Niu Sila is an award-winning comedy from the bros of bro' Town, Oscar Kightley (bro' Town, Naked Samoans, Fresh Off the Boat) & Dave Armstrong (bro' Town, The Semisis, Spin Doctors, ATC's A Christmas Carol).

ATC's Education Unit takes the stars of Niu Sila, Dave Fane (bro' Town, Naked Samoans) and Damon Andrews (The Tribe, Wheeler's Luck)) on a workshop tour visiting several Auckland secondary schools with high numbers of Pacific Island students. Schools taking part include Otahuhu College, Southern Cross Campus, Rosehill College and McAuley High School.

Niu Sila is an award-winning comedy from the bros of bro' Town, Oscar Kightley (bro' Town, Naked Samoans, Fresh Off the Boat) & Dave Armstrong (bro' Town, The Semisis, Spin Doctors, ATC's A Christmas Carol).

ATC's Education Unit takes the stars of Niu Sila, Dave Fane (bro' Town, Naked Samoans) and Damon Andrews (The Tribe, Wheeler's Luck)) on a workshop tour visiting several Auckland secondary schools with high numbers of Pacific Island students. Schools taking part include Otahuhu College, Southern Cross Campus, Rosehill College and McAuley High School.

Lynne Cardy, ATC's Education & 2econd Unit Co-ordinator says "the workshops are designed to be interactive, high energy and dynamic. These sessions offer a unique opportunity for senior drama students to interact with professional actors and take part in drama activities linked to aspects of Niu Sila. Dave Fane and Damon Andrews will focus on storytelling, comedy and character based activities which I'm sure will be educational and fun."

The tour has backing from Dr Peter O'Connor - National Coordinator of Drama for the Ministry of Education and AIMHI (Achievement in Multi-cultural High Schools).

ATC Education Unit offers one-off workshops in schools, learning opportunities for teachers of drama and workshops linked to main bill productions. In 2003 ATC Education Unit designed and delivered a hugely successful workshop programme linked to Albert Wendt's The Songmaker's Chair that was offered free of charge to Auckland secondary schools with high numbers of Pacific Island students. Cont...
Funny and poignant, Niu Sila is about a friendship spanning over forty years, two cultures and one neighbourhood. In 1960s Ponsonby, six-year-old Ioane Tafioka - fresh off the boat from the Pacific - moves in next door to six-year-old Peter Burton. They begin an unlikely friendship that will change their lives.

Peopled with drunken uncles, crooked ministers, left-wing university professors and a no-nonsense Polynesian matriarch, this hilarious and thought-provoking story of friendship will delight and challenge anyone who has ever lived in New Zealand.

Directed by Conrad Newport, with Design by Brian King and Lighting Design by Lisa Maule, Niu Sila previews at the Maidment Theatre on Friday 4 March.

Note to Editors:-

School Matinees: Tuesday 15th & Thursday 17th March at 12 noon. Tickets $10
Teachers' Resource Pack is available to all schools that see the show
2econd Unit Night (youth night) at 6.30pm on Tuesday 8th March followed by a Forum with the cast.

Starring Dave Fane and Damon Andrews

Directed by Conrad Newport
Design by Brian King
Lighting by Lisa Maule
Music by Gareth Farr and Conrad Newport
By arrangement with Playmarket
In association with Downstage Theatre and AK05

Niu Sila Season: 4 - 19 March
Maidment Theatre
Performance Times:
Tuesday 6.30pm Wednesday - Saturday 8.00pm
Matinee Saturday 12 March 2.00pm
Sundays 4.00pm

Bookings: Maidment Box Office
Phone 09 308 2383 www.atc.co.nz