Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School is pleased to announce its upcoming graduation production, 'Fucking A' by Suzan-Lori Parks. This powerful and thought-provoking play will open on Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024 at 7.30pm, with performances running until Sunday, October 27th, 2024.

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'Fucking A' is an otherworldly tale of a desperate mother's quest to free her beloved son from prison. In a town where women can be owned like chattels, and hungry children can be imprisoned for stealing a piece of meat, desperation and despair turns into rage and violence in the blink of an eye, and even the most wounded animal can become the most feared predator. In this wild-eyed blend of story and song, Suzan-Lori Parks' searing riff on Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter demands the audience to watch, to not look away, and to ask themselves the question: what hand do we play in the making of monsters?

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Directed by Keagan Carr Fransch, a proud Toi Whakaari graduate, this production will push creative boundaries while offering a rich opportunity for the graduating students. Keagan expresses her enthusiasm for directing this vital piece: “Suzan-Lori Parks has written a searing work about what it costs to survive in a world that is devoid of genuine respect for women and compassion for the poor. 

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“Though she wrote this over 20 years ago and has set it in a fictional town at a relatively small scale, these are undeniable features of our current world at large; around the globe we're seeing the cost of misogyny and greed both interpersonally and in governmental policy making - the loss and loneliness is difficult to fathom. Despite its age this play remains immediate and as a director I am passionate about telling stories that have a relevance to the very audience that watches them being told.”

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Dr. Sean Coyle, Poukōkiri Mātauranga, Director Academic, emphasises the significance of this play as a standout choice for the 2024 graduation production.

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“Fucking A is a challenging and important piece of writing. Park’s writing tackles dark and contemporary themes like gender oppression, morality and classism. As a piece of theatre it has a wonderful scope for exploring innovative design with complex characters and a strong female protagonist. The themes of the play seem particularly relevant today, especially when we look to the ongoing push back against human rights happening globally.”

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The Toi Whakaari graduation production of 'Fucking A' promises to be a powerful theatrical experience that challenges and engages audiences. 

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Performance Dates & Times:

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Tuesday, October 22nd, 7.30pm (Opening Night)

Wednesday, October 23rd, 7.30pm

Thursday, October 24th, 7.30pm

Friday, October 25th, 7.30pm

Saturday, October 26th, 7.30pm

Sunday, October 27th, 2.00pm (Matinee, Closing Night)

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Venue:

Te Whaea Theatre, 11 Hutchison Rd, Newtown, Wellington

Wheelchair accessibility available

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Ticket Prices:

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$10 Concession (students, seniors)

$15 Full Price

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Bookings: Tickets are available via the Toi Whakaari website or directly through Eventbrite

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Runtime: Approximately 90 minutes (no interval)

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Content Warnings: Strong language, violence, blood, imitation weapons, imitation blood, brief depiction of sexual assault, discussions of abortion, brief suicidal ideation.

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A Tertiary Production of 'Fucking A' by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc and The Play Bureau.

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