Theatre collective Pacific Underground revisits Dawn Raids 40 years on, in the wake of the government's apology to the Pasifika community.
Their listing on the Auckland Theatre Company's website perfectly sets the scene for this hearfelt production:
"Central Auckland. 1973. Fuarosa sleeps with one eye on the front door, in fear of it bursting open. Sione struggles to keep the peace by day and croons Elvis love songs by night. Teresa turns to activism to channel her rage but only her mate Bene hears her. Steve is a policeman, turning his own people out of their homes – even though it turns his stomach. Mose supports the raids and scorns overstayers.
Join Sione and his band, the Noble Hawai’ian Sabretooth Tigers, as they welcome you to the Paradise Honeypot Club where everything is beautiful, until it isn’t."
Oscar Kightley’s production is said to blend both anger and frustration towards the goverment's racist policy with wit and warmth, as well as healthy sprinkling of Elvis.
The production will be kicking off on 16 August and the final show is on the 3rd of September at ASB Waterfront Theatre so make sure to get yourself along!
