Pre-show information for the Sensory Relaxed Performance of The Girmit
Here you will find a description of what to expect when attending The Girmit and details of sensory aspects of the show. Please be aware that it also includes descriptions (spoilers) about the show’s story and content.
Descriptive notes detailing visual aspects of the show can be found here.
Show Information
Performers:
- Lead role, musician and singer: Nadia Freeman
- Mr Arakati (Sales Representative): Michael McKeon
- Drummer and backing vocals: Harshaa Prasad
The Girmit shares the history of indentured labour in Fiji. These people were called the Girmityas.
The show will begin with a pre-recorded Karakia.
Mr Arakati will then enter the stage in character as a salesman. He will point out areas people can go to if they need to leave the performance area or use the bathroom. After the introduction, he will begin the show with a sales pitch, in which he will try to persuade the audience to sign up to work for Destination Plantation, a company that provides employment on sugar farms in Fiji.
After Mr Arakati leaves the stage, Nadia and Harshaa will enter the stage. Nadia will stand behind her synthesisers centre stage, and Harshaa will sit on the floor behind her Tablas (two small Indian hand drums).
The audience will hear pre-recorded narrations by four Fijian Indian actors. The narrators each provide examples of how the recruiters in India convinced them to sign up to work on plantations in Fiji. These types of narrations will be interspersed throughout the show. After each set of narrations, Nadia will perform a song or poem using electronic instruments and sometimes using objects that she uses to build a soundscape. The sounds she makes with objects will be looped, have effects applied, and become part of the music. Harshaa will sometimes accompany the music with drumming and backup singing.
The story goes over the 56-day journey by boat, the Girmitya’s arrival to Fiji, the hardships they face on the plantations, why many ended up staying in Fiji and the impact their lives had on future generations. Between songs, Nadia places sugar bags on the stage, forming the shape of a rectangle that is 3 metres by 2 metres. This rectangle is the footprint of the lodgings that a family had to live in.
Event details
Location: Pātaka Art+Museum, 17 Parumoana Street, Porirua City Centre, Porirua 5022.
The performance will be in the Atrium of Pātaka Art+Museum. Someone will take your tickets at the main entrance and direct you to walk straight ahead to the seating area where the performance will be held.
The space is wheelchair accessible. There is a manual wheelchair available for use while visiting Pātaka. You can ask at reception on arrival to use it or call ahead on (04)237 1511 to have one waiting for you when you arrive.
Transport: Parking is available for up to three hours when you visit Pātaka Art + Museum. There are eight mobility spaces – please display your mobility pass at all times.
Spaces can be limited and there might not be enough parks for everyone. You’ll find free kerbside parking a few minutes away on Heriot Drive, Wi Neera Drive and Norrie Street.
Porirua train station is only a five-minute walk away.
Time: The doors will open at 6.40pm. The performance will start at 7pm. The performance is about 45 minutes with an open discussion and questions afterwards until 8pm.
Please arrive before 7pm. There is no lockout policy, which means you can enter after the show starts. If you arrive late, please enter as quietly as you can.
Touch Tour
A touch tour will be conducted at 6.30pm. During the tour, a member of the crew will guide blind and low vision audience members who would like to feel the instruments and props used for sound sampling.
Please pre-book for the touch tour by emailing Nadia at iammissleading@gmail.com by 12pm on 28 February 2025.
Relaxed show features
Mr Arakati will introduce the show and provide information on areas of the building you can go to if you need to leave the performance area. If people need to leave the performance area or to use comfort and fidget items, they will be able to do so. But as Nadia sometimes has difficulty with concentration, she asks that you try to do so as quietly as you can.
Throughout the show Nadia, will explain the electronic instruments she is using and how she is using them.
If you need to use devices for accessibility, please put them on silent.
Lighting
There is only natural light and room lighting during this performance, and no stage lights are used. There is an exhibition piece next to the performance area that has moving projected animations on it. These are slow-moving and soft in colour.
Sound
Before the show starts, music will play softly as the audience members find their seats.
During the show, there will be pre-recorded narrations and music that will be played through a small PA. The music will have some low-level bass sound and live drumming on the tabla (small hand drum).
Before the second song, Nadia blows a conch shell, which has a loud horn sound. She will talk about the conch shell and hold it up in full view before blowing it.
Audience Interaction
During the first 10 minutes of the performance, Mr Arakati will ask questions of the audience. You will not be singled out, and you do not have to answer the questions.
After the performance, Nadia will invite people to stay if they want to for discussion and questions, those who do not want to stay are welcome to leave at this point
Triggers
The theme of the show and the art piece displayed is about slavery.
The show does not go into great detail on human rights abuse, but some of the narrations and lyrics in the songs depict and indicate the working conditions the indentured workers went through e.g. with lyrics like ‘we were given a metal collar to wear’ and ‘whips assert blood and dirt’.
If you feel affected by the content of the show, the following website provides a list of contact details for a range of support and mental health services. https://mentalhealth.org.nz/helplines
Want to know more?
If you would like to know more about this performance before the event, please contact Nadia on iammissleading@gmail.com before 27 February 2025.
Miss Leading Productions 