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Black Faggot, a play by Victor Rodger, was the toast of last year’s Auckland Fringe and has since played to full houses at the Melbourne Fringe and now the NZ Festival before returning to its home town, Auckland.  Renee Liang asks Victor about the play and its impact.

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Black Faggot is meant to make audiences flinch. Written by Victor Rodger in response to public events surrounding the Civil Union Bill, the play is a series of hilarious and poignant monologues from characters played by Iaheto Ah Hi and Taofia Pelesasa.  Rodger, of Samoan descent, takes a hard look at the reality of life as a Pasifika LGBT person (homosexuality is illegal in Pacific Island nations and communities are often affected by their deeply religious backgrounds).

The play cleaned up at the Auckland Fringe Awards and at the Melbourne Fringe Festival won awards for Innovation in Theatre and Innovation in Cultural Diversity. Victor Rodger also received the 2013 Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards Contemporary Artist Award.

What's the coolest thing about being a playwright?

The coolest thing about being a playwright is sitting with an audience and hearing them respond to your work.

What inspired you to write Black Faggot?

I was inspired to write Black Faggot after the Destiny Church Enough is Enough marches against the civil union bill (amongst other things).  There were lots of fathers and sons on the marches, and I knew at least one of those kids would be gay and probably grow up feeling wretched about themselves so Black Faggot started as a response to that.  I was also inspired by Toa Fraser's play Bare.

Is it different to your other plays?

Compared to my other plays, Black Faggot is stripped right back: just two actors - with no props or costume changes - playing multiple roles (which was, again, inspired by Bare).

Did you have to do much research?

Not really.  I just thought about the different characters and scenarios I wanted to explore.  The director Roy Ward really helped give the play a structure that didn't exist when we began rehearsals.

Did you write it with the two actors (Iaheto Ah Hi and Taofia Pelesasa)) in mind?

Funnily enough, the actor I thought about the most when I wrote this was (actor) Madeleine Sami.  Years ago when Black Faggot was in its infancy I got Madeleine to read a few of the monologues and she absolutely nailed them.

Do plays change the world?

I think plays can help change the way people see the world, definitely, so, yes, I guess plays can change the world.

• Black Faggot is at the NZ Festival in Wellington from 25 February to 1 March and in Auckland from 4-8 March.