Master of Theatre Arts final year student, Kat Thomas, has developed a community project to celebrate the identity of a well-known hub in Old Papatoetoe, Auckland, with the exhibition St George Street Speaks.

The exhibition has been developed with the help and support of local residents, and looks to display the distinctive and ecclectic personalities from the past and present. Master of Theatre Arts final year student, Kat Thomas, has developed a community project to celebrate the identity of a well-known hub in Old Papatoetoe, Auckland, with the exhibition St George Street Speaks.

The exhibition has been developed with the help and support of local residents, and looks to display the distinctive and ecclectic personalities from the past and present. The exhibition consists of three phases where audience members will have an opportunity to learn and reflect on what has helped Old Papatoetoe to exist as it does today.

A photography exhibition of borrowed images displays moments in time representing the many faces of the community; in celebration, in carnival, at work, and the hard labour that has enabled locals to build the place we call Home. The highlight of the event will be the Verbatim Performance, a form of documentary theatre, where five local actors will take to the stage to perform the memories and experiences of several local identities.

The exhibition is loaded with image and identity, but why do it?

Director Kat Thomas : "This exhibition began as something where we could all come together and celebrate who we are and where we come from. As I have learned in creating this event, it's not quite time to do that yet. We need an opportunity to simply see, and to listen, to what we are. I've found in all of our diversity, we share the same values, and our small locality is the ground where all have based them. St George Street Speaks is a chance to remind us of what we are."

The event takes place at the Papatoetoe Council Chambers, which in itself is a historical environment.

The Papatoetoe Community Board and Mainstreet Society have been very supportive of the event, and many St George store-owners have been very accommodating. Hector the Clown will be making an appearance to draw in a crowd. St George Street Speaks is sure to invoke nostalgia and assert the strong future of Old Papatoetoe.

Starring - Nimi Bedi, Dasham Bedi, Charlotte Thomas, Alan Knowles, Ratuhi Hiku.
Directed by Kat Thomas

St George Street Speaks
An Exhibition of the Past, the Present and the Now
When - Saturday, 21st February, 2009
Where - Papatoetoe Council Chambers, 35 St George Street, Papatoetoe
Price - FREE

20/02/09