Birds Bridges Generations

Birds Bridges Generations

Following a packed season last year at Mangere Arts Centre, Birds will soon take flight to inhabit The Basement for a season in September.

Birds is a beautiful coming of age story that celebrates the generations in equal measure.

Written by award-winning playwright Dianna Fuemana, Birds stars Ali Foa’i (Falemalama, Aukalofa Monologues) and Bianca Seinafo (Number 2, Big Trouble). They each play a multitude of characters and seamlessly bring this dynamic play to life.

An ode to teenagers and their mums, Birds is an urban story told through the eyes of a young Niuean boy growing up in Auckland’s Avondale Hood-Lands. Birds incorporates Avondale’s iconic sites, including Avondale Community Centre, Hollywood Cinema, Rosebank Road and Riversdale Reserve. 

Tommy likes hip-hop dancing, has a mad crush on the lead Kapa Haka girl at school and believes he can Kung Fu the biggest bully terrorizing the local Riversdale Park. But Moka has different plans for Tommy. Moka wants him to wake up on time for school, go to university and learn things Niuean. Two wills collide but both must win in order to fly like the Birds. Shining a light on the bond between son and mother within a small community, Birds gives voice to Avondale’s hood.

Fuemana’s nephew Foa’i says: “Not only do I identify with this story being Niuean, having grown up around Avondale, it feels like I’m back in the hood again.”

Birds also marks Scotty Cotter’s (The Brave, Tu) directing debut, having worked as an actor for over a decade.

“When I read the script I could see so many of my mates in the play, I knew I had to direct it,” says Cotter.

Likewise Birds has something for everyone to relate to, cleverly using humour for poignant messaging.

And although the show is based firmly within a Niuean perspective, its central themes of cultural detachment and familial conflict are universal within the Pacific Island community residing in Aotearoa.

Birds plays at The Basement from September 17-21, 7 pm. Tickets: I-ticket, ph(09) 361 1000or go to http://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2013/sep/birds

For interviews please contact producer, Sharu on 021 652 175 or sharu@sharu.co.nz. Images available on request.

The play is another new and important piece of Pacific theatre that proclaims significance and relevance alongside a strong growing foundation of contemporary Pacific stories. – theatreview.org.nz

Birds will definitely leave you in stitches and I guarantee its poignant messages will leave an indelible impression – the hallmark of a great play that definitely took flight. – theatrescenes.co.nz

ENDS

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