Produced by Lightwire Theatrical Productions in conjunction with Klare Kuolga

Below is an article detailing the process that Claire Meeres of Wunpela Music underwent during the production of 2 Pela Island with Lightwire Theatrical Productions. An interesting look at how a performance develops and grows.

2 Pela Island is the product of a collaborative effort of Lightwire Theatrical Productions and Wunpela Music. 2 Pela Island shines a light on the struggle of following your journey and finding a place of belonging. It identifies that people want to know who they are, where they are from.

Lightwire Theatrical Productions was approached by Claire Meere to guide her on this journey. Claire had a story to tell; a brilliant, colourful story. It just happened to be her life story. Claire was born in the highlands of New Guinea but was unable to stay with her New Guinean family when tragedy struck, the death of her mother. Her father, overwhelmed with the responsibility and wishing the best for his children offered an Australian couple the opportunity to adopt and raise them. Taken to live a life so culturally different from her own native culture Claire struggled… And then, as a young adult, she returned to find home no longer applied to her either. What follows is a journey that clearly defines for audiences that we are more than our cultural background. We are more than the colour of our skin.

After the initial discussions it became clear to director Tony Kishawi of Lightwire Theatrical Productions this was a project that he could bring his extensive experience and skill with mask, mime, puppetry, and production too.

The role of Lightwire Theatrical Productions is to assist and guide talented, creative people to reach their potential on stage of their choosing. Lightwire Theatrical Productions can co-ordinate as much or as little of the process as you require and is dedicated to seeing your production to completion.

Developing & Progressing…

The show’s concept developed as Claire and Tony refined ideas that were based around Claire’s book. The story was broken down into moments and charted emotionally and ultimately story boarded. This gave the project clarity. This focus enabled 2 Pela Island to get past the stage where some productions stall at the starting gate.

The use of mask, song, audience participation where combined with three languages to build the show; English, Melanesian Pidgin English and Temboka (Indigenous Language - Nebilyer Valley).The audience displays a wonderful sense of intuition interpreting the masks, the movements and the songs. The story lives, grows and progresses and the language in which it is delivered seems not to matter.

Bring in the VISUAL ARTISTS…

The next stage of the process required the co-ordination and welcoming of the visual artists. This began the show’s energetic and spiritual process. Claire found that there was a creativity and energy that came through that trust and the honesty of this process. She says ‘I had to surrender to the process. I knew I had to allow the process to continue to grow and change’.

A Gifted Find…

Alicia Murphy of Lightwire Theatrical Productions was bought on to assist Tony with the creation of the masks. Soon her obvious creative talents were displayed in the form of visually stunning masks and she was head of the project. The end result was a great success, the masks were striking; they attracted a lot of attention. Creativity was applied to the traditional New Guinean mask. They were made to be relevant and progressive.

A Small Hitch…

The vision for the set was becoming a difficult thing to bring into reality. Every door that had previously been open was now closed. The concept of having a Papua New Guinea artist was replaced with the possibility of having a local artist to create the backdrops. Klare remarks at how quickly it all occurred after that ‘bang, bang, bang, it all fell into place, we had Sandra Chilly we had our artist’. Sandra went on to create a marvelous storybook of paintings that represented critical moments throughout the story. The relationship between mother and daughter, the family and tribal connections, the footprints of two islands and a new work sprang forth from this process, it was about unity.

When the artists were bought together they looked like they had been doing it for years. Sandra was heard to say the experience ‘was like coming home’. What a great moment for 2 Pela Island, Lightwire Theatrical Productions and Claire who were so dedicated to demonstrating unity, honesty and connection. If the artists couldn't come together there would be no reality on stage.

The Wonderful (& Mysterious) Alfie…

It was soon identified that the show needed a helping hand; a hidden puppeteer to transform the young audience members via the application of the masks. Dressed all in black Alfie would become the hidden controller who ensure the masks were carefully and lovingly applied and removed. Now, everything was completed. Every angle covered. It was time for the show.

The Show must go on… & it did.

The first show of 2 Pela Island was performed to a primary school audience in October 2008. It respectfully and beautifully created an opening; a sacred space for the arts and gave children an opportunity to experience creativity, art and performing. Throughout the show, the simplicity of song incorporates the audience leaving them to create the scene, to imagine and believe and to take it where it needs to go. Audiences love to be a part of the experience. It’s clear that they are essential to the process and the magic of the show.

A resounding success the show than continued on to a number school shows and is looking toward runs in the United States, Papua New Guinea and a town near you!