The highly anticipated tour of Rutene Spooner’s Be Like Billy? is set to entertain audiences across Aotearoa. This unique one-man comedy cabaret show, with live music and truckloads of show-band flair, will take the stage at various prestigious festivals and venues from 14 September.
“Rutene Spooner plays the role of cheeky, cheerful entertainer with great charm and talent to spare.” – Theatreview | Lindsay Clark
Originally commissioned by The Court Theatre, Be Like Billy? is an electrifying exploration of Rutene Spooner’s personal connection with his childhood hero, Billy T James. But this show isn’t just a tribute to Māori showmanship – it tussles with the past and future of Māori in entertainment. Be Like Billy? is everything but an impersonation show. Can you Be like Billy without being the butt of the joke?
Playwright Rutene Spooner says: “The Showband Era birthed some of Māoridom’s most legendary entertainers. This production honours that lineage, reaching back to the infectious cheeky cackle we all know and cherish. But what does modern Māori showmanship entail?”
Featuring the flashest southern showband The Tekīra Mutton Birds, Be Like Billy? strums up all new and original waiata, garage party classics and old-school hits from the likes of Uncle Howie, The Prince of Jandels and Te legend, Te master, Te chuckling funny-fala.
“Spooner lays out this complexity for us in a show that starts with joy and celebration, with nostalgia, then pivots to something more complex when the audience is confronted with the division between laughing at and laughing with.” – Flat City Field Notes | Erin Harrington
This is not Rutene’s first touring rodeo. Acclaimed productions, such as Super Hugh-Manand Thoroughly Modern Māui, have received standing ovations and rave reviews both nationally and internationally. In 2022, Thoroughly Modern Māui toured to eight national centres as part of PANNZ’s touring programme. PANNZ CEO Louise Gallagher expressed, “We are honoured to be able to work alongside and support Rutene Spooner again, this time with his new work Be Like Billy? Audiences loved him on the last tour and we are thrilled to be able to bring him back to audiences, who saw him last time and new audiences from all around the motu.
Our aim at PANNZ is to support artists of a high calibre, such as Rutene, to tour Aotearoa and reach as many performing arts lovers as possible. With his track record this show is sure to be a great success.”
Rutene Spooner (Ngāti Porou, Ngāruahine, and Ngāti Kahungunu) is an actor, entertainer, musician, director, and tutor based in Auckland. Rutene embarked on his performing arts journey after graduating with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Musical Theatre in 2009. He has since performed across continents, captivating audiences with his dynamic performances as a singer, actor, and all-around entertainer.
His notable performances include roles in the New Zealand premiere of Billy Elliot, the Australian Tour of Jersey Boys, and captivating portrayals in Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors (The Court Theatre), and the Australasian premiere of Jekyll & Hyde. Rutene’s recent ventures include voicing characters in Disney films like Frozen Reo Māori and Coco Reo Māori. He was honoured with The Grant Tilly Actor of The Year award at the 2023 Wellington Theatre Awards.
Outside of his performance schedule, Rutene moonlights as a creative producer, documentary director, and vocal & performance coach, enriching the arts community he loves dearly. He is an esteemed kaihaka of Te Kapa Haka of Whāngara-Mai-Tawhiti, a cherished member of the Modern Māori Quartet, and a dedicated union member of the New Zealand Actors Equity.
BE LIKE BILLY?
North Island Tour
Aronui Arts Festival (Rotorua)
Te Haumako, Sir Howard Morrison Centre
Saturday, 14 September, 7pm
https://aronuiartsfestival.com/events/be-like-billy/
Carterton Events Centre
Wednesday, 18 September, 7.30pm
https://www.cartertonec.co.nz/be-like-billy-wednesday-18-september-730pm/
Māoriland (Ōtaki)
Saturday, 21 September, 7.30pm
Tickets on sale soon at https://maorilandfilm.co.nz/
Kōanga Festival (Te Pou Theatre, Auckland)
Wednesday, 25 September, 7.30pm
Thursday, 26 September, 7.30pm
Friday 27 September, 8pm
Saturday, 28 September, 8pm
https://www.koangafestival.nz/be-like-billy
Kōanga Festival celebrates their 10th year of Māori storytelling in 2024. “Rutene Spooner is a shining star in Māori performing arts, a consummate professional, Rutene’s musical and comedic talent is second to none and through the laughs he shares wisdom and sharp insights with a charming smile. We are so looking forward to being able to share Rutene’s newest work Be Like Billy? this year at our Kōanga Festival in September,” says Amber Curreen Poutoko Whānau, Te Pou Theatre
Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival (Gisborne)
Friday, 4 October – Saturday, 5 October
Tickets and details to be announced