A local community faces an influx of sinister invaders: pigeons!

An anti-pigeon task force forms to deal with the avian scourge. But how should the committee combat these rats with wings?

It's up to the audience to decide in this interactive satirical comedy by new writer in Pōneke, Nadia Freeman.

Nadia Freeman is an Indo-Fijian and Pākehā theatre-maker, musician, poet and producer based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Across her work, she brings together poetry, music and storytelling to explore identity, family, belonging and social justice. Whether creating solo performance works, producing electronic music, or championing Asian artists through initiatives like the Eastern Sound Collective, Nadia's practice is deeply rooted in curiosity, connection and community.

Her acclaimed body of work includes Eat These Words, Another Universe and The Girmit, each blending personal narrative with wider cultural and historical themes. Through these works, Nadia has established herself as a distinctive voice in Aotearoa's creative landscape, crafting performances that are thoughtful, inventive and emotionally resonant.

For Fresh Off the Page, Nadia is stepping into new territory with Clay Pigeons—her first ensemble comedy. An interactive satirical play about a neighbourhood committee determined to rid their community of pigeons, the work uses humour to examine media bias, political polarisation and the stories that shape our understanding of the world.

In this interview, Nadia shares what inspired the play, what she's discovering through the collaborative development process, and why she believes storytelling has the power to influence how we see one another.

TICKETS ARE LIVE!
Sun 16 Aug, 7:00pm
Hannah Playhouse, Te Aro
$10 Tickets: click here!

Nadia performing in ‘The Girmit’. Photo: Blake Armstrong

Where do you draw inspiration for your project?

It is never the same.  Maybe I write a poem or I am researching something and I realise there is a story to be told. Or I’m feeling there is a need for wider discourse or attention on an important issue and want to explore this. But ultimately it’s always political. All of my work draws attention to issues that impact human rights.


Were there particular experiences, ideas, or tensions that inspired this piece?

I have been having a lot of conversations with people of different walks of life and realizing they were seeing the same story from different perspectives because of how our social media algorithms are shaped. This has led to strong polarization of views and extremely harmful prejudices between groups. It made me think about how the media has always been polarized and made me want to highlight how important it is to protect against bias in the media.  The truth told two different ways or even with different words and images can end up being a lie. 

Photo by Dani Hao-Aicken

Just like theatre. All forms of media e.g. TV, newspapers, facebook. They create stories that shape society's perceptions.  So if their stories distort what is true, the ultimate price of that is injustice.  Stories are everything. 

I was also intrigued by the newsletters my friend in Edinburgh was getting about a committee who were focussed on trying to prevent Seagulls coming into their wealthy neighborhood. I had stored that little nugget away for a play ‘one day’ and the two concepts of a ridiculous community committee election impacted by the polarization of the media surrounding their candidates came together.

What are you hoping to get out of your development reading?

This is the first time I am writing a comedy and a theatre piece with multiple characters. I am learning about what it is to understand the perspective, feelings and quirks of multiple people and how they respond to each other. I’m grateful to Jerome who is so quick at coming up with funny ideas and developing eccentric characters.

Fresh Off The Page has also helped make the writing process more of a team project than a solo one.  This makes it all much for fun and improves the quality of the writing.  By workshopping with Actors, a Director and Dramaturg you are working out at the same time as you are writing what works and what doesn’t. 

Nadia performing in the Eastern Sound Collective. Photo: The-Dominion-Post

What’s one thing you’d like to share about your writing process?

I’m learning, you just got to get writing.  The first draft might feel flat.  But you have to trust yourself and that with the help of the team you will breathe life into the world you are making. 

What’s one question you have about your own script or story at this point? Or a problem you’re trying to solve?

I just want it to be really funny.  The theme behind the story is serious.  But I want it to be a fun time for everyone as well. It is a balance of making the scenes meaningful, giving each character a purpose but also ensuring that there are plenty of laughs between.


Nadia is supported in this reading by dramaturg Lynda Chanwai-Earle, director Sameena Zehra and comedy consultant Jerome Chandrahasen. Clay Pigeons features performers Oliver Pol, Phoebe Caldeiro, Elliott Lam, Ralph Johnson, Ocean Manutulila and Jerome Chandrahasen.

TICKETS ARE LIVE!
Sun 16 Aug, 7:00pm
Hannah Playhouse, Te Aro
$10 Tickets: click here!