Helen Pearse-Otene

In 1989 Pearse-Otene's partner Jim Moriarty was one of the founders of a theatre company called Te Rākau Hua o te Wao Tapu, which works in prisons, youth residential homes and on marae; Pearse-Otene joined the company in 1999.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Emma |date=2016-02-26 |title=Mahana star Jim Moriarty: being a better man |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/77283883/mahana-star-jim-moriarty-being-a-better-man |access-date=2021-08-21 |website= |publisher=Sunday Star Times |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Gifford |first1=Adam |title=Marae theatre added to funding plan |url=https://waateanews.com/2022/09/19/marae-theatre-added-to-funding-plan/ |access-date=9 November 2023 |work=Waatea News: Māori Radio Station |date=19 September 2022 |language=en-NZ}}{{cite web |title=Ko wai mātou {{!}} Our people |url=https://www.terakau.org/ko-wai-m%C4%81tou |website=Te Rākau Hua o te Wao Tapu Trust |access-date=9 November 2023 |language=en}} Te Rākau is New Zealand’s longest-running independent Māori theatre company.{{Cite web|last=Zealand|first=Massey University, New|title=Theatre version of NZ history screens on Māori TV - Massey University|url=https://www.massey.ac.nz/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=1B2445A5-D0CB-43FB-976F-8D72AEB22C27|access-date=2021-08-21|website=www.massey.ac.nz|language=en-NZ}}

Pearse-Otene's theatre practice has been influenced by Te Rākau's kaupapa Māori, founded on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and influenced by features of Bertolt Brecht's epic theatre, such as direct address, minimal technology and the aim of social change, also a purpose of Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed.{{Cite book |last=Pearse-Otene |first=Helen |title=The Undertow |publisher=Te Rakau Hua o Te Wao Tapu Trust |year=2020 |isbn=9780473514440 |location=Wellington |pages=282–283}} As both script-writer and workshop facilitator, Pearse-Otene has in-depth experience of applying ensemble movement and chorus to the work of Te Rākau as well as integrating waiata and kapa haka, through "Marae Theatre".

Although the work of Te Rākau uses marae features such as pōwhiri, it is performed in a range of venues: kāinga, schools, prisons, youth justice residential and community centres, as well as mainstream theatres throughout New Zealand.{{Cite journal |last=Pearse-Otene |first=Helen |date=2020 |title=Theatre Marae |url=https://www.journal.mai.ac.nz/content/theatre-marae-m%C4%81ori-theatre-pedagogy-research |journal=MAI: A New Zealand Journal of Indigenous Scholarship |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=226–336 |doi=10.20507/MAIJournal.2020.9.3.5 |archive-url= |archive-date=|doi-access=free }} Through ensemble work, the aim is to craft evocative theatre that honours Māori expressions of colonisation, trauma and social justice. The genre includes traditional and contemporary Māori performing arts, applied theatre and therapeutic encounter.

As an actor, Pearse-Otene played Faith in 1981 by John Broughton, a production directed by Toni Waho at Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North.{{Cite web|last=Pearse-Otene|first=Helen|date=1997|title=Theatre Aotearoa|url=https://tadb.otago.ac.nz/theatre/Web/entry91|access-date=11 September 2021|website=Theatre Database}} The following year Pearse-Otene performed in Duty Free by Ngarupiki Reid, directed by Tanea Heke, which had a fortnight season at BATS Theatre. In 1998 she also performed the role of Ellie in Tricyle, which Pearse-Otene co-wrote with Mark Sant and Anne Nordhaus.

As a playwright, Pearse-Otene aims to present the past, present and future complexity of collective history in New Zealand. The Undertow involves a 180 year journey through six generations of one Wellington-based family in a quartet of plays: The Ragged, Dog & Bone, Public Works and The Landeaters. Pearse-Otene carried out extensive research for the play including settlers’ and Armed Constabulary diaries, newspaper articles, and ngā kupu tuku iho (oral histories) of local iwi.{{Cite web|last=Pearse-Otene|first=Helen|date=December 2015|title=Rag & Bone|url=https://terakau.wordpress.com/2015/12/|website=Te Rakau Wordpress}} The Undertow was presented at Soundings Theatre at Te Papa as a quartet in 2017.{{Cite web |last=Coleman |first=Ewen |date=2017-01-19 |title=Theatre Review: The Undertow |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/culture/88565212/theatre-review-the-undertow |access-date=2021-09-11 |website=Stuff |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Smythe |first=John |date=19 January 2017 |title=Public Works and The Landeaters: Inspired works tug at our collective conscience |url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/production/public-works-and-the-landeaters/#inspired-works-tug-at-our-collective-conscience |access-date=11 September 2021 |work=Theatre Review}} It was filmed by cinematographer Waka Atewell and edited into a four part television series that aired on Māori Television in 2019.{{Cite journal|last=Attewell|first=Waka|date=2019|title=Through the Proscenium Arch|journal=NZ Techo|issue=81|pages=6–12}}

As an academic, Pearse-Otene has published articles theorizing Theatre Marae and decolonization of political theatre,https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helen-Pearse-Otene and is currently employed as Professional Practice Advisor to the Postgraduate Diploma Health Psychology Professional Practice in the School of Health, Victoria University of Wellington.{{cite web | url=https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/health/schools/school-of-health/about-us/school-of-health-staff | title=Staff | te Wāhanga Tātai Hauora / Faculty of Health | te Herenga Waka | date=6 September 2024 }} She has been a researcher on numerous social justice and decolonization research projects including TIAKI, a project on incarceration and health inequity.{{cite web | url=https://hrc.govt.nz/resources/research-repository/tiaki-community-wellbeing-whanau-lived-experience-incarceration | title=TIAKI – Community wellbeing for whānau with lived experience of incarceration | Health Research Council of New Zealand }}

Pearse-Otene is also a novel writer; she has published two graphic novels in a series called Matawehi Fables: Meariki and Arohanui. The novels are published in English and in te reo Māori.{{Cite web |title=Helen Pearse-Otene |url=https://huia.co.nz/huia-bookshop/authors/author/104 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628101429/https://huia.co.nz/huia-bookshop/authors/author/104 |archive-date=2022-06-28 |access-date=2021-08-21 |website=huia.co.nz}}

Pearse-Otene grew up in South Auckland, New Zealand. She studied at Victoria University of Wellington and Toi Whakaari, and holds a master's degree and a PhD from Massey University.{{Cite web |title=Helen Pearse-Otene |url=https://www.playmarket.org.nz/playwrights/new-author-6/ |access-date=2021-08-21 |website=www.playmarket.org.nz |language=en-US}}{{cite web |date=8 July 2022 |title=Play written by Massey PhD graduate addresses urgent community issues |url=https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/news/play-written-by-massey-phd-graduate-addresses-urgent-community-issues/ |access-date=16 August 2022 |website=Massey University}}{{cite thesis |last=Pearse-Otene |first=Helen |year=2016 |type=Masters thesis |title=Staging areas : Vietnam veterans from Aotearoa-New Zealand and therapeutic landscapes in black box theatre |publisher=Massey Research Online, Massey University |hdl=10179/10050}} She is a registered psychologist.{{cite web |title=Helen Pearse-Otene |url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helen-Pearse-Otene |access-date=16 August 2022 |website=ResearchGate}}{{cite news |date=14 July 2022 |title=Taranaki rangatahi tackles tough subjects on stage |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/stratford-press/news/taranaki-rangatahi-tackles-tough-subjects-on-stage/OG7KFIJUYE5CBCDNCWZFBF6F3M/ |access-date=16 August 2022 |work=The New Zealand Herald}} She is affiliated to Ngāti Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kuri and Ngāti Ruanui iwi.

1988 – Through structured devising processes, Kia Maumahara and Watea (Good for Something) evolved into public performances at Arohata Prison in Christchurch. The collective memories and testimony of Māori and Pacific Island working-class women focussed on their oppression, especially sexual abuse.{{Cite book|last=Maunder|first=Paul|title=Rebellious Mirror|publisher=Canterbury University Press|year=2013|isbn=978-1-927145-45-6|location=Christchurch|pages=93–115}}

2000 – Purotu, the Magic Within was devised with young people in care at the Northern Residential Centre, using dialogue scenes interspersed with individual song/rap etc.

2001 – Te Ahika O Te Manatu Rangatahi was created in Kaikōura, focussing especially on teenage angst.

2002 – Te Waka Toi o Ngati Toa was a youth project for a large cast focussing on themes of abandonment, violence, sexual abuse and addiction through 18 scripted sequences, rap, breakdancing and beat-boxing as well as traditional haka and waiata.

2005 – The Battalion- Ka Whawhai Tonu Matau Ake! Ake! Ake!, scripted by Pearse-Otene, involves 'suitcase', storytelling theatre with minimal props. Two youth at risk are helping an old man clean up a marae for a Maori Battalion reunion as a frame for flashbacks to troubling war experiences.

2008 – Ka Mate, Ka Ora, scripted by Pearse-Otene, is based on the Vietnam War with a veteran who becomes mad (pōrangi). His memories are interwoven with the ghost of Te Rauparaha.

2017 – The Undertow: The Ragged, Dog & Bone, Public Works and The Landeaters at Te Papa: The Museum of New Zealand scripted by Pearse-Otene

• Pearse-Otene, H. (2021). ‘Hinenui Te Pō is a light in the darkness’: Performing pūrākau in research on incest and childhood sexual abuse. The Journal of Indigenous Wellbeing: Te Mauri – Pimatisiwin 6(3): 96-109. {{cite web | url=https://journalindigenouswellbeing.co.nz/journal_articles/hinenui-te-po-is-a-light-in-the-darkness-performing-purakau-in-research-on-incest-and-childhood-sexual-abuse/ | title="Hinenui te Pō is a light in the darkness": Performing pūrākau in research on incest and childhood sexual abuse – te Mauri – Pimatisiwin }}
• Pearse-Otene, H. (2021). Decolonising theatre and ensemble training in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Te Rākau Hua o Te Wao Tapu Theatre. Theatre, Dance and Performance Training 12(1): 95-111. {{cite journal | doi=10.1080/19443927.2020.1839943 | title=Decolonising theatre and ensemble training in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Te Rākau Hua o te Wao Tapu Theatre | date=2021 | last1=Pearse-Otene | first1=Helen | journal=Theatre, Dance and Performance Training | volume=12 | pages=95–111 | doi-access=free }}
• Pearse-Otene, Helen (2020). "Theatre Marae" (PDF). MAI A New Zealand Journal of Indigenous Scholarship. vol 9 issue 3: 226–336 .MAI_Jrnl_2020_V9_3_Otene_FINAL.pdf
• Pearse-Otene, H. (2020). The underTOW. Wellington, N.Z: Te Rākau Hua O Te Wao Tapu Trust.{{Cite book|last=Pearse-Otene|first=Helen|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1192524396|title=The undertow|date=2020|publisher=Te Rakau Hua O Te Wao Tapu Trust |isbn=978-0-473-51444-0|oclc=1192524396}}
• Pearse-Otene, H., & Burdan, A. (2015). Meariki: Te rapunga i te pono. Wellington, N.Z: Huia Publishers.{{Cite book|last1=Pearse-Otene|first1=Helen|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/905228082|title=Meariki: te rapunga i te pono|last2=Burdan|first2=Andrew|date=2015|isbn=978-1-77550-189-3|language=Māori|oclc=905228082}}
• Pearse-Otene, H., Burdan, A., & Morrison, S. (2013). Te huakore: Te muna o te whatu. Wellington, N.Z: Huia mō Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga.{{Cite book|last1=Pearse-Otene|first1=Helen|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1099723056|title=Te huakore: te muna o te whatu|last2=Burdan|first2=Andrew|last3=Morrison|first3=Scotty|date=2013|publisher=Huia mō Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga|isbn=978-1-77550-080-3|location=Wellington, N.Z.|language=Māori|oclc=1099723056}}
• Burdan, A., Pearse-Otene, H., Teepa, K., & McNaughton, T. O. P. (2012). Arohanui. Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa: He mea whakaputa tēnei tuhinga e Huia Publishers.{{Cite book|last1=Burdan|first1=Andrew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/849366823|title=Arohanui|last2=Pearse-Otene|first2=Helen|last3=Teepa|first3=Kawata|last4=McNaughton|first4=Talia Oreti Pert|last5=New Zealand|last6=Ministry of Education|date=2012|publisher=He mea whakaputa tēnei tuhinga e Huia Publishers|isbn=978-1-77550-080-3|location=Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa|oclc=849366823}}

• In 2017, Pearse-Otene was awarded a Whāia Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga Doctoral Excellence Scholarship. Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Annual Report 2017, https://www.maramatanga.ac.nz/media/4175/download?attachment
• In 2010, Pearse-Otene won "Best Female Actor - Feature Film" at Wairoa Māori Film Festival for her role in No Petrol, No Diesel!.{{Cite web|last=Screen|first=NZ On|title=Awards {{!}} No Petrol, No Diesel! {{!}} Film {{!}} NZ On Screen|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/no-petrol-no-diesel-2009/awards|access-date=2021-08-21|website=www.nzonscreen.com|language=en}}

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