Dash thinks he's the golden boy - until he doesn't make the cut. Taimane wants to win so bad, she's turning into a bee-arch. And Mantis? He's a self-appointed prophet, who thinks the Polyfest competition is another cog deliberately slowing the progress of Polynesians in New Zealand, the country run by "those crazy rednecks in the Beehive".
This Friday at Kowhai Intermediate School Mt Eden, 8pmDash thinks he's the golden boy - until he doesn't make the cut. Taimane wants to win so bad, she's turning into a bee-arch. And Mantis? He's a self-appointed prophet, who thinks the Polyfest competition is another cog deliberately slowing the progress of Polynesians in New Zealand, the country run by "those crazy rednecks in the Beehive".
This Friday at Kowhai Intermediate School Mt Eden, 8pmAt a time when kids all over New Zealand say that being caught between two cultural worlds is the issue that concerns them most after poverty and abuse, LE TAUVAGA (The Competition) will bring many teenage Niu Sila-born Polynesians face to face with their own biting, bittersweet and turbulent experience on stage for the first time.

First-time playwright and director Louise Tu'u has created an exciting, original and fast-paced drama, set against preparations for the important, manic and cut-throat competition that is the ASB Secondary Schools Maori and Pacific Island Cultural Festival - more commonly known as the Polyfest. Intertwined with Samoan songs, LE TAUVAGA has it all: cultural dislocation, isolation, peer pressure, domestic violence, school rivalry, betrayal, individual expression and the freedom to be oneself. And that's just the team trials! (auditions)

So we thought we'd put the play on in the central city at a ridiculous price per ticket, so nobody who might actually identify with the play will be able to see it. Aw naaaah - just jokes. LE TAUVAGA will take it out to where our kids and their aiga (families) actually are, using local community centres as theatres - entry to ALL shows is by gold coin donation so everyone can come.

* Wells Memorial Hall, Kowhai Intermediate School, Mt Eden, on Friday 26th March 8pm

LE TAUVAGA is kindly supported by the following organisations:

Auckland City Council Creative Communities Funding
Playmarket
Waitakere City Council Creative Communities Funding