Back to Te Maunga review | La Mama Theatre

In Back to Te Maunga, childhood Māori friends Tāne and Isaac reunite after many years apart, with Isaac living in England and Tāne remaining in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Coming together in a rural cabin, where Tui beer flows, whiskey disappears, and a feast is shared, this quickly becomes more than a simple catch-up. In a moving story by Joel Te Teira, secrets and shame surface, challenging their friendship and their connection to the land.

Joe Dekkers-Reihana and Jordan Selwyn generate compelling chemistry on stage. Their performances are naturalistic and deeply authentic, capturing the fractured tenderness of two men whose lives have diverged but whose bond remains intact. Verbal exchanges hit with impact, matched by some dynamic fight choreography by Lyndall Grant. Their dialogue reflects a long familiarity, and the emotional weight each actor brings elevates every scene.

Keegan Bragg’s direction controls the pacing with real restraint, allowing the conflict to simmer and draw us further into the narrative. He makes strong use of the confined cabin setting, intensifying the anxiety and pain being felt with a slow burn structure that ensures the stakes constantly rise. Tainui Tukiwaho's dramaturgy underpins the play’s intimate form, enabling its exploration of friendship, memory and land to emerge naturally.

Ethan Hunter’s sound design pulls us immediately into the environment, with strumming guitars, ambient soundscapes and wildlife beginning to stir. These elements recur throughout the night alongside Tāne and Isaac, strengthening the show’s themes of respect for the land and the enduring ties between the pair. Harrie Hogan’s lighting gently transforms the cabin, bathing it in warmth that amplifies the intimacy that defines the production.

Similarly, Zoe Rouse’s set design of the cabin evokes the generations who came before them. Trees and plants encroach on the dwelling, pushing through open windows. It is far from a modern space, with no fridge or oven, a reminder of the different paths these two men now lead. Rouse’s costuming reinforces this contrast, using clothing to subtly distinguish Isaac's crisp, contemporary look from Tāne’s well-worn jeans and relaxed singlet.

At its heart, Back to Te Maunga is a story about men and the fragility of their friendships, grounded in Te Ao Māori and sincere emotional expression. Told through a Māori lens, it confronts the difficulty men often face in speaking openly, listening to each other and showing care without hesitation. It is a powerful production that builds steadily towards a finale that is quietly devastating and profoundly hopeful.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: La Mama Courthouse, 521 Queensberry St, North Melbourne
Season: until 22 Mar | Tues - Wed 6:30pm, Thurs - Sat 7:30pm, Sun 4pm
Duration: 80 minutes
Tickets: $35 Full | $25 Conc
Bookings: La Mama Theatre

Image credit: Darren Gill