Birds - R13

Birds, an urban story told through the eyes of a young Niuean boy growing up in Auckland’s Avondale Hood-Lands.

Tommy likes to dance the hip-hop, has a mad crush on the lead kapa haka girl at school and believes he can kung fu the biggest bully terrorising 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 Niue. 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 flight to the voices of the hood.

Dianna Fuemana created Birds for world premier at the Niue Arts Festival, 22 – 29th April 2011. A master at story telling and performance, her work includes internationally acclaimed and award winning works Mapaki and The Packer. In 2010 Fuemana was the winner of the NZ International Festival of the Arts ‘Once Upon a Deadline’ competition and was nominated for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Theatre in Los Angeles, International’. Her repertoire of plays produced includes Jingle Bells, My Mother Dreaming and Falemalama.

Ali Foa’i graduated from UNITEC’s Performing Arts School as an actor in 2006. Upon graduating he appeared in the drama series Ride with the Devil. His recent screen credits include Diplomatic Immunity and Shortland Street. Foa’i made his professional stage debut in 2008 at the Pacific Arts Festival in Pago Pago, Amerika Samoa, in Fuemana’s play Falemalama. He toured with the work in Auckland, Niue and Toronto.

Suitable for ages 13+

Proudly supported by the Pacific Committee Creative New Zealand.

Event listed by Mangere Arts Centre Nga Tohu o Uenuku

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