Sun 19 Jan 2014 In: Performance View at Wayback View at NDHA
When Bruce Brown came up with The Legacy Project, he was losing sleep over whether he would get enough script submissions for it to be a success. He ended up with so many it was hard to choose, and is excited about the six which will be unveiled during Auckland Pride Festival. Last year the theatre writer asked the community for short works "that express both our unique Kiwi voices, and the experiences of lgbt people in New Zealand". More than 20 rolled in. "I had hoped, when we started seeking submissions, that we would have this sort of feedback and response from people, but I really had no idea it would become like this," Brown exclaims. "I was losing sleep that we would barely get, like, four submissions, so I was blown away with over 20 submissions in our first year." This of course made the process of choosing which scripts to take on hard. The quality was high and Brown says they could have developed any of them into something special. "We were really spoilt for choice and able to balance the perfect programme for the audience." Months on, he remains surprised and delighted at the originality of the scripts which were submitted. "There weren't any hackneyed stories that we've seen done to death before." The Legacy Project was inspired by last year's inaugural Auckland Pride Festival, particularly the play Black Faggot which was made up of a series of monologues about queer, Pacific, South Aucklanders. "It was just amazing. I felt like there was something which resounded with the public with that play. And that was why it sold out, because it was something quite heartfelt, with honest, brutally honest, stories. But Kiwi stories," Brown explains. He says Aucklanders are lucky and spoilt for choice with theatre, however when it comes to glbti plays too many come from overseas, or are from about 20 years ago. "Which has its relevance and has its place, but I'm much more interested in exploring stories of today, and stories which resound with the Kiwi public." Half of the stories which will be part of the first Legacy Project are from younger up-and-coming writers, including school leavers, people who have never written for theatre before, or are just starting out. "We've got a great younger perspective on things. And we've also got a nice balance of comedies and dramas - some quite intense drama, but also the comedy there to lighten it up for the audience as well." In all there are six 'bite-sized' plays, which are 10-15 minutes each, with more than 20 roles, each with its own actor. "If one story isn't particularly for one audience, there might be something else that is for them," Brown hopes. While it's been a busy few months for Brown and his helpers getting the Legacy Project refined and ready, he can't wait to get the pieces stage. "All these stories are really lacking now is an audience," he says. And you can be part of those audiences by buying your tickets for The Legacy Project here The Legacy Project runs from Tuesday 11 February to Saturday 15 February at Auckland's Basement Theatre. Show time is 7PM and tickets are $20 or $15 with concessions. Jacqui Stanford - 19th January 2014