Welcome to the 26 February after-match report.

Present at the meeting were: Lee Aholima, Ben, Jenni Heka, Stacey Leilua, David Mamea, Chetan Patel, Jonathan Riley, Phoenix Seve, Eric Smith, Misa Tupou, Stan Wolfgramm.

Apologies were received from Ali Foa’i, Michelle Johansen, Ezekiel Kennedy and Zora.

Housekeeping The group can look forward to the following guest speakers this year, schedules permitting and stars aligning: Hone Kouka, Oscar Kightley, Albert Belz, and others.

2009-2010 Banana Boat Seasons

David Mamea did an awful job of pitching the following proposals to the group (just as well he has this after-match report to make sense with).

As noted in the January 2009 meeting, Jenni, David and Michelle Johannson drew up a two-year plan for the Banana Boat:
– the 2009 Banana Boat Jukebox Season where group members will write, develop and produce 10-minute plays to premiere in a revue-style show to premiere in November as part of the Manukau Festival;
– and the 2010 Banana Boat Season where the group can showcase full-length plays, but with development starting now.

The 2009 Banana Boat Jukebox Season:
– a revue of short plays by Banana Boat writers premiering in November 2009;
– each play must be ten minutes long; have a maximum of four actors; and contain 1 x banana, 1 x boat, and 1 x “Day-o”;
– each revue night will show between four and five short plays;
– the season will be over three or four nights, in November 2009;
– any writer who has attended at least one Banana Boat meeting can enter;
– all writers who enter will be required to pull together a production crew (producer, director, actors) who will turn their script into a play.

The timeline is as follows (more specific dates will be advised soon):
– February-September – entries open
– September – deadline for all scripts
– October – deadline for crews to be in place
– November – Banana Boat Jukebox season!

The 2010 Banana Boat Season
– a possible double-bill of full-length plays to premiere in late 2010;
– this will be the platform from which any/all members can premiere their long-form plays;
– development starts now.

The 2010 season is open to all Banana Boat members. An eighteen-month development period is envisaged where plays will go from first draft, through to workshops, dramaturgy, and readings, until production and premieres in late 2010.

The timeline is as follows (proper dates will be advised soon):
– February-May 2009 – entries open
– June 2009 – candidates for official development announced
– July 2009-July 2010 – workshops and development
– November 2010 – Banana Boat season!

A document detailing both seasons will be emailed out soon.

The script reading for February was kindly provided by Eric Smith. Two snap-shots of male-bonding and -dynamics, the group forced Eric to dig deep with his writing and characterisations. Props to Eric for sharing, and we look forward to the next draft!

The whip-’round – a new feature of Banana Boat meetings – was introduced with no consultation by David. It’s essentially a ‘whatchabinupto?’ for all in attendance. And it’s great to see that most everyone is writing.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 26 March at the Toi Ora Live Art Studio, 19 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn.

Scripts to be read at the February meeting should be emailed to David by end of day Thursday 19 March. Don’t forget: only a complete act for a full-length play, or complete one-act or short plays will be read by the group.