Black Friars

Uso - Your feedback!

2011-05-10T20:09:00.004+12:00

"Dramatically structured and dynamically paced with sublime musical interludes, Uso reminds us why theatre was ever invented." - John Smythe

What an amazing time was had by all at the fabulous Downstage!
Here are some comments about Uso and the workshops from you wonderful people:

"I had to send an email to let you know what an awesome show it was on Saturday night. I was very impressed with the dynamics of this play and the TALENT!! Oka!
Nice to see the 'no holds barred' in terms of language. Mad respect for telling it like it is.
Please pass on my heart felt thanks to the company. I wish them all the best for their next production, and look forward to seeing it performed here in Wellington.

Ia Manuia lava

Tai Paitai
Events Producer
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa"

Zelda Dahya Says:

May 9th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed the production! the cast were amazing and were RAW!! Loved the passion and the delievery! Amazing things and the only way is up!!! Bigg ups to the ‘Black Friars’ keep it up!! xox

Kieran Meredith Says:

May 9th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
A-MA-ZING!

Thoroughly enjoyed ‘Uso’ and the many elements of the show that we as the audience were exposed to. Enjoyed the inspiration that the characters provided us with, especially as Youth and the many challenges that we face in society. The context and morality was immensely empowering as well! The Gospel Music also helped to provide a bit of variety.

Looking forward to seeing them at the top, cos that’s where they be HEADING!

Shot guyssss! x

Rochelle Nafatali Says:

May 9th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
The Black Friars are an amazingly talented group of players, who have the tenacity and passion to bring across difficult themes others are too afraid or not competent enough to express. They’re also hilarious and capture the humour of Samoan “boyz” just right! I am grateful to the Black Friars for sharing their desire for our young people to have a voice and to be successful, and would love to see them again. Thanks to my uso Florence for spreading the word and enabling us all to come! Please keep our Office in the loop when you next are down Black Friars. Ia manuia!

I just wanted to tell you how very much we enjoyed the show today, it was truly wonderful!

I hadn't realised previously that you were doing workshops at schools around Wellington, or I would have inquired as to whether or not you might be able to visit us. Is there any small chance we may be able to steal you at some time in the future? The girls would absolutely love it!

Do let me know if you will be in Wellington again and if this could go ahead, and thank you for the wonderful experience today.

All the best
Melissa

Talofa lava Michelle

Congratulations and thanks again so much for the workshop and the performance this week. The boys were all on such a high after them. The actors set up principles of acknowledgement, value and courage right from the beginning. And most importantly, they lead by example from the outset. The students felt that all their contributions were really appreciated, that they had come together as aiga and inspired to pursue the same level of heart in performance as was shared with us. I can't wait to build on that momentum with them this term in a performance of Niu Sila and devised work. Am pretty sure we can fit in a Carlton dance in every scene!

Faafetai soooo much again and soifua for the rest of the season.

Ia manuia, Jane

Jane Armstrong
HOD Drama
Wellington College

Porirua College - Student feedback(From year 13 students) "In the workshop, it made me feel free, the Blackfriars crew came down to our level. It was also cool to see the Year 11s step up and do amazing work."

Another student "I was emotionally touched" "it was different to other workshops coz they were like us, they were brown , it was like family"

Another "The comfort they had, you could share anything, from the heart, I felt like it was a place where I was comfortable"

And last, but not least, check out the link opposite to Theatreview and some great words of support and encouragement.

Watch this space for what's next!

Chur,

EmJay
x

USO in Auckland - One Night Only!

2011-04-23T19:11:00.002+12:00

Come along and check us out this Friday before we leave for the Windy City.

The Black Friars present "USO"

Where? Ray Friedman Arts Centre
Epsom Girls Grammar School
When? Friday 29th April
8pm
How much? $10 (one time only offer!)

Book via blackfriars1844@gmail.com

Look forward to seeing you there!

EmJay

USO is coming to Wellington!

2011-04-12T08:56:00.002+12:00

Attention all Wellingtonians!

Uso is finally making its way down the line to the one and only Downstage for a very limited season.
Vau, Lauie, Saia, Olive and Billy will be out in Wellington's surrounding schools from the 2-4 May and then we are all in theatre for two shows a day on the 5th-7th May (Thursday to Saturday).
Uso is a Glee-meets-Boys in the Hood-meets-Dangerous Minds coming-of-age type story that tracks a young Polynesian boy named Lincoln over the course of a weekend. During the weekend, a huge range of pressures converge in Lincoln's life and he has to choose between the forces that control his life - his brother Miles, his best friend Makisi, his dangerous friend Siua and his girlfriend Lani.
Meanwhile, the cast is getting ready for a choir competition, which they have to win if Lincoln is to keep living the life he loves.
If you love gospel music and powerful stage presence, then make your way over to Downstage and catch the Black Friars in action!
See www.downstage.co.nz for more details...

Six (more) Lessons!

2011-02-13T00:05:00.006+13:00

YOUR FEEDBACK:

"The best piece of Auckland theatre we've seen in ages! What a talent that young man has: I immediately started ringing friends and telling them to go. Pity it's such a short season -- you should bring it to the university; and then start applying for Arts Council funding to take it to Edinburgh". Professor Michael Neill

From the Company that brought you
USO
William Shakespeare’s Othello Polynesia,
Aristophanes’ The Frogs
and Being Brown,

The Black Friars Theatre Company present…

Six Lessons and A Wedding

Six Lessons and A Wedding is the story of an unlikely observer who brings to life a cast of rogues, knaves and fools for our delectation. What are revealed are the hypocrisies, false pieties, greed, sycophancy, and sexual appetites of a Polynesian family wedding being conducted in a marquee in the backyard of a suburban property.

This show is guaranteed to make you sit up and pay attention. The action takes place in a setting that is familiar to most of our young people – at the cooking of the umu. With a mix of romance, action, corruption and guys getting caught with their pants down, Six Lessons has it all.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Written by Michelle Johansson : Performed by Lauie Sila

Mangere Arts Centre
Ngā Tohu o Uenuku
Tickets $15, groups of 10 or more $12

Wednesday, March 30th, 1pm Wednesday, March 30th, 1pm
Thursday, March 31st , 1pm, 8pm Thursday, March 31st , 1pm, 8pm
Friday, April 1st , 8pm Friday, April 1st , 8pm
Saturday, April 2nd, 8pm Saturday, April 2nd, 8pm

Bookings: blackfriars1844@gmail.com Phone: 0211030686

UP AND COMING....

To our Wellington base, we are re-producing USO down the line there at the fabulous Downstage. Everyone is looking forward to coming down there and mixing it up.
Woohoo!

That Documentary...and who we are!

2010-12-20T11:38:00.009+13:00

Thank you so much to all of you wonderful people who have sent me emails following the documentary on TV one Sunday night (Hayley, this means you!). (If you didn't see it, check out TVNZ on demand...enter this as your URL addy or follow the link at the bottom of this blog entry: http://tvnz.co.nz/artsville/s2009-black-friarz-video-3977282)
We are inspired by your kind words and will keep working to do what we do!
I had a kind email from Raewyn who has taught in the Cooks and she spoke about "telling the stories", which echoes many sentiments, including those of Sam Scott who once told me to "Go. Tell the story". And so we will.

Selina Tusitala-Marsh wrote these words:

girl

see the girl.
see the girl growing.
see the girl growing in Avondale, West Auckland
in the 70s and 80s.
see her going to school,
going to school in Avondale, in West Auckland,
in the 70s and 80s, in a multi-cultural suburb,
in a multi-cultural school.
Going to school with other Samoans, and Tongans, and Niueans,
and Fijians, and Tuvaluans,
see the girl
never seeing herself
or her mates
in books
in stories
never seeing her face
in the ‘literary mirror’
see her “see Jack and Jane run”.
never Siligi or Tavita
never Pua or Ioane
never Lelei or Luka-Fa’amanu
see the girl
see the mirror
see me.

Never before has the need for our Pasifika people to tell our stories been so prevalent...to see ourselves in the literary canon of New Zealand. As first generation NZers the Black Friars feel charged with a duty to tell the stories and to see ourselves in them.

In the new year look forward to seeing more Friars stories, Uso is seeing a revival in March (fingers crossed) and May in Wellington at the wonderful Downstage (fingers crossed again). Bayley has high hopes of producing some more Shakespeare and Lauie and I are tossing around the idea of The Merchant of Mangere. Also, Crossroads Methodist Church in Papakura have kindly agreed to open their doors to us to perform Godspell sometime in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, we're all working hard and keeping the faith.

Thank you people who have googled us and found our cyber-home and continue to send the heart-warming emails and texts - you are the reason.

Love much, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Invest in the people you love, and smile at strangers.

EmJay
x

It's all Greek to us! - Aristophanes' 'The Wasps' goes live!

2010-08-31T20:16:00.003+12:00

Greek theatre meets South Auckland in this lively take on Aristophanes’ classic intergenerational collision. Antecleon struggles to keep his ‘trial-o-phile’ father away from the law courts of Athens while a chorus of ninja-like wasps prepare to break out their stings.

If you’ve ever found yourself caught in the generation gap, trying to appease your crazy parents or mystified at the fashions of young people – then this two-and-a-half-thousand-year-old drama is for you!

All the fun you can have with a phallus! Come along and experience the energy and hilarity of Attic old comedy told with a twist. The characters are loud, the chorus is louder and the bawdy resolution will have you laughing in the aisles.

Seriously folks, this is the best year 13 drama class in the country (reigning South Auckland Sheilah Winn champs) - coupled with the outrageous comedy of The Black Friars themselves. This is a once in a lifetime, strictly limited season, you'd be crazy to miss it, hilarious, chaotic, diabolical Attic-old-meets-Polynesia, good old fashioned mayhem!

Off Broadway Theatre
41 Elliot Street
Papakura

16th & 17th September, 12pm and 7.30pm
Schools’ matinees will be followed by a forum with the cast
Adults $20.00
Students $15.00
($13.50 per student in groups of 10)

Bookings through Michelle - blackfriars1844@gmail.com for more information

SEE YOU THERE!

EmJay

These are our year thirteen babies throughout the Shakespearean year - Wellington was a blast!

Six Lessons and a Wedding

2010-04-14T11:30:00.003+12:00

Six Lessons and a Wedding” is a rumbustious, humane, outrageous, violent, sexy, compassionate and comical monodrama. The play is a satire with Sefo as the unlikely but likeable observer amongst a cast of rogues, of knaves and fools, which he brings to life for our delectation and summation. What are revealed are the hypocrisies, false pieties, greed, sycophancy, and sexual appetites of a Pacific Island family wedding being conducted in a marquee in the backyard of a suburban property.

Aloha Friars and friends,

Just a small invitation to come along and see MJ's post-grad drama project on stage at the end of April.

29th April 8pm
30th April 8pm
1st May 8pm
2nd May 8pm

$10 concession

Look forward to seeing whoever can make it!

Did you see us on Pacific Beat Street?

AWESOME!

USO

2010-01-07T20:28:00.007+13:00

Loyalty. Brotherhood. Betrayal.
A Song for South Auckland.

"USO noun [Samoan] 1 male sibling. 2 friend who is like a brother. 3 term of endearment or challenge used to indicate relationship, loyalty and/or obligation."

USO is a story about growing up in south Auckland and the pressures that are faced, both internal and external, by Pasifikan youth being raised here. Its protagonist is Lincoln, who must deal with the conflicting desires of his family, friends, girlfriend, school and social set in order to survive. The plot transpires over the course of three days and although Lincoln is its centre, it also deals with universal issues like friendship, brotherhood, betrayal and loyalty. USO is a story for Auckland and for Pasifikan youth.

Limited season
Musgrove Studio
10 March, 8pm
11 & 12 March, 1pm & 8pm
13 March, 8pm
Adults $20
Students/Concession $15
School groups 10+ $13 pp.
Bookings at www.maidment.auckland.ac.nz
For further info visit www.blackfriarscompany.blogspot.com
or email Michelle blackfriars1844@gmail.com
Schools bookings welcome.

In A Box - Banana Boat Xmas Do

2009-12-02T09:24:00.002+13:00

Invitation to all to the Banana Boat Xmas party tomorrow at good old Te Karanga Gallery on K Road.
Come along and see MJ's piece 'In a Box' directed by Jenni Heka and starring...well, I don't know, but not the Friars...which will be...interesting.

208 K Road
7pm til late?

Fale of Troy - White Ribbon Week

2009-12-02T09:20:00.002+13:00

Recently the Friars (Lauie, Vau and Tana) had the opportunity to work with playwright Jay Williams (not the singer) on his project Fale of Troy.
This dealt with the issues of domestic and family violence (It's not okay in Waitake-ray). The boys also got to meet and work with the Phoenix crew for the duration of the short season at Henderson High School.
MJ got to meet the beautiful and talented Olive Asi who is to become a regular feature of the Black Friars - yes, we're trying to steal her from MASSIVE...let's hope she'll come willingly.

Sticky Things...

2009-10-12T15:57:00.002+13:00

Thought i'd better chuck this pic on there as you guys look so lovely and also coz i'm missing the sun bigtime...where the hell did Spring go? What's with the squalls?

The Friars will be hanging out with Louis this week - finally saw the movies 'Run' and the 6 dollar fifty man..some awesome shooting and fab performance from wee Oscar!
Go the film geeks!

Filming for us is Wednesday at WTC and Thursday at Viscount as I understand it...not sure when or where else...not sure if Louis is a paparazzi or not.

Wednesday evening we read through the terrible script for 'Impact' and hopefully make some substantial improvements... wouldn't that be nice. Need your help guys - your writer is having major writer block and it's all turning into theatre for dummies.
Have enlisted the help of the illustrious David Mamea to hopefully be my dramaturg - coz i really need one...like, really, so fab to have him on board.
'Impact' should be starring the usual suspects, plus an up and coming young 'un, the beautiful Irene Ongoongo and the notorious Semu Filipo...hopefully.

Chur.

One not easily jealous...

2009-10-04T18:29:00.003+13:00

Hey Friars fans,

an update - well, as you can see we have not attended to this blog as we should have an nothing has been updated - i suck, i know.
HOWEVER, we are still up and running and keen to get back on the stage.
Spent a lovely week down in Wellington with the team at Downstage with our second season of Othello Polynesia where we were joined by the wonderful Semu Filipo in the role of Othello, Victoria Schmidt as Desdemona, Asalemo as the Duke and the back-flipping Tavai as Montano/Lodovico.

Semu the moor of Venice...

A great season and an improvement on the Auckland version i must say.
Some great reviews, some not so hot and a direct suggestion from Nathaniel Lees for MJ to never grace the stage again (point taken!).
Some folks out there seem to think that race and culture are only concerned with skin colour and the ability to dance well...what's up with that I ask?
It's not Semu's fault he's the mean dancer, despite his attempts to look un-co - apparently he was just too good.
Try to explain to a white man that culture is so much more than that and you will understand my pain...they just didn't get the real tragedy of Othello. So sad.

Anyway, we will be working with the classy Louis Sutherland (Sticky Pictures) again towards something very exciting indeed - primetime airtime I do believe. How fortuitous.

Meantime, anybody who wants to purchase a copy of THE FROGS DVD, it is currently in post-production and will be on sale for the low low price of $49.90. Classical Studies teachers - this means you. I'm currently working on a study guide to work alongside it. Please contact us with any queries.

That's enough of an update i feel, next show season will be (maybe) a collaboration with Phoenix of West Auckland (hisssss...Westside) to be on stage in November.

That's all from me, promise to update again soon.

Love much to all,

EmJay

Aristophanes' The Frogs

2009-02-21T14:02:00.005+13:00

DVD available October 2009
$49.90
School orders welcome.

When:Wednesday 11 March, 12.00pm – 2.00pm
Wednesday 11 March, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Thursday 12 March, 12.00pm – 2.00pm
Thursday 12 March, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Friday 13 March, 12.00pm – 2.00pm
Friday 13 March, 7.30pm – 9.15pm
Saturday 14 March, 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Where: Hawkins Theatre, Auckland South — Show map
Restrictions: All AgesTicket Information:Adult: $20.00
Student: $15.00
iTicket – 09 361 1000
Bookings through www.iticket.co.nz

With Athens racked by civil war and lacking leaders worthy of the name, Dionysus (god of… all things fun really) looks for answers in the most unlikely places.

He needs a poet. A rhymer. A rapper. Sort of an oldest-school Snoop Dog minus the cussin'. Why? "What do you want a poet for?" "To save the city of course!" A wise plan, this. But unfortunately, all the good poets are dead so in true Heraclean from, Dionysus goes down, down, down – all the way to Hades (and he's quite prepared to trawl even deeper if he has to).

With just five actors and two choruses – sponsored by our very own choregus (Creative NZ) – join the Black Friars for a hilarious romp through the underworld. This is rich, riotious and risible: this is as close to attic-old comedy as we Polynesians can get. Who are the Black Friars? "We're a group of first-generation New Zealand-born Pacific Islanders from the Southside. In 2007 we were given the title 'Best Festival Newcomers' at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival and later gained honourable mention in North & South magazine's 'New Zealander of the Year' Awards.

In 2008 we were nominated for the 'Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Award for Best Emerging Artist' and appointed ambassadors for the Ministry of Youth Justice. Hot on the heels of last year's sell-out smash Othello – Polynesia, the Friars bring another classic to life on the stage. Schools' matinees will be followed by a forum with the cast. One teacher free with every 10 students.

THAT'S RIGHT FOLKS!
We're back with another Classic, and taking it out South this time, bringing it to the people, by the people, for the people.
As part of our mission to make Classical drama accessible to pacific islanders, we bring you our interpretation of Aristophanes.

The performance itself is very...how shall we say?... bare? There are only a few masks, no phalluses (its suitable for all ages) and the script is heavily abridged.
However, we do offer you four actors in all the roles, and two full choruses.

On that note, are choruses are comprised of some of our own people - the Frogs chorus is made up of the elite Drama group from Viscount School in Mangere (they're gorgeous - the play is worth coming to see just to have a look at those gorgeous kids), and the chorus of initiates is comprised of senior Drama students from Wesley College.

So Dionysus (Vau Atonio) ventures down to Hades and with the help of his trusty servant, the cocky Xanthias (Tana Aiono) he seeks to bring back a poet to save the city of Athens from moral decay and that sort of thing...Unfortunately, there are two worthy contenders to the title and what better way to decide than by having a poetry contest, and so Euripides (Misipele Tofilau) and Aeschylus (Lauie Sila) battle it out for the right to claim themselves KING OF THE DEAD...well, not really, but that's the general gist.

We'd love to see you all there, and if there are any questions, queries, quips, quibbles etc, give us a text on 0211030686.

Cheers!

Em Jay

Auckland Fringe Festival - Three Men in a Box

2008-11-15T22:38:00.006+13:00

Te Karanga Gallery
Karangahape Road
Auckland City

Art Exhibition opening - 19th February 8.00pm
Season runs Wed 25th - Sat 28th - 8.00pm

Adults $10.00
Children $5.00
Concession/Groups $8.00
Door sales only
Enquiries to Em-Jay 021 103 0686

The Black Friars set out to smash stereotypes and invade your comfort zones in this politically incorrect comedy that will have you laughing in the aisles.
Presented in the Te Karanga Gallery as part of the FIRST EVER Auckland Fringe Festival this show runs in conjunction with an exhibition of Art from Black Friar - Samuela Tukuafu - one of Polynesia's latest up and coming artists.
Presented by Friars Vau, Lauie and newcomer Paul-the-token-palagi, the show is designed to attack those boxes that we are all forced into by the prejudice of others.

Come and see how art merges with theatre merging with life...

Te Karanga Gallery is also a licensed premises so come along with your friends for a drink before the show!

THE PAINTINGS

All of the exhibition paintings are for sale.
They are by up and coming pasifika artists Sam Tukuafu and Theodore Ah Wong (both from Mangere). If you wish to purchase any of these paintings, please contact either the gallery itself,or call/text
Sam - 02102493967
Michelle - 0211030686

On another note, the Black Friars would like to say a huge HELLO! to all the Viscount kids out there posting those comments - keep them coming guys! And congratulations on a fabulous show! The boys are coming to perform at your school in December - ask Miss Charles when!

Also, big ups to Vau who has a new secret occupation next year..we look forward to hearing more...

Congratulations to Uini for a very rewarding prizegiving today - taking out what seems to be becoming the "Black Friars Award for Special Achievement in Drama", as well as his ten billion Rugby accolades - shot Cuz.

Anyway, keep the faith guys,
Love much,
Em Jay

Up and Coming...

2008-08-31T22:39:00.005+12:00

Thought i'd better update and let people know where we are and what the hell is happening with the Black Friars...
So, here goes...

February 19-28 - Samuela's exhibition, Te Karanga Gallery 208 K'Road, the City
February 25th-28th - Three Men in a Box, Te Karanga Gallery 208 K'Road, the City
March 11-14th - Aristophanes' The Frogs, Hawkins Centre, Ray Small Drive, Papakura
May 13-16th - Big, Brown, Beautiful, Musgrove Studio, Auckland City
June 2-6th - Othello Polynesia (Compleate Workes 2009) - Downstage Theatre, Wellington

....and after that, who knows?

On a personal note, a huge freaking congratulations to Wigi who flies out tomorrow for Samoa to play rugby for the NZ Samoan team. best of luck Cuz!
We'll be thinking of you!

Also, Vau and Lauie have again been selected to participate in the Ministry of Education 'Artists in Schools' programme and will be working at Wesley College in term two this year. Fabulous guys! I'm so proud!

That's all for now,
keep the faith guys!

Em Jay

September Madness...
Here we go again!
Having just finished show madness, some of us will be back on stage in a couple of weeks and some in their new found roles as co-directors.
Here are the dates and places:

'The Flying Jug' - Unitec, 12-20th September, starring Vau
'Tribal' - Viscount School, 23-25th September, starring Lauie and Vau's young charges (including Sheila, the youngest Atonio), with assistance from Misipele, Pelenaise, Nats and MJ, directed by Vau and Lauie
'Romeo and Tusi' - Wesley College, 24-25th September, starring Uini and his year 13 Drama class, directed by Michelle with assistance from Lauie and Vau..and maybe the rest of you, so look out!
'Romeo and Juliet' - Wanganui Collegiate, 5th October, starring Uini (this is the National Shakespeare in Schools Production week, we have to get Uini to the Globe!
Huge and enormous THANK YOU to the Friends of Wesley, Mr and Mrs Reeve for sponsorship on this one!

So, all you Friars fans out there, come along to one or another of these events and support support support!

Cheers!

Em Jay

What's the Buzz? Tell me what's happening!

2008-07-08T12:09:00.003+12:00

Up next on the agenda for Lauie and Vau is working at Viscount School as part of the Ministry of Education's 'Artists in Schools' programme. There they will be teaching a small group of young Pasifikan Mangere-ans' about the performing arts, working towards a performance piece at the end of term three.

Meanwhile, (in the bat cave), Wesley's production of 'Aladdin' is fast approaching with our own Uini Atonio as the dynamic, enthusiastic, blue-skinned GENIE OF THE LAMP! this show will be crewed by Em-Jay, Lauie, Vau and Pele (although Pele might not know this yet!).

Next Saturday (19th July) is Kolo and Kakile's double wedding and so the Friars are asked to provide musical entertainment - no obligation guys! Apparently original Friar (with no performances to date) Greg Seumanutafa is Kolo's best man - crazy ay?

We have recently had the privilege of hosting Lauie's 21st, watching the Unitec boys perform in Gorky's Summerfolk and seeing Vau be awarded by the Ministry of Youth Development. Reenz is currently on tour with Excel, to finish in October.

Anyway, we all have to catch up sometime soon, or we'll forget what we look like.

In the pipe-line for 2009, (among other things) are:

- The Frogs (Aristophanes) - whole company (March)
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare(Abridged) - Vau, Lauie, Billy (term III)
- Michelle's play - untitled as yet - whole company
- Bouncers - 4 members of the company
- Comedy Fest?
- Othello Polynesia - Wellington - whole company (June)

So that's the shizz guys, let me know your comments etc...

Much love to all of you - Friars and fans, guys and gals, ,..and all the rest.

PS has anyone seen Jackie's dress?

Comedy Fest Again! Woohoo!

2008-04-03T17:21:00.002+13:00

We're back, we're brown and this year we're big with a new comedy proving that SIZE DOES MATTER.

BEING BIG

7pm
April 29th-3rd May,
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

The Pacific is Mine. Mine to protect.
Mine to inherit. Mine to respect.

Being Big follows the journey of four young Polynesian men who have now left school and are on their own personal quests for identity. It is about the choices that young people make, it is about being Polynesian and trying to find your place in the world, but mainly it is about friendship and those who make life's journey at your side, coloured with the inherent beauty that is our pacific people. With music, dance and laughter these young men celebrate who they are and where they come from.
The Black Friars are a group of first-generation New Zealand born Pacific Islanders striving in their own personal quests for identity. They achieved awards in 2007 for the ‘Best Festival Newcomers’ in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival and gained honourable mention in the North and South Magazine ‘New Zealander of the Year’. In February they undertook a world first production of William Shakespeare’s Othello – Polynesia partly in order to defy stereotypes and make statements about Race and its connection to Identity.
Being Big is the sequel to Being Brown (2007). It follows the hilarious journey of four young friends faced with the challenge of moving from adolescence to manhood in the chaotic world of south Auckland. The story is important to the company the Black Friars because it is the continuation of our own journey and our own quests for identity. We believe that polynesian people are an amazingly talented and often undervalued assett to the population of New Zealand. We are sick of continous stereo-types, and worse - of our young people attempting to live up to those stereotypes. We intend to present an island humour that has all of the laughter, music, drama and brown beauty that is our Polynesia, but intermingled with a serious message about choices and being true to yourself, no matter what it costs you.

And of course...

SIONE AND THE BEANSTALKER

7pm
April 29th-3rd May,
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

Sione and the Beanstalker is another romp through wonderland as the characters of many different fairy tales mix and mingle to produce this hilarious panto-rhyme. It begins in the home of Sione who wants to go to the school ball but can't afford the ticket, miraculously he finds that he has a hairy godmother, willing to grant him untold wishes to fulfill his every desire. The story is fast-paced and steam-rollers towards a climactic close.
Expect the unexpected!
This show is especially relevant to those who are young at heart and is suitable for children of all ages with some recognisable fairytale favourites and some new and unusual characters that will have you laughing out loud.
The Black Friars undertake this show as it is a unusual style of theatre that combines pacific island humour with mainstream, traditional storytelling. The tales that are used are familiar to all and they maintain their continued relevance and resonance throughout the ages. We are endeavouring to keep these fairytales alive and present in a new generation of New Zealanders from all walks of life.

So people! Get out those credit cards, get onto ticketek and we'll see you there!

William Shakespeare's Othello - Polynesia

2007-11-19T14:30:00.000+13:00

Cast of Othello

This tragic tale of revenge, betrayal, jealousy and love comes alive in modern-day Polynesia. True to the original script and created in consultation with Oxford Shakespearean editor Professor Michael Neill, this play portrays Othello as the only palagi character in a brown society. Driven by the cunning manipulations of the malignant Iago, this Othello is a fast-paced, heartbreaking drama performed by one of New Zealand’s newest Polynesian theatre groups.

Here is an opportunity to experience Shakespeare that is relevant to YOU! It is Shakespeare as you have never seen it before with a forum following each matinee especially for Pasifika young people.

The Black Friars are a group of first-generation New Zealand born Pacific Islanders striving in their own personal quests for identity. They achieved awards in 2007 for the ‘Best Festival Newcomers’ in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival and gained honourable mention in the North and South Magazine ‘New Zealander of the Year’. In Othello – Polynesia, the company strives to bring Shakespeare to young people as they believe in the fundamental truths of human nature offered in his plays and their relevance to all of us today.

For English teachers using Othello at NCEA Level Three, a teaching pack developed by an experienced English and ESOL teacher is available for an additional cost of $40.00 with each class booking.

Othello Polynesia will be performed at the Fale Pasifika at Auckland University from the 14th-16th of February 2008. There are only two matinees so get in quick!

Contact Michelle – blackfriars1844@gmail.com for more information.

Performance dates and times:

13th February Preview and Sponsor's night
14th February 1pm, 7.30pm
15th February 1pm, 7.30pm
16th February 7.30pm

Bookings through iticket
(service fees may apply)

Email: blackfriars1844@gmail.com

Othello Polynesia!

2007-10-06T15:16:00.000+13:00

(most of) the Cast of Othello

Time for an update my people!
So many wonderful things are happening it's hard to know where to start!
The big one is of course OTHELLO POLYNESIA! Fale Pasifika, University of Auckland, 14-16th February 2008.
we have confirmed dates, venues, cast and crew... we are nearly ready to roll people!
the other thing is that our first birthday is coming up and we should prepare to celebrate!

Othello & Iago

The advertising campaign for Othello will be launched in the next two weeks, we are just waiting for the go ahead from Creative NZ, but most wise people that i've talked to about this seem to think that we should be fine.. by wise people I mean Pete (Hi King!) and Janette.
A huge CONGRATS to Janette also for getting the Summit grant to produce the film The Art of Being Brown. That's soooooo sooooo cool!
We can't wait to officially work with you on this project.
We've also employed Gwendoline Myocevich (Hi Gwen!)as our set designer and she is curently working on some wonderful things... and has a goldmine of ideas for the set and costumes.
Fita will still be doing the art for the set, and speaking of Fita, his work will be featuring in the Wesley art exhibition at the Botanic Gardens commencing on the 17th (i think!), so keep your eyes pealed...the Friars will make an appearance at some point during that time.

Ok folks, that's all from me.
I will update more substantially next time.
Love you all longtime,
Em-Jay
xxx

Comedy Festivities!

2007-06-06T11:30:00.000+12:00

Well the Comedy Fest is over and we all feel like we've just hit planet earth after two fantastic seasons!
We won an award! That's pretty cool huh?
We got the award for "Best Festival Newcomer" which is absolutely FABULOUS!
I'm so proud of all of you, and it means that we can now refer to Being Brown as an "award winning show" ...lmao...well, I will anyway.
I just want to say an enormous THANK YOU to all of you wonderful cast and crew members who made it all happen:
We have all had some wonderful feedback from both shows and it was awesome to be in a real theatre.

(The cast in the Green Room before going on for the final night)

BEING BROWN
The awards for bloopers have to go to me firstly for not putting the guitar on stage for the first show (thanks and sorry again Lauie, for making you do the first bit acapella), to Vau for that calf injury - twenty minutes before you got on stage and still gave a flawless performance.
Also the injuries that were sustained by Billy and Lauie that they ignored and got on with the show!
The award for "most entertaining surprise character" has to go to Pele for the Referee...wow. Didn't know you had it in you! and of course "best stage moment" has to go to Uini and Pele for the 'almost' kiss between Referee and Coach - thank goodness that doesn't happen in real life!
The "best tension between two characters" goes to Vau and Lauie, and "best legs-in-a-mini-skirt" goes to Billy and "best forgot-to-say-my-line-even-though-I-had-the-ball" goes of course to Tana...'some of us had better ball skills...'.

GOLDILOCKS
This was a huge hit as well and seemed to go down really well with the palagi audiences.
My huge and sincere thanks to our crew girls - Nats and Bayley who were awesome backstage and I personally don't know what I would have done without them - thanks my girls! Nats you're awesome.
Our worries about Frank and his tooth are relieved this week as he is out of hospital and re-cuperating well - you scared us for a while there Mama Pig!
Koro - you're a natural stud and were so well cast in that role, I'm really sorry that you had to hook up with two guys to get there though...lmao. I hope you're not psychologically scarred for life.
Fita - You make such a wonderful Aladdin! and your Angry Dwarf was a real crowd-pleaser. I think you had one of the biggest parts in the play and you pulled it off so well. Awesome to work with you!
Maia - i always love seeing you on stage because you get a whole new energy with a big crowd. and i loved the after-show film footage of Being Brown...such a film star!

To our steadfast supporters - Nat, Pete, Xaris, my Mum, and all of the Wesleyans past and present, staff and students who came - thank you.
To the Viscount staff who continue to believe in and support these young men - thank you.

My core group - another tremendous performance - the crowd loved you, the applause was deafening and my heart burst with pride...THANK YOU.

What's next you ask?
Well, we shall see...

Tons of love to you all,
Your (exhausted) director,
Em-Jay
xxx

P.S Lauie can you not be so Bloods in future photos? It's not a good look!

HEY! HEY! HEY!

2007-05-11T08:41:00.000+12:00

How cool is Comedy Fest!
For those of you who have yet to see Being Brown there are only two nights left.
Get in quick!
The Friars were on Tagata Pasifika last night, looking like the intelligent, culturally proud young people that they are, and in Sunday Magazine (thanks Pete!) over the weekend.
Fans and friends keep your eyes peeled and watch the Breakfast Show on TV One, because we shot for that the other day.
We're still waiting on the Manukau Courier article (Alisha? What happened?), but we're having a blast with Comedy Fest and Wednesday night the audience was laughing from "Ladies and Gentlemen...", what a cool crowd! If you came to the show on Wednesday, THANKYOU so much!
Gail, Reg and Gwen, thank you for coming and for your amazing positive feedback, was wonderful to see you!
Our biggest fans are currently Pete (2 nights) Maxine (2 nights) and Xaris takes the cake, having now attended all three shows so far.
Everyone is still loving it, energies are high, and Vau managed to get on stage and perform flawlessly last night even though he pulled his calf muscle twenty minutes before curtain! How professional!
Other 'professional' moments include Billy performing with neck strain and Lauie continuing acapella when we forgot to put the guitar on! (my bad, I'm so sorry Cuz!)
Anyway, if you haven't been to see the show GET THERE!
Cheers,
your faithful director,
Em-Jay
xxx

The Black Friars

2006-12-13T09:02:00.000+13:00

Who are we?

The Black Friars are a group of Polynesian young people from all areas of the pacific who have a talent for and a love of the performing arts and who have a particular affinity for maintaining the pacific performing arts.

We perform a wide range of theatre types from Shakespeare (one of our specialty areas), Greek Theatre, contemporary theatre, instrumental and vocal musical performance, musical composition, improvisation to contemporary and traditional Polynesian music and dance.

KEY GOALS:

1. To keep talented Polynesian young people from South Auckland off the street and on the stage.

2. To become an established and recognized identity in the screen and theatre world of New Zealand.

3. To upskill the members of the company, to encourage them to seek qualifications in their chosen field and to pursue further opportunities in the entertainment area.

4. To continue to perform, to entertain and to make people happy!

International Comedy Festival

2006-12-11T08:58:00.000+13:00

Coming up for the Friars are the two big shows:
Being Brown and Goldilocks.
Both should be good for a laugh and will have all of our key players (and a few new guys) in fine form.

BEING BROWN

Polynesian Mine, your children stand
Armed with language, love and land,
Your virtues strong uphold in me
In Aotearoa – my Destiny,
Poised on the edge and cusp of change
Old ways are lost and new are gained.
Still live in me, Pasifika Proud.
Here before you – Being Brown.

‘Being Brown’ is the story of four young Polynesian men who come together one night and reminisce on growing up in South Auckland. It addresses the real problems of an emerging generation without land and language, combined with the real life humour that is our Pacific People.
As a company of first generation New Zealand born Polynesians, the company has much ‘real life’ experience that has contributed to the script. Each has been stereotyped in some way, discriminated against, undervalued or disempowered. Each lives with the constant fear of failure, the intense parental expectation and the inherent joy that comes with being brown. ‘Being Brown’ is about confronting and combating widely held misconceptions and about living up to the expectations that we set for ourselves, and embracing the identity that we carve here in Aotearoa.
The performance involves seven performers and a wide range of music and dance including a Samoan fataupati and a sasa. All of the music, including instrumentals is generated, produced and performed by the people on the stage.
The Black Friars is a recently formed company with our key goal being to keep talented young Polynesians from South Auckland off the street and on the stage. Each unique Friars performance aims to combine the Pasifika performing arts with a modern approach to theatre. The Friars are musical, theatrical and they dance up a storm (in both contemporary and traditional forms!).
‘Being Brown’ is a vibrant and colourful story of growing up in South Auckland and many parts of it will ring true to any New Zealand audience.
It is a story of enduring loyalty, fighting stereotypes and friendship against the odds.
It is about the burden and the blessing of ‘Being Brown’.

GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE LITTLE PUAKA

GOLDILOCKS and the Three Little Puaka does for stage what Shrek did for animated films. It combines and distorts the traditional fairy tales you know and love to comic end. Beginning with the three little pigs whose Mum has inconveniently re-married, Goldilocks is a joyous romp through wonderland, peopled by the stuff of legend.
After Mum’s re-marriage, Tyrone - gangsta-pig, Andre - pimp-pig and Gilbert - geek-pig, are forced to find their own way in the big bad world.
Tyrone finds himself seduced by the beautiful and cunning Snow White, whose minions try to dissuade him and then turn dwarfishly vengeful; Andre - upon discovering that he is homeless – takes up breaking and entering with his new-found partner-in-crime; and Gilbert (as you will recall from the story) is the level-headed one and confines himself to digital-pimping in the cyber-world.
But! Where is the big bad wolf in this story?
Things are never as they seem in this fast-paced and hilarious tale and you’ll be laughing to the “hairs of your chinny-chin-chin”.

FOR BOOKINGS OR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL US ON blackfriars1844@gmail.com or ring Em-Jay on 021 103 0686

8th - 12th May - 7pm - Herald Theatre
BEING BROWN unedited

17th-19th May - 7pm - Herald Theatre
GOLDILOCKS and the THREE LITTLE PUAKA

Performance History

2006-12-11T00:07:00.002+13:00

2004

* APRIL - REGIONAL SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION – BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMER (JOHN SALANOA – ROMEO AND JULIET)
* MARCH -POLYNESIAN FESTIVAL – MEMBERS OF THE WINNING TONGAN PERFORMANCE GROUP
* SEPTEMBER - FILM/TELEVISION WORK – ST ANDREWS COLLEGE, CHRISTCHURCH
* SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER - BROADCASTING WORK – CHRISTCHURCH
* SEPTEMBER – CO-ORDINATION OF REGIONAL ‘ARTS FESTIVAL’ – VARIETY OF VOCAL AND PERFORMANCE WORK INCLUDING SOLO VOCALS, GREEK THEATRE, SHAKESPEARE, IMPROVISATION

2005

* MARCH – CULTURAL PERFORMANCES AT PASIFIKA FESTIVAL
* MARCH - POLYNESIAN FESTIVAL – MEMBERS OF THE WINNING TONGAN PERFORMANCE GROUP
* APRIL - REGIONAL SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION – REGIONAL WINNERS (VAU ATONIO & BILLY REVELL - OTHELLO)
* APRIL - REGIONAL SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION – BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMER (LAUIE SILA – AS YOU LIKE IT)
* JUNE - NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE REPRESENTATIVES (VAU ATONIO & BILLY REVELL – OTHELLO)
* AUGUST - GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE LITTLE PUAKA
* SEPTEMBER - NEW ZEALAND YOUNG SHAKESPEARE COMPANY (TO PERFORM AT THE GLOBE IN LONDON – BILLY REVELL & LAUIE SILA)
* SEPTEMBER - JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

2006

* MARCH - POLYNESIAN FESTIVAL – MEMBERS OF THE WINNING TONGAN PERFORMANCE GROUP
* MARCH – CHOREOGRAPHERS AND LEADERS OF SCHOOL SAMOAN GROUP FOR ASB BANK POLYNESIAN FESTIVAL (POLOMA IOSEFA & TANA AIONO)
* MARCH-NOVEMBER - UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND PASIFIKA MUSIC AND DANCE (VAU ATONIO)
* MARCH-OCTOBER – COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES – VOCALS (POLOMA IOSEFA, TANA AIONO, CATALINA KAMIRA)
* APRIL - REGIONAL SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION – REGIONAL WINNERS (ROMEO & JULIET)
* JUNE - NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE REPRESENTATIVES (PERFORMERS - TANA AIONO, CATALINA KAMIRA, POLOMA IOSEFA, UINI ATONIO, ROMEO & JULIET; DIRECTORS – MICHELLE JOHANSSON, VAU ATONIO)
* JUNE-JULY - ON STAGE AT SHAKESPEARE'S GLOBE, ENGLAND (BILLY REVELL - ANTONY IN ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA)
* SEPTEMBER – JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

2007
FEBRUARY - UNITEC ORIENTATION - Being Brown - The Black Friars
MARCH - PASIFIKA - Being Brown - The Black Friars
MARCH - AOTEAROHA - Being Brown - The Black Friars
MAY - INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL, HERALD THEATRE, AOTEA CENTRE - Being Brown - The Black Friars
MAY - INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL, HERALD THEATRE, AOTEA CENTRE - Goldilocks and the Three Little Puaka - The Black Friars
SEPTEMBER - MASSEY UNIVERSITY OPEN DAY - Shakespeare workshops
OCTOBER - DOCNZ Pitch to Summit Committee - winner 'The Art of Being Brown' by Janette Howe

2008
FEBRUARY - WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S OTHELLO - POLYNESIA The Black Friars, Fale Pasifika, University of Auckland
MARCH - PASIFIKA - Being Brown - The Black Friars
MAY - INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL, HERALD THEATRE, AOTEA CENTRE - Sione and The Beanstalker - The Black Friars
MAY - INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL, HERALD THEATRE, AOTEA CENTRE - Being Big - The Black Friars

The Black Friars are:

Vau Atonio
Michelle Johansson
Billy Revell
Lauie Sila
Uini Atonio
Misipele Tofilau
Tana Aiono
Samuela Tukuafu
Frank Tofa
Ratapu Iese
Heremaia Pene
Siaosi Latu
Irene Ongoongo
Vasa Tasele
Auvasa Kamu-Wright
Joseph Po
Chris Vagai
Xaris Tofilau
Tevita Lepolo
Kakile Leha

Friends of the Friars:
Molly Payne
Will Payne
Natalie Faitala
David Faitala
Peter Malcouronne
Whetuu Nathan
Mina Dickin
Vasiti Palavi
Des Hudson
Gwendoline Myocevich
Stephen Tema
Ane Sio-Tema
Janette Howe
Nia Phipps
Jan Honey
Sarah Paovale

Inaugural Meeting

2006-10-30T11:38:00.000+13:00

My many thanks to all those wonderful people who gathered last Thursday for our meeting.
My special thanks to Greg, Misipele and Vau who came in from the outside world bringing talent and enthusiasm.

We still need Emilia, Gratiano and a few others, so let us know if there are any other talented individuals that we need to target, recruit and audition for these roles.
Again, it was great to see you all, and I'll publish our minutes soon.
Make sure you learn your lines and we'll hopefully have the first read-through on Sunday 19th October in the afternoon... Need some feedback on this one. Bilz? Vau?
Will let you all know when we need you...
Much love and
KEEP WATCHING THIS SPACE!

2006-10-19T14:16:00.000+13:00

Billy's Crew on stage at The Globe, June 2006