Meremere at Q Theatre, August 2022

After a sold-out run in April 2021, Rodney Bell's autobiographical story, Meremere, is back by popular demand for three select dates at Auckland's Q Theatre, before touring to arts festivals across Australia.

"An extraordinarily powerful performance, with pathos, tragedy,
comedy, inspiration and beauty, created by director Malia Johnston
and a team that seemed to be working on a higher level entirely."
- Otago Daily Times

Meremere brings to you the incredible journey and story of Rodney Bell (Ngāti Maniapoto) from an international career in integrated dance, through years of homelessness in America, to returning home to Te Kuiti, Aotearoa. The work powerfully layers movement, projected imagery and documentary footage to bring his stories to life in an hour-long work. It is a beautiful and intimate performance experience that invites the audience inside this unique and inspirational memoir.

This multimedia performance piece has been developed in collaboration with director Malia Johnston’s performance design company Movement of the Human (MOTH). Meremere includes AV by award-winning designer Rowan Pierce, and live music from the renowned composer Eden Mulholland, bringing this insightful, surprising and very personal story to life.

A critically acclaimed dancer and performer, Rodney is renowned for his physically integrated performance. In 2007, Rodney joined AXIS Dance Company (USA) as principal dancer for five years. Before his return home, Rodney experienced a period of homelessness on the streets of San Francisco - a life-changing experience that inspired the creation of Meremere.

Rodney Bell is a founding member of Touch Compass and currently sits on the Touch Compass Artistic Direction Panel, giving shape to the path of the organisation through his mana and his unique perspective on dance.