has been producing and performing theatre ever since. In her early career she worked with Massive, Tim Bray, Potent Pause and Auckland Theatre Company and co-founded the Peripeteia players. She moved to Melbourne in 2007 and presented shows in Melbourne and Brisbane Festivals. She joined Melbourne Playback Theatre Company in 2010 and spent 11 years as an actor, facilitator and eventually Artistic Director. In Melbourne she also toured her own show TWO MORTALS to La Mama, regional Victoria and Circa, Wellington. She’s been a Teaching Artist for The Song Room and is a facilitator for professionals in teamwork, storytelling and presentation skills. Rachael returned to Aotearoa in 2021 to have her second baby and joined The Dust Palace as Producer in 2023. 
Natasha van Etten
Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāi Pākehā
Performer (2024)Natasha is a mover, maker and instigator currently working as the School Manager and kaiako at Te Kura Maninirau. Since graduating from UNITEC with a Bachelor of Performing Arts, she can be found teaching, freelancing, and producing across Aotearoa.She responds to social and political issues primarily through movement and is passionate about facilitating spaces that open the performing arts to people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences with the hope to unite communities through shared experiences. Currently, Natasha seeks to make space for indigenous storytelling through her own work and to support others to tell theirs.
James Zambucka
Assistant Sound DesignerFrom being self taught in his early teens, to being professionally taught by David Atai, pianist James Zambucka brings a sound and feeling of familiarity and nostalgia, in a way that has evolved and elevated his sound to new heights. Pulling inspiration from genres such as shoegaze, Gothic rock, to Jazz, and orchestral. James is creating harmony using traditional tones and synthesized sounds, culminating in conformity.
Anthony Te Puke
Ngāti Kahu, Tainui
Performer (2024)Anthony Is a Māori dance artist, born and raised in the northern landscapes of Awanui. Anthony developed his passion for dance through his college years and later pursued dance picking up teaching jobs, attending classes, and eventually enrolling at Unitec and completing his Bachelor of Screen and Performing Arts, Contemporary Dance Major. Since graduating, he has been involved in works that have immersed him into his cultural identity as a Māori Tane which has magnified his creative lens, and empowered his Wairua. Anthony is currently based in East Auckland, working as a Kaiako at Te Kura Maninirau, a Kaupapa Māori circus school that thrives on instilling a sense of cultural pride into generations to come. Anthony is driven to liberate indigenous thinking within the community and unveil enriching processes to create stories that showcase the richness of Māori tradition.
Mary Piggin
Performer (2024)Mary is an aerialist based in Tāmaki Makaurau who has been with The Dust Palace since 2016. She started her circus training at the age of 14 - performing in her first professional show at 17. She has performed in all types of projects, events and theatre shows ever since then, eventually completing a long international contract in northern Europe over 2023. She is excited to be back home in Aotearoa to keep exploring creative, emotive circus. 
Jaine Mieka
Rigger (2024) Jaine is a contemporary circus artist with a rich portfolio, touring both Aotearoa and internationally. Jaine specialises in dynamic aerial silks, straps, and hula hoop and has enjoyed the opportunity to apply her skills to a diverse range of projects, developments, and shows with subject matter ranging from speed sewing to sci-fi. In her creative work she leans towards the obscure and as a technical aerialist and acrobat, she enjoys leveraging the inherent movement quality of each discipline to strive towards the telling of stories and creation of compelling work. Jaine is a passionate circus educator, having designed curriculum and resources for safe and inclusive circus pedagogy. She loves working with students of all levels to facilitate creativity, community, and a space for people to build a positive relationship with their bodies. Additionally, she coaches at a high technical level in her specialty disciplines, contributing to multiple studios in her home city of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Beth St John
Rigger (2024)Beth is both a seasoned circus performer and rope technician. This dual expertise has provided her with a strong foundation for circus rigging, blending artistry with technical proficiency seamlessly.Recently returning from a stint abroad working on circus productions in the UK she is excited to be working back in her homeland for this season of Te Tangi a te Tūī. 
Te Rēhia Theatre Company
Te Rēhia Theatre, established 2012, is a proudly Māori theatre company, championing Māori playwrights, tikanga Māori arts practice, te reo Māori & the presentation of our diverse stories. The company is led by Amber Curreen and Tainui Tukiwaho and based at Te Pou – The Auckland home of Māori Theatre.
We have presented five annual years of Te Reo Māori theatre for youth and three te reo Māori works for theatre He Tūrū Māu (2018), E Kore A Muri E Hokia (2017), Purapurawhetū (2016).
We keenly support Māori playwrights; regularly presenting the work of Albert Belz including Cradle Song (2018) & Astroman (2019), Regan Taylor’s SolOthello (2014-18), & Tainui Tukiwaho’s Hoki Mai Tama Mā (2014) and BLACK TIES 2020.
The Dust Palace Circus Theatre Company
Established by Eve Gordon and Mike Edward in 2009, The Dust Palace is now the leading circus theatre company in Aotearoa and represented 56% of the circus community in the 2019 circus sector census.
The Dust Palace exists to elevate contemporary circus culture, grabbing audiences by the guts, shifting hearts, minds and lifting spirits. We build multi-generational creative capacity in the circus performers of Aotearoa, holding the next generation of talent, encouraging practice and empowering a bold future for the art form.
Our most recent collaborations have been; DAWN and MIDNIGHT with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, TOP OF THE HEAP with Auckland Arts Festival; international tours of THE WONDERWOMBS and THE GOBLIN MARKET with The Cultch in Vancouver and large-scale stadium collaborations in Palmerston North, ITHACA and LE CIRQUE VOLÉ, and Invercargill, HUMAN.
We’re very much looking forward to touring large scale work ITHACA across the country, small scale work PULP in and around Auckland, presenting a small selection of acts within Heavenly Bodies at AAF 2021 and developing TE TANGI A TE TŪĪ with Te Rēhia.