Tanea Heke

Tanea Heke
MNZM
Heke in 2022
NationalityNew Zealander
EducationToi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School
OccupationTheatre
EmployerToi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School
AwardsMaking a Difference Award, Ngā Tohu Hautūtanga Auaha Toi, 2020, Creative New Zealand

Tanea Jane Heke MNZM is an actor, director and producer of theatre in New Zealand. In 2019 she was appointed as Tumuaki/Director of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School.

Career

Heke is a 1997 graduate from Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and was appointed director at the end of 2019 after doing the role as interim director since the beginning of the year.[1][2][3] She founded Hāpai Productions to create and support Māori theatre in 2013 with the late Nancy Brunning. Hāpai Productions has a focus on making opportunities for Māori women in theatre.[4][5][6] Heke has also worked at Taki Rua Productions, Te Papa Tongarewa where she was an exhibitions manager and Creative New Zealand, where she worked with Carla Van Zon.[7][8][1]

Directing

In 1995 Heke directed Maua Taua by Hinemoana Baker at Taki Rua Theatre as part of their Te Reo Māori season performed in the Māori language. In 1998 Heke directed GrandfatherSon by Kirk Torrance at BATS Theatre.[9]

Acting roles

Film performances
Year Title Role Director Notes Ref
2006 No. 2 Aunty Cat Toa Fraser [10][11]
2007 Eagle vs Shark [10][11]
2015 Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses [10][11]
2017 Waru Charm Ainsley Gardiner, Casey Kaa, Renae Maihi [11]
2021 Cousins Mata Ainsley Gardiner and Briar Grace-Smith [12]
Theatre performances
Year Title Playwright Role Director Producer Notes Ref
1989 Bystander: Stress Release Tips for the Emotionally Disturbed Duncan Sarkies Actor Duncan Sarkies STAB BATS Theatre [9]
1995 Macbeth Shakespeare Weird Sister Carol Stevenson Victoria University Summer Shakespeare, 13th annual production The Dell, Botanic Gardens (Wellington) [9]
1998 Coriolanus Shakespeare Volumnia Burt Turner; Oliver Driver Auckland's 35th Annual Outdoor Shakespeare. Old Arts Quad, Auckland University [9]
1999 Julius Caesar Shakespeare Portia Phillip Mann Circa Theatre [9]
1999 Kitchen Tables Glenda Tuaine Glenda Tuaine Circa Theatre [9]
2000 Box/Role/Dream Lynda Chanwai Earle Actor (Tanya) Vanessa Byrnes BATS Theatre [9]
2000 The Hand Job Conrad Newport Christine Cowell Conrad Newport BATS Theatre [9]
2001 Haruru Mai Briar Grace-Smith Pearl Simon Praast Auckland Theatre Company [9]
2001 Home Samm-Art Williams Nina Nawalowalo; Glenda Tuaine BATS Theatre [9]
2004 The Prophet Hone Kouka Kay - Joshua's mother Nina Nawalowalo Taki Rua Productions NZ International Festival of the Arts (Wellington) [9]
2007 Doubt John Patrick Shanley Sue Rider Circa Theatre [9]
2007 Revenge of the Amazons Jean Betts Puck Rachel More; Jacqueline Coats Upskill Productions BATS Theatre [9]
2018 He Kura E Huna Ana Hohepa Waitoa Taua Nancy Brunning Taki Rua Productions BATS Theatre [9]
2018 Astroman Albert Belz Nancy Brunning Court Theatre [13]

Honours and awards

In 2020 Heke won Creative New Zealand's Making a Difference Award, Ngā Tohu Hautūtanga Auaha Toi.[4]

In the 2022 New Year Honours, Heke was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the arts and Māori.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b "Toi Whakaari Director Announced". www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Graduate". Toi Whakaari. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  3. ^ Tanea Heke appointed interim director of Toi Whakaari, retrieved 21 August 2021
  4. ^ a b "Tanea Heke honoured for contribution to Māori arts". Māori Television. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  5. ^ "MyNZBN". New Zealand Business Number. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  6. ^ "New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews". Theatreview. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Theatre and film kōrero with Tanea Heke and Nina Nawalowalo". Eventfinda. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Theatre and film kōrero with Tanea Heke and Nina Nawalowalo". Stuff Events. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Theatre Aotearoa". Theatre Aotearoa database. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  10. ^ a b c "Tanea Heke". IMDb. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d "Tanea Heke". The Court Theatre. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Be Street Smart - or You'll Go Up in Flames". The Big Idea. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  13. ^ Lindsay, Clark. "ASTROMAN - A light-hearted take on the challenges of games and life". Theatreview. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  14. ^ "New Year Honours: the full list of 2022". New Zealand Herald. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.