Tag Archives: D F Mamea

May Fono

Boat Business, , , , , , , ,

Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula

Taloha ni

Welcome to a belated after-match report from Banana Boat’s May fono in Grey Lynn.

Present were GRANT BAYLEY, KAHURANGI CARTER, OLE MAIAVA, JONATHAN RILEY, ARNETTE ARAPAI and DAVID MAMEA.

Apologies were received from a Big Apple-devouring JENNI HEKA, a Wellington-swingin’ AROHA AWARAU, an ever-gigging JAMES NOKISE, a child-wrangling LEILANI UNASA, and a wish-I-was-there-but-I-am-writing GERALDINE WARREN.

My apologies if you were present but are not listed or gave apologies but are not listed – I have lost my notes, and my memory was never… something.  Email me and I shall make the corrections.

16Jun12:  My profuse apologies to the one, the only Ole for having forgotten his presence – an unexplainable mistake given how his reading of Jonathan‘s script had everyone in stitches.

BANANA BOAT BUSINESS

Enter the Banana‘s inaugural writers are Suli Moa and Rob Mokaraka.  Go hard, boys!  We look forward to your next reading at a future Banana Boat fono!

NEWS TO USE

Playmarket’s Brown Ink 2012 development programme is now open for applications – the deadline is Friday 1 June 2012.

COMING UP

GreyView Productions’ – that’s members Eric Smith & Chetan Patel – 3 Up  season opens on 14 June and runs for a mere three nights until 16 June.  3 Up is three short plays by Chetan, David Mamea and Eric, all at the Herald Theatre, all that quality for a mere $25/$15/$15.  Tickets can be bought online here.  Details about the evening are rampant on Facebook, GreyView, and Chocolate Stigmata.

SCRIPT READING

Jonathan shared his latest script with those assembled, the prolific so-and-so.  It was, as always with Mr Riley’s scribblings, a hoot to read and we look forward to it’s next stage of development… after his long-awaited Makigi has been staged.

18Jun12:  My further apologies for the typos and ambiguous phrases that made this post so confusing, second-rate and potentially upsetting to those present.  They have been fixed.

NEXT FONO

– will be on THURSDAY 28 JUNE, at Toi Ora Live Art Trust, 6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn.

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April Fono

Boat Business, , , , , , ,

Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula

Welcome to the after-match report from Banana Boat’s April fono in Grey Lynn.

Present were GRANT BAYLEY, AROHA AWARAU, ERIC SMITH, ARNETTE ARAPAI and DAVID MAMEA.

Apologies were received from a Mangere Arts Centre-ushering JENNI HEKA.

BANANA BOAT BUSINESS

David didn’t even have any gossip to share.  Shame.

NEWS TO USE

Playmarket’s Brown Ink 2012 development programme is now open for applications – the deadline is Friday 1 June 2012.

COMING UP

Massive Company‘s The Brave is playing at the Mangere Arts Centre until Sunday 29 April 2012.  Go.  Go now because it’s the main reason why these minutes are up now rather than months from today.

GreyView‘s 3Up opens in June – brace yourself for not one, not two, but three plays from three Banana Boat writers.  The season runs from Thursday 14 to Saturday 16 June 2012 at the Herald.  (There’s a public reading of the plays-in-progress in Ponsonby on Saturday 12 May – go here for more details.)

Aroha and Arnette did some stand-up at the Classic since the last fono.  They may do some more there in the near future so start haunting those open-mic nights now.

GreyView’s I Don’t Do Coconut will return in November.

SCRIPT READING

Grant shared the first few pages of an as-yet untitled new play that he’s working on, which sparked some lively talk about love and life.

Aroha shared the first few pages of his play, Luncheon, which was a tasty wee teaser (and Aroha has promised to share more at the next fono, WHICH HE BETTER).

NEXT FONO

– will be on THURSDAY 24 MAY, at Toi Ora Live Art Trust, 6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn.

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March Fono

Boat Business, , ,

Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou

Welcome to another belated after-match report from Banana Boat’s March fono in Grey Lynn.

Present were ARNETTE ARAPAI, AROHA AWARAU, DAVID MAMEA and LEILANI UNASA.

Apologies were received from a Wellington-bound JENNI HEKA, a passing-through-Whakamaru GRANT BAYLEY, an in-class(-and-writing) GERALDINE WARREN, ERIC SMITH, a Wellington-bound-also JAMES NOKISE, and a still-somewhere-on-the-Continent LOUISE TU’U.

BANANA BOAT BUSINESS

No matter Arnette and Aroha’s wiles, David refused to give any details with regard to the Enter the Banana programme.

NEWS TO USE

Update:  JONATHAN RILEY’s Makigi won Best Play by a Pasifika Playwright at the 2012 Adam Awards.

COMING UP

Massive Company’s The Brave opens in April.

GreyView’s 3Up is to open in June.

SCRIPT READING

After a brief staring competition, neither a script reading nor a writing exercise was foisted upon those present.

NEXT FONO

– will be on THURSDAY 26 APRIL, at Toi Ora Live Art Trust, 6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn.

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February Fono

Boat Business, ,

Tena koutou
Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana

Welcome to another belated after-match report from Banana Boat’s February fono in Grey Lynn.

Present were GRANT BAYLEY, JODHI HOANI and DAVID MAMEA.

Apologies were received from GERALDINE WARREN, LOUISE TU’U, ANOUSHKA KLAUS, and JENNI HEKA.

BANANA BOAT BUSINESS

David announced the Enter the Banana development stream.

David also announced the grand news that Banana Boat is a charitable trust.  He tried to answer some excellent questions on what that meant but suspects he achieved an epic fail.

NEWS TO USE

Louise Tu’u‘s Providence is back returned for a two-night-only season at The Edge.

Leilani Unasa‘s His Mother’s Son is showing played at the Mangere Art Centre.

COMING UP

A Banana Boat retreat is being organised for early 2012. Be careful what you wish for.

SCRIPT READING

Jodhi shared a beautiful short story she wrote prior to the Banana Boat retreat earlier in February.  We look forward to its return as a short film.

NEXT FONO

– will be on THURSDAY 22 MARCH at the Toi Ora Live Art Studio.

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TIMEWARP: November fono

Boat Business, Theatre, ,

Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei

Welcome to another belated after-match report from Banana Boat’s November fono in Grey Lynn.

Present were GRANT BAYLEY, GERALDINE WARREN, and DAVID MAMEA.

Apologies were received [BUT LOST IN THE MISTS OF TIME].

BANANA BOAT BUSINESS

Still waiting on those rumours of a development stream.

Beginning to wonder if the trust is a mirage.

NEWS TO USE

No news to use this month.

COMING UP

A Banana Boat retreat is being organised for early 2012. Be careful what you wish for.

SCRIPT READING

Geraldine provided a monologue which was very well received in its deceptive simplicity. Go Geraldine!

NEXT FONO

– will actually be an end-of-year thing on FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER, details to follow.

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TIMEWARP: October Fono

Boat Business, ,

Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu

Welcome to an belated after-match report from Banana Boat’s October fono in Grey Lynn.

Present were GRANT BAYLEY, VENUS STEPHENS, and DAVID MAMEA.

BANANA BOAT BUSINESS

Still waiting on that trust update!

Rumours of absent Banana Boaters’ plays being mounted but not being shared!

NEWS TO USE

No news to use this month.

COMING UP

A Banana Boat Newbies Workshop has been scheduled for 26 NOVEMBER 3 DECEMBER. Brace for impact.

SCRIPT READING

A script exercise was sprung on attendees.

NEXT FONO

– will be on THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2011, at the TOI ORA LIVE ART STUDIO, 6 PUTIKI STREET, GREY LYNN.

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September Fono

Boat Business, , ,

Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Talofa lava

Welcome to an astoundingly timely after-match report from Banana Boat’s September fono in Grey Lynn.

Present were GRANT BAYLEY, SEI KOSUGI, GERALDINE WARREN, and DAVID MAMEA.

Apologies were received from an otherwise-committed ANOUSHKA KLAUS, a South-bound LEILANI UNASA, and a whanau-fettered JENNI HEKA.

SEI KOSUGI —

— was welcomed to the fono in typical Banana Boat style. She is an associate professor who teaches Pacific Literature at Osaka University, Japan. Thanks for joining us tonight, Sei!

BANANA BOAT BUSINESS

DAVID reported on the progress of Banana Boat becoming a trust, and all the trusty-goodness this will offer its members.

There was also an announcement that the declining attendance numbers have not gone unnoticed but that the fono will continue onwards under the lone guidance of David, but with support from Leilani and Jenni. Speaking of Leilani and Jenni, they have stepped back from the monthly meetings due to ongoing commitments but are still Bananas par excellence – read further for what they’re working on.

There will be more to Banana Boat than the monthly fono: there will be something put in place for those members who are beyond the monthly hang-outs but still needing someTHING to get their projects to The Next Level. The Boat is here to help. Watch this space.

NEWS TO USE

No news to use this month.

COMING UP

A Banana Boat workshop has been scheduled for 26 NOVEMBER. Brace for impact.

SCRIPT READING

A script exercise was sprung on attendees: here’s a narrative of a couple’s typical day.

What a yawner.

Make it interesting!

NEXT FONO

– will be on THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER 2011, at the TOI ORA LIVE ART STUDIO, 6 PUTIKI STREET, GREY LYNN.

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August Fono

Boat Business, , ,

Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula
Taloha ni

Welcome to another late after-match report from Banana Boat’s August fono in Grey Lynn.

Present were GRANT BAYLEY, ANOUSHKA KLAUS, VENUS STEPHENS, and DAVID MAMEA.

Apologies were received from an Edinburgh-sited JAMES NOKISE, a whanau-swamped JENNI HEKA, an otherwise-committed GERALDINE WARREN, and a South-bound LEILANI UNASA.

BANANA BOAT BUSINESS

No Banana Boat business news this month.

NEWS TO USE

Playmarket writing clinics are to take place in Wellington and Christchurch in the near future – check the Playmarket website for more information.

There’s a women playwright’s conference in Sweden later in the year – the deadline for application is October. For more information, ask Leilani.

COMING UP

[Due to the lateness of this report, the events have come and gone – but they will always be in the memories of Those Who Were There.]

SCRIPT READING

A script exercise was sprung on attendees: here’s a scene from a well-loved Aotearoa TV-show – fix it!

NEXT FONO

– will be on THURSDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2011 at the Toi Ora Live Art Studio, 6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SEPTEMBER FONO IS IN GREY LYNN, *NOT* IN MANGERE.

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July Fono

Boat Business, , , ,

Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula

Welcome to the super-late after-match report from Banana Boat’s July fono in Mangere Town Centre.

Present were GRANT BAYLEY, MAUREEN FEPULEA’I, GERALDINE WARREN, LEILANI UNASA, and DAVID MAMEA.

Apologies were received from JAMES NOKISE, ERIC SMITH, and JENNI HEKA.

BANANA BOAT BUSINESS

No Banana Boat business news this month.

Although there is a demand (the noun, not the verb) for master classes in Auckland.

NEWS TO USE

Playmarket’s Brown Ink initiative is still considering the scripts to push to the next level.

Playmarket writing clinics are to take place in Wellington and Christchurch in the near future – check the Playmarket website for more information.

There’s a women playwright’s conference in Sweden later in the year – the deadline for application is October. For more information, ask Leilani.

Lo – there’s a Maori and Pasifika film writers support group that meets on Monday evenings, from 6pm to 8pm in Galatos Street (in a building, of course). For more details, contact Rob Williams via Leilani.

COMING UP

SHONA TARAI, JONNY SAGALA, VENUS and LEILANI are part of an exhibition at the Fresh Gallery in Otara opening in either late July or early August. Peel your eyes.

MAUREEN’s award-winning “E Ono Tama’i Pato” is having a reading tour!
– Goodman Fielder Room, Aotea Centre – 31 October @ 7pm;
– Corbans Estate Art Centre, Henderson – 1 November @ 7pm;
– Papakura Art Gallery, Papakura – 2 November @ 7pm;
– Te Papa Museum, Wellington – 3 November, time TBC.

Banana Boat has booked dates for some Christmas Cheer around late November to early December. Be afraid.

SCRIPT READING

DAVID dusted off a short script, having been inspired/reminded by Grant’s script reading last month. It needs a lot of work.

NEXT FONO

– will be on THURSDAY 18 AUGUST 2011 at the Toi Ora Live Art Studio, 6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn.

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June Fono

Boat Business, Theatre, , , , , , , , , ,

Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou

Welcome to the after-match report from Banana Boat’s June fono in Grey Lynn.

Present were GRANT BAYLEY, JENNI HEKA, SHONA TARAI, GERALDINE WARREN, LEILANI UNASA, and DAVID MAMEA.

Apologies were received from MAUREEN FEPULEA’I, CHRIS MOLLOY, JAMES NOKISE, ERIC SMITH, VENUS STEPHENS, and JASON TAOUMA.

Banana Boat Business

LEILANI was kind enough to take questions about Indigenous Theatre’s run of CHRIS MOLLOY’s The Last Taniwha.  Her answers were enlightening.

JENNI was also kind enough to do a Q&A on Hekama Creative’s run of MICHAEL REWIRI-THORSEN’s Strong Hands. Her openness was appreciated.

VENUS STEPHEN’s monologue in the Matariki Festival’s Maori Monologues had a number of favourable mentions.  Go Venus!

The next slew of Creative Clinics, Newbie Writers Workshop, and proposed Master Class are slated for the Southside Festival (previously the Manukau Festival) in September-October this year. Details will be advised closer to that time.

News to Use

The 2011 Survive + Thrive Forum is back, and on for one day only:  Thursday 14 July.  Book now or brace for disappointment.

Coming Up

LEILANI and JENNI are part of the Short + Sweet season.  There are unconfirmed rumours that CHRIS MOLLOY and JONATHAN RILEY are also involved.  Short + Sweet has been running since 5 July and runs this Saturday.  Mark Saturday 16 July in your diaries.  Go on.  Now.

Auckland Theatre Company’s Young & Hungry season runs from 23 July to 6 August.  Get inspired.  Git.

SHONA TARAI, JONNY SAGALA, VENUS and LEILANI are part of an exhibition at the Fresh Gallery in Otara opening in either late July or early August.  Peel your eyes.

Banana Boat has booked dates for some Christmas Cheer around late November to early December. Be afraid.

Script Reading

GRANT’s musical, “Earthquake Weather”, was read by those present, enjoyed, with feedback given to Grant for his consideration.  Thanks, Grant – we look forward to the next draft.

Next Fono

– will be on THURSDAY 28 JULY 2011 at the Mangere Arts Centre, corner of Orly Avenue and Bader Drive, Mangere Town Centre.

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