What happens when you mix trees, ghosts, deer and mischief with one of Aotearoa’s most imaginative choreographers? You get Shel We – an enchanting, mischievous and delightfully offbeat dance work by Tupua Tigafua.

Taking inspiration from the whimsical words of the American writer and cartoonist Shel Silverstein (the genius behind The Giving Tree and Johnny Cash’s A Boy Named Sue), Shel We is a playful tribute to Tupua’s parents, family, and the world that shaped him. Beneath the laughter and strangeness lies a moving celebration of love, memory and the natural world, set against an evocative classical score.

Tupua Tigafua is no stranger to pushing dance into magical new places. Having performed with New Zealand’s great dance companies including Black Grace, MAU and The New Zealand Dance Company, his career has taken him around the globe.