12 Questions
Borni Te Rongopai Tukiwaho uses theatre to empower people living with homelessness, mental health issues and HIV by sharing their stories Jennifer Dann
Street
Theatre Company is performing The as part of the Auckland Fringe festival. What’s it about? The play has been created in collaboration with five people who have all been homeless or used the Auckland City Mission services at one time. Three of them have performed with Hobson Street Theatre Company before. We give people the space to tell the story they want to tell. This group decided they wanted to explore the theme of race division. They feel it’s a timely issue that resonates for them. Discrimination is something they’ve all experienced. The play takes place in an adult te reo class and each cast member plays a character they’ve devised themselves.
it be a confronting play to watch? No. They’ve been careful to keep it fun and edgy. The aim is to create an interesting space to open up conversation. I mean, if you’re wearing a white sheet over your head it may be a bit confronting, but it will be an exciting experience for anyone who wants to engage with intelligent and articulate people away from the streets. Most of them are housed now so they have the opportunity to give back. There’s still a really strong perception that homeless people choose to live on the streets. you think
that’s the case? I have yet to meet someone who wants to be out in this weather. One person I worked with ended up on the streets for a couple of years because they had such anxiety with people they couldn’t hold down a job. That problem was solved by someone just taking the time to sit down and listen. Seeing that really made the situation tangible for me. I love working with the City Mission. They do amazing work. It feeds my soul and that’s all you can really ask for in a job. can
theatre help a person who is homeless? We provide a space where people who would normally be judged for their life are able to tell their stories in an authentic way. Putting that on stage is not just empowering for them but also for the people they’re engaging with. We can figure out what the conversations are and help change perceptions to be more positive.