Strange Resting Places

Stories of humanity and survival from the Maori Battalion in Italy.

Set against the backdrop of war, Strange Resting Places traces the stories and personal experiences of the Maori Battalion in Italy, as celebrated NZ actors Paolo Rotondo (Italian) and Rob Mokaraka (Maori) take audiences on a touching and often humourous tale of comradeship and survival. Italy, 1944: a battle torn-theatre of the Second World War. The allied onslaught stalls at Monte Cassino and the 28th Maori Battalion find themselves centre stage. A young Maori soldier goes out to steal food; an Italian takes cover in a stable. Both find themselves trapped in a potentially deadly stand-off, but with Germans just outside, their survival depends on co-operation.

With music and comedy in Maori, Italian and English and some hilarious and moving characters, Strange Resting Places shines a light on the complex emotional bonds of New Zealand’s wartime history and the three universals that Maori shared with the Italians: whanau, food and song – not to mention wily cunning, a love of vino and a passion for the ladies.

Rob Mokaraka and Paolo Rotondo’s Strange Resting Place,s is theatre crafted from contemporary storytelling, personal experience and extensive research. With music and comedy in Italian, Maori and English and a host of moving and hilarious characters, Strange Resting Places shines a light on the complex emotional bonds of New Zealand’s wartime history and the three universals that Maori shared with the Italians: family, food and song - not to mention wily cunning, a love of vino and a passion for the ladies.

“Drawing on their own Maori and Italian family histories, this talented pair has created a spellbinding little gem of a show that will have you laughing a lot and crying just a little.” – NZ Herald

Italian-born New Zealander, Paolo Rotondo is an award-winning actor and writer whose feature film credits include The Ugly and Stickmen as well as Shortland Street.. Theatre credits include Little Che, Fond Love and Kisses (Downstage Theatre) and Twelfth Night (ATC). Rob Mokaraka is of Nga Puhi/Tuhoe descent. His theatre credits include InSALT and Have Car Will Travel (Bats) for which he won Best Male Newcomer at the 2001 Chapman Tripp awards. Film and television credits include Questions, Duggan, Mataku,Aikido Insane and Taika Waiti’s short film Tama.