Our Street
In August 2008 Prayas was invited by Auckland City Council to take part in a unique performance. We joined a kaleidoscope of Auckland ethnic groups to write and perform Our Street.
A culturally rich and diverse play – with more than just hints of song and dance – Our Street combined a multitude of modern performing arts including krumping, hip hop, film, Indian dance and a 33-piece Tongan brass band.
There were two plays within one where a North Indian and a Samoan family prepared for the weddings of their eldest girls. It was set in Auckland’s Wesley, Mount Albert and Mount Roskill suburbs.
The story followed two couples trying to make sure their mixed marriages go off without a hitch. Only an elusive caterer, a missing guitarist, a meddling aunty and one little secret stood in their way.
The Auckland City Council initiated Our Street and it was performed over four nights at Auckland Town Hall.
It won warm reviews and interested media coverage, but for the growing Indian community of Auckland, it opened up links with other ethnic groups.
Migrant Indians, for example, found themselves dancing to Samoan songs – and a bewildering array of other migrant groups found themselves tapping their feet to the rhythms of India.
Sananda Chatterjee wrote the Indian side of the story while Justine Simei-Barton was the Creative Director of Our Street.
Prayas Artists:
Ashwin Vasanth
Bhavnesh Soni
Tanya Ceoni
Gaurav Bradoo
Sudeepta Vyas
Divya Hariharan
Dilbagh Ashplani
Sanchita Vyas
