Birds

Overview

Coming to Mangere Arts Centre for four performances only Birds, written and directed by Dianna Fuemana, is the coming-of-age story of Tommy, a young Niuean boy growing up in Auckland’s Avondale hood-lands. He's mad about hip-hop dance, has a huge crush on the lead kapa haka girl at school and has convinced himself he can kung fu the bully terrorising the kids at the local park.

His mother Moka however, sees things differently. She wants Tommy to wake up in time for school, go to university and learn all things Niuean.  Exploring the bond between mother and son within a small community, Birds is an ode to teenage hoodlums and their longsuffering mums. 

Fuemana's previous work has received both local and international recognition. In 2010 Fuemana was the winner of the NZ International Festival of the Arts ‘Once Upon a Deadline' competition as well as being nominated for Outstanding Contribution to International Theatre in Los Angeles. This year she was chosen as the Script to Screen, Killer Films screenwriting intern in New York.