'Strictly Brown' Aims To Bring The Heat With 'Pring It On'
In the heart of South Auckland, a new theatrical force is emerging, ready to redefine the narrative of Pasifika performing arts.
Enter ‘Strictly Brown,’ co-founded by Leki Jackson-Bourke and Saale Ilaua. The pair, both former teachers of Marcellin College, decided to ditch their full-time teaching jobs and go on a creative journey to educate, empower, and entertain Pasifika youth through performing arts.
Their debut production, "Pring It On," a parody of the modern classic American cheerleading film "Bring It On," is set against the backdrop of Polyfest, known to be world’s largest Secondary School’s Pasifika Cultural Festival.
The story unfolds at "South Auckland Grammar School," offering a dra-medy exploring identity, cultural clashes, teenage love, and the quest for authenticity.
The founders of Strictly Brown, Leki and Saale, are not new faces in the artistic realm.
Leki Jackson-Bourke (Niuean / Tongan / Samoan), a multi-disciplinary artist and graduate of the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts, is the playwright of "Pring It On."
Saale Ilaua (Tongan / Samoan) a graduate of the Unitec School of Screen and Performing Arts, is an aspiring producer/director with stage performances including "Angels Reborn" and "Alatini."
According to Leki, the name was divinely inspired. "It was from God. Last year we prayed on it, and God revealed this name to us. It’s an homage to our friends, families, kind of an ode to them. But what we're trying to achieve is to make brown work from a brown lens."
Leaving their full-time teaching jobs to pursue Strictly Brown was a leap of faith. Saale explained, "We hit a rut in our careers as teachers and really wanted to do something that would satisfy this creative itch that we had."
Leki, who comes from a background of freelancing and diverse projects, emphasised the desire to break free from the restrictions of the classroom.
Now, as they prepare for the world premiere of "Pring It On" at the Māngere Arts Centre, the process has been a whirlwind. They compared it to a pressure cooker, stating, "We literally couldn't afford to do a longer process. We're accommodating everyone's schedules, including our own; we’re limited by the resources."
But what sets Strictly Brown apart? According to Saale, the focus is on using their teaching experience to engage with the younger generation. "There's a need for companies that can do performing arts or theatre shows and take them around to a lot of schools... There’s a focus on strengthening cultural identity, strengthening language."
Leki added a unique perspective, explaining, "We’re both male. Every other company has a female or is run by girls because there's this perception or stereotype that ‘theatre or acting is not for boys, it’s not for brown boys. Brown boys play rugby, they don’t do this.’ But we can sing and dance and write scripts too, so that's probably our biggest point of difference."
As they prepare to "Pring It On," Strictly Brown promises a production that not only entertains but also enriches and empowers.
Their debut show, "Pring It On," runs this week from Jan 31 - Feb 3, 2024, at the Māngere Arts Centre. For those seeking a taste of Pasifika 'spirit fingers,' Strictly Brown is the new clique on the block, ready to bring the heat. Ticket info can be found here!
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By Faivaeselopepe Anric Sitanilei
Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air.