In 2024, our international Indigenous playwriting festival, Breaking Ground, presents it’s 15th year of new writing in development. Tawata Productions has continued to learn and understand that our writing festival is a space that is vital – to serve the writers of these urgent times – as they search, question, refine and craft their words.

Our four playwrights developing their work as part of Breaking Ground 2024

Victor Rodger (Iva, Samoa) 

Miriama McDowell (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi) 

Cassandra Tse

Emma Katene (Ngāti Kahungunu)

Today we live in urgent times. Where the voices of our writers are necessary. Where their vision is needed to share the unseen more widely throughout our communities and society as a whole. These are extraordinary times.

Breaking Ground is presented by Tawata Productions, a Māori and Cook Islands led creative company based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington. Established in 2004 by Hone Kouka (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Kai Tahu) and Mīria George (Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa, Tumutevarovaro, Enuamanu), Tawata Productions celebrates 20 years of new performance and artist development.