A Boy Called Piano
A BOY CALLED PIANO
Auckland 1963, three eleven-year-old boys meet in family court. Two Māori and one Samoan: Wheels, Piwi and a boy called Piano. Made wards of state, they are taken to Owairaka Boys home. There begins a story into the heart of darkness, abuse and pain but also the remarkable resilience of the boys as they seek to survive through the power of friendship, culture, music and the light of the human spirit.
Written by Fa’amoana John Luafutu, himself a survivor of state care in the 60s, and performed by Fa’amoana, his son Matthias and two of his grandsons, A Boy Called Piano is a unique opportunity to hear this story live and direct from those who lived it. Building on The Conch’s kaupapa of harnessing the power of drama as a force for social change, this work gives a voice to the thousands of Māori and Pacific children made wards of state.
Internationally acclaimed director Nina Nawalowalo ONZM leads an 8-strong cast for this audio recording made up of three generations of the Luafutu family to tell Fa’amoana John Luafutu’s story.
Photo: Micah Luafutu
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A Boy Called Piano by Fa'amoana John Luafutu and Tom McCrory
2 May 2021WARNING - listener discretion advised This drama deals with sexual and physical abuse including child abuse and contains language which may not be suitable for all listeners. Adult supervision is… Audio
CREDITS
Written by: Fa’amoana John Luafutu & Tom McCrory
Directed by: Nina Nawalowalo
Music composed & performed by: Mark Vanilau
Produced by: PANNZ & RNZ in partnership with The Conch & Katherine Wyeth
Supported by Creative New Zealand
Developed in partnership with Auckland Live
CAST: Fa’amoana John Luafutu, Matthias Luafutu, Tane Luafutu, Aaron McGregor, Micah Luafutu, Nina Nawalowalo, Tupe Lualua & Tom McCrory
Recording & studio engineering for RNZ by: Marc Chesterman
Supervising producer for RNZ: Adam Macaulay
The play was first seen at BATS Theatre Wellington in 2019, where it was met with critical acclaim and nightly standing ovations.
The play was set to tour the country when covid struck. So, The Conch pivoted and seized the opportunity to tell the story in audio form, partnering with PANNZ & RNZ to create this audio drama.