I fell. It was the last day of a big moment here in Aotearoa New Zealand. We’d arrived in Auckland on the Tuesday, the screening of Mycelial was on the Wednesday, Thursday we visited the Aotearoa New Zealand Sex Workers Collective, and Friday was the bringing together of an international panel, those that have been on the tour in Ireland, England and here (Aotearoa). We were honoured to be joined by Annah Pickering and Dame Catherine Healy. The panel was a zoom, with prepared themes and issues to raise. We had learnt during the tour the importance of space after the screening, audiences needing more information and space to breath out, think, feel and reflect.
The panel was at first awkward, maybe as we all leaned in – its zoom, you speak to yourself on camera, you see others in boxes and only hear your voice. But then we settled and it was full of passion, clarity, warmth and empathy; those sex workers activists, their peers and the very real challenge of the Nordic Model. The consequences of legislation that harms sex workers – the thinking and introduction not led by sex workers themselves who know what would work best to make sex workers safe, that’s the decriminalisation of sex work, as it is here in Aotearoa.
It had been a good week, successful, the show and its impact palpable. We were at the Covert Theatre, the running order went like this…
11:55am: Welcome – Annah Pickering
Blessing/Mihi Whakatau – Matura Bobby
Support waiata – Matrua Charles and Matua Lance
Waiata: Nga Whakamoemiti
12:00 pm: Film starts
13:00 pm Q & A starts
13:55pm Closing – Matua Bobby
Support waiata – Matua Charles and Matua Lance
Waiata: Hutia te rito
14:00 pm: Drinks in foyer.
Mix n Mingle till 14:20
14:20 Move onto Ponsonby International Foodcourt: 106 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby Road
My wife and I felt emotional watching the screening. We had been on a road trip, visited Waitangi Treaty Ground where the treaty was signed, travelled to the Far North and the Te Rerenga Wairua, a place Erana (the character created by the collective) talks about visiting in her dreams – we felt the fullness of the moon and her gravity. Our feet and lens in the Southern Hemisphere. It felt so epic and I felt so proud of Open Clasp, the co-creators who took a leap of faith back in 2020, with workshops online during a pandemic. It was a huge production for us to create, and in that moment I felt emotional as I joined the panel.
I met our final co-creator with the collective, and she talked about how she could relate to the story, and white privilege, the workshops and how amazing the production was. Catherine recounted the email I’d sent in early 2020, before the pandemic (an introduction made via Professor Maggie O’Neill via Professor Gillian Abel here in Wellington, Aotearoa.) Catherine talked about how many people want to make plays about sex workers, and she thought ‘who is this woman’. But Catherine introduced me to the co-creators and we met them from August to November 2020, eight workshops online, our start time 6am, there’s at the end of their working day, our sun rose and theirs set, and we had no idea if we would ever get a production made…but we did.
We awarded Annah a Gold Star as she, like others in this project, had gone the extra mile – always checking in, giving clarity and championing the voices of indigenous sex workers – Annah also went the extra mile in the lockdowns, the story of Erana going out at night and supporting sex workers working the streets, was based on Annah. I also announced that I had asked Dame Catherine to be our Patron and she accepted. Catherine, along with other Gold Stars on this project will ensure the reach of Mycelial for generations to come.
The audience included those from the Ministry/Social Services, Community Banks and Missions, as well as those from the Collectives here and on the South Island. We give out evaluation forms and they’re all filled in:
‘Thought provoking and instrument of change’
‘Deeply moving, I took my thoughts and emotions to places I wasn’t expecting. I will be thinking and reflecting and talking about this performance into the future’
‘How lucky are we in New Zealand to have the freedom we have’
‘The same fire burns within people from places of oppression to find unity within community and that through activism, education, open conversations, humility, perseverance, acceptance and refuge can be a place for all. Freedom exists and is achievable when everyone works together for the greater good of all, (which is the true manifestation of who God really is and what he desires for all peoples)’
‘The embedded nature of the struggle and how it echoes throughout the topics and themes was really awakening, particularly as it was so well voiced and nuanced, timeless and at the same time very telling of the moment it was set, which was a great ‘stuck’ moment, both society, economy and policy. I hope very much this show helps combat the reversal we are feeling globally.’
‘I really enjoyed the film – such an incredible weaving of narratives of sex workers across the ‘continuum’ – this performance did a beautiful job of ‘showing’ (not telling’, allowing the audience to do our own interpretation of the aspects of the stories told. I live in Canada and would love to see this film shared with a North American audience. Bravo’
‘I loved the intertweaved themes: priviledge, capitalism, violence, activism, sisterhood, borders/walls, queer experiences, beautiful poetry’
We step out into the light; as we walk the conversations are full of praise and an ask for it to reach throughout the Pacific island and more. At the food hall we sit round a large pulled together table and have lunch. We talked about wars, grandchildren, the protest marching to Parliament, the Māori people and the Principles Bill.
We say our goodbyes and walk to Kay Road, again its in the storytelling but I’ve never been there. It’s wide and not what I imagined, it gentrified and at the same time volatile and rough maybe. The day after we visit the Collective, Annah is generous with her time and we relax, chat and arrange to meet on Saturday – we will visit Davenport, and island full of beauty and places to sit, eat and chat.
On Friday it’s the panel, and I’m so relieved it went well. I hadn’t slept much with timezones and worry about downloading zoom. It was great to see the Open Clasp team, Carly and Ellie. I switched off and we boarded a boat to the recommended island of Waiheke. Its sand beautiful, beaches and water I have never seen. I swim in the empty sea/ocean and my wife and I walk, talk and breathe out.
We’re on a Hop on and Hop off bus, little did I know I would be hoping on with a gash to my leg, ambulances and paramedics. I fell, on gravel and rocks, the cut a laceration. In hospital there’s talk of operations but thankfully my knee bone wasn’t fractures, so the sutures me up, pull the wide hole closed and we get home at 1.45am. The Airbnb dark and we eat toast, drink tea and sleep.
It’s the last few days here in Aotearoa and I’m on bed rest, keeping my knee straight and supporting the knit and mend. We start our journey home on Thursday, home by Friday. This journey has been epic, each day feels like a week and I’m extremely grateful to have had this opportunity. To be able to have my feet in the Southern Hemisphere, a lens that has given me new insights, learning and knowledge. My heart is full and my leg will heal.
Catrina
