As part of Kia Mau Festival’s He Ngaru Nui programme, plenty serious TALK TALK, takes its first international steps bringing the Aotearoa premiere from Western New South Wales.

With gleeful humour and sharp observation, plenty serious TALK TALK lays bare the full complexity of negotiating culture across disciplines, genres and eras.

Choreographer Vicki van Hout (Wiradjuri) ignites dialogue, celebrating and illuminating the sophistication of the world’s oldest living culture through droll narrative, blended with her own singular indigenous movement.

Behind the scenes, community expectations, consultative processes and obligations crowd the work of First Nation artists. With her trademark wit and incisive analysis, van Hout skilfully lays bare the complexities of negotiating culture across disciplines, genres and eras. 

Vicki says: “Parramatta, Western Sydney is my area, where I generate work. I find it very fertile ground. I am walking along the street, I sit in the mall and I see the world. It is this social context I want to place on stage. Even if I’m on stage by myself, as an artist I’m never truly alone as I am bound to bring my family, my community, my peers and mentors to work with me. In this piece I decided to place the usually behind-the-scenes action of the indigenous arts making process front and centre. The nuances of the relationship between work developed within its community and the obligations an artistic work has to that community, are what I’m exploring in plenty serious TALK TALK.”

An Aotearoa New Zealand Premiere, plenty serious TALK TALK is presented by Vicki van Hout & Performance Space.

He Ngaru Nui is more than just a collection of performances—it is a bold statement about the value and significance of Indigenous narratives. These shows take stories that sometimes feel small, intimate, or unheard, and amplify them on the grand stages they deserve. This programming strand honours the storytelling traditions of Māori, Pasifika and global indigenous cultures, while pushing the boundaries of contemporary performance. It’s about taking stories from our communities and sharing them with the world in a way that is both respectful and revolutionary.

Kia Mau Festival is at the forefront of contemporary Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous arts in Aotearoa and beyond. We are innovators—pushing boundaries, redefining forms, and forging new paths with creative risk-taking at every step.Right here, right now, we bring together local, national, and international artists in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. We find the intersection where our stories intertwine, creating an experience that is uniquely 'local' yet unparalleled in Pōneke throughout the year.

Kia Mau Festival offers a truly unique experience, led by Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous voices at every level—from our leadership to our artists and audiences. Unlike any other festival, we are not just a platform for presentations; we are a hub for kōrero and whanaungatanga.