Ka Tahi, Ka Rua, Ka Toru, Ka Whā: Four plays for solo performance

Ka Tahi, Ka Rua, Ka Toru, Ka Whā is an essential celebration of Aotearoa New Zealand’s dynamic and diverse dramatic voice. This powerful collection of four plays showcases the breadth of storytelling talent in our country—blending humour, heartbreak, mythology, and identity with a striking theatrical vitality.

Briar Grace-Smith’s Ngā Pou Wāhine delivers an intimate epic, following Kura’s journey from the confines of a tomato sauce factory to an awakening of whakapapa and selfhood. It’s a lyrical reminder of how the everyday can become heroic when viewed through the lens of whānau and history.

In 4 Billion Likes!, Micky Delahunty captures the bright chaos of teenage life in a hyper-connected world. It’s a whip-smart and tender portrayal of digital youth on the brink of transformation.

Apirana Taylor’s Ka Tito Au retells the story of Kupe with poetic power and fierce pride—an ode to ancestry, adventure, and oratory tradition.

Anya Tate-Manning’s My Best Dead Friend balances pathos and comedy with unmatched charm, using nostalgia and chalk drawings to process grief and rebellion.

These plays deserve reading, staging, and support. They reaffirm the richness of Aotearoa’s dramatic landscape and the importance of nurturing homegrown playwrights.