Michael James Manaia

"superb & gutsy" - Capital Times
"confident, dynamic and fully charged performance" - Dominion Post
"deeply affecting" - Theatreview.org.nz
"breathtaking energy and commitment ...a must-see" - The Listener

A standout local production of the 2012 New Zealand International Arts Festival returns for a single fundraiser matinee performance before heading overseas to a major international arts festival.

Te Kohe Tuhaka (Shortland St, Go Girls, Sione's 2) holds the audience spellbound as 'Mike Manaia' in this tour-de-force one man show. In a story both personal and epic, we witness the meeting of Manaia's parents in wartime Britain, his childhood in small-town New Zealand, and his own journey as a soldier through the Vietnam conflict.

Under the experienced direction of Nathaniel Lees, Tuhaka's performance has been called 'astonishing'. An actor who combines charm with a powerful physical presence and a compelling intensity, he is at the early stages of a notable career.

Beautifully designed, the production frames the performance simply but carefully, using light, projection and set elements to create a versatile space for the epic storytelling.

Designed for the 240-seat Downstage theatre, this is the final public performance before the production heads to represent New Zealand at a major international arts festival.