16 Oct 2024
Creative New Zealand has partnered with Playmarket to publish eight Pasifika New Zealand plays.
The eight plays have all premiered between 2002 and 2019 and have now been published as the Tala series, an imprint of Playmarket | He Rōpū Tautoko Tito Whakaari o Aotearoa.
The Tala series was launched at The Beehive on Wednesday night at an event hosted by Creative New Zealand. Members of Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa and Creative New Zealand’s senior leadership attended, along with the Playmarket partners.
Makerita Urale, Senior Manager Pacific Arts says the publishing initiative under the Pacific Arts Strategy is valuable for the writers as well as potential performers and audiences.
“Supporting Pasifika artists and practitioners to establish and grow income is part of our vision for powerful and resilient Pacific arts. Sales of these beautiful editions provide royalties to support the writers,” Makerita says.
Murray Lynch, Playmarket Director says professional theatres and companies have made significant investments in producing local content, so publishing these proven works is timely.
“Our 2023 survey of theatres showed 89% of works were New Zealand plays, with 12% from Pasifika creatives. This series adds to the available works and I expect the Tala series will be warmly received by theatres hungry for local content,” Murray says.
The Tala series of plays
Editor: Lisa Fuemana and Salesi Le’ota
Designer: Phila Lagaluga of SixOneNine.
Birds by Dianna Fuemana
An ode to teenagers and their mums told through the eyes of a young Niuean boy growing up in Auckland's Avondale Hood Lands. As poignant as it is hilarious, 'Birds' is uplifting and memorable theatre.
Birds was developed for and premiered at the Niue Arts and Culture Festival in 2011. The show was presented at the 11th Festival of pacific Arts and Culture in Honiara, Solomon Island in 2012.
Still Life With Chickens by DF Mamea
Mama's proud of her flourishing veggie garden. So, when she discovers a stray chicken enjoying her greens, her first instinct is to reach for the spade. But what starts as an all-out war develops into a grudging friendship. A beautiful, beguiling and very funny play about loneliness and the resilience of communities.
Still Life With Chickens won the 2017 Adam NZ Play Award and Best Play by a Pasifika Playwright. The Auckland Theatre Company production played throughout New Zealand as well as touring to Australia and China.
Urban Hymns by Mīria George
A tale of youthful desperation and ambition during the global economic crisis. 'Urban Hymns' is woven with street art, politics, and poetry. It is a play that asks questions that should be spoken of often. Do we live in a society that inspires our rangatahi?
Miria George has written, directed, and produced for theatre and film.
The Gangster’s Paradise by Leki-Jackson-Bourke
Homegrown hip-hop romcom musical mash up. Wannabe gangster, Jayden is on the verge of being expelled from St. Coolio's High until Brother G offers him a way out... by taking the lead role in the school production of 'West Side Story'. A hilarious South Auckland redemption story with savage smack, rap and krumping.
In 2018, Leki received the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Award for Emerging Pacific Artist. The Gangster’s Paradise premiered in 2019 in the Here and Now festival and won the Teenage Category of Playmarket’s Plays for the Young competition.
Ranterstantrum by Victor Rodger
A Samoan man arrives late to dinner at a friend's place and finds two Pālagi strangers in their underwear. They tie him up and terrorise him. This is only the beginning of a dinner party none of them will ever forget... Provocative and compelling, Victor Rodger's play prods the subject of racial prejudice thriving in middle-class New Zealand.
The Eel and Sina by J. Soo Choon
This story of the origin of the coconut provides a new twist on the ancient myth known all over Polynesia - this time from the naughty eel's point of view. This is a delightful short play for children told in English and Samoan, brought to life with traditional Samoan dance, song, and wild comedy.
Odd Daphne by Joshua Iosefo
A weaboo baker, a dysfunctional Pacific family, a gay rugby player and K-pop dance group come together to share a story of love and loss.
This tender and hilarious play also looks at representation of the MVPFAFF+ community within Pacific and rugby environments, reflecting the complexities of identity.
My Own Darling by Grace Iwashita-Taylor
Poetry and theatre collide in the urban love/hate letter to Tāmaki Makaurau.
Teuila, a Samoan-Pālagi poet and single mum journeys through the landscapes of the city, unpacking and celebrating the intensely personal stories of those around her.
Contact: Dinah Vincent, Communications Manager, mob: +64 07 463 5835
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