Wellington Archives - Performing Arts Network New Zealand

A traveller arrives at a border with a stack of battered cases. From within them, whole worlds will emerge…

“A masterful weaving of stories… Crafty as all hell” -Art Murmurs, Wellington

Suitcase Show is an eclectic box set of short stories. Dark, spiky, and comic, each one is told out of a suitcase. The staging is inventive, from lo-fi shadowplay to wireless projection, from dancing disembodied hands to narratives that crackle from a 70s stereo suitcase. Tiny in scale, but expansive in story, it touches on climate change, love and death, travel, and secrets that we carry with us – an overthrown autocrat finds themselves on the run from their own shadow, an astronaut turns their telescope back on earth and back in time. The work was developed through a series of showings in unusual site-specific spaces, from a pub to a photography darkroom.

Trick of the Light is renowned for crafting inventive shows and intricate narratives. Suitcase Show reunites multi-award-winning collaborators Hannah Smith, Ralph McCubbin Howell, Tane Upjohn-Beatson, and Filament 11 Eleven.

“Weaves a bright, dark magic.” ★★★★ —The Scotsman, UK

Director - Hannah Smith
Writer - Ralph McCubbin Howell
Performers - Ralph McCubbin Howell, Hannah Smith, with Anya-Tate Manning and Richard Falkner
Sound Design and Composition - Tane Upjohn Beatson with additional composition by Robyn Bryant
Lyrics by - Ralph McCubbin Howell
Production and Technical Design collaborators - Brad Gledhill & Rachel Marlow (Filament Eleven 11)
Videography - Dean Hewison
Craft & Prop Design - Hannah Smith, Ralph McCubbin-Howell, Rebekah de Roo, Romina Menses and Emory Otto
Poster Design - William Duignan

Produced by Trick of the Light Theatre and presented as part of the PANNZ (Performing Arts Network New Zealand) touring programme.

Running time: 55 minutes

This is an adult work but is suitable for audiences aged 12 and up. Contains haze, flashing lights, references to death and depictions of violence.

The Conch's A Boy Called Piano will be presented across Aotearoa in October 2022 as part of PANNZ's touring programme, Tour-Makers. Tour dates and tickets are available further below. For more information about A Boy Called Piano please visit the The Conch's website.

Writers: Fa’amoana John Luafutu & Tom McCrory
Director: Nina Nawalowalo
Producer: Katherine Wyeth
Executive Producer: Tom McCrory
Composer: Mark Vanilau
Starring: Fa’amoana John Luafutu, Matthias Luafutu, Aaron McGregor, Rob Ringiao-Lloyd, Ole Maiava
Visual Design: Rowan Pierce
Lighting Design: Hāmi Hawkins
Technical Manager: Mike Ainsworth
Technical Operator: Bekky Boyce

Featuring sound design elements and video footage from The Conch documentary film: A Boy Called Piano - The Story of Fa’amoana John Luafutu - Directed by Nina Nawalowalo, Produced by Katherine Wyeth, Executive Producer: Tom McCrory, Composer: Mark Vanilau, Edited by Lala Rolls, Cinematography by Jess Charlton, Sound Design by Mike Gibson, Featuring: Fa’amoana John Luafutu, Matthias Luafutu, Tāne Luafutu, Micah Luafutu, Aaron McGregor, Tupe Lualua

Auckland 1963. Three eleven year old boys meet in a cell in the Family Court. Two Māori and one Samoan: Wheels, Piwi, and a boy called Piano. Made wards of state, they are taken to Ōwairaka Boys’ Home. There begins a story of darkness, abuse and pain, but also resilience as the boys seek to survive through the power of friendship, culture, music and the human spirit.

Growing from the award-winning collaboration of The White Guitar’s creative team, Pacific NZ theatre company The Conch is proud to walk beside Fa’amoana John Luafutu and the Luafutu Aiga as they courageously bring the true story of Fa’amoana’s experience - alongside thousands of Māori and Pasifika children - into the light.

Written by Fa’amoana John Luafutu and Tom McCrory, and directed by Nina Nawalowalo, A Boy Called Piano builds on The Conch’s kaupapa of harnessing the power of theatre as a force for social change. Combining physical storytelling, breathtaking visual design, and elements from The Conch documentary film A Boy Called Piano - The Story of Fa’amoana John Luafutu (NZIFF 2022 and winner 2022 Montreal Independent Film Festival), the play stars Fa’amoana alongside his son Matthias Luafutu, Aaron McGregor, Rob Ringiao-Lloyd and the renowned Ole Maiava, plus a stunning score performed live by Aotearoa music legend Mark Vanilau.

A Boy Called Piano was first produced at BATS Theatre, Wellington on 04 October 2022
Developed in partnership with Auckland Live

*No Interval. Lockout applies. Content warning: offensive language, contains themes relating to abuse and suicide.