THESE G’S KNOW HOW TO SAY I LOVE YOU

In May, Neil Amituanai (The Brave, Three Wise Cousins), Dominic Ona-Ariki (The Brave, One Lane Bridge, Double Parked) and Beulah Koale (The Brave, Hawaii Five-O, Next Goal Wins) will return to the stage with Massive Theatre Company at Te Pou Theatre co-directed by Scotty Cotter (Mauri Tau, Neke, Shortland Street) and Sam Scott, with their deeply personal and provocative work, I LOVE YOU G.

This show delves into the complexity of friendship, illustrating the constant navigation and negotiation involved in maintaining and evolving these bonds. It explores intricate dance of friendship, where le va and trust intertwine. It portrays the essence of showing up for each other, the resilience required to weather storms together, and the transformative journey towards forging friendships into brotherhood.

Neil, Dom and Beulah (and co-director Scotty) first met more than a decade ago at Massive when they were in the cast of award-winning show The Brave, which toured New Zealand and overseas in 2012 – 2015.

Those early days at Massive solidified the friendship between them and ignited their ongoing love affair with theatre and performing. They jumped at the chance to create a new show but didn’t realise what an emotional journey lay ahead of them in the process.

“With Massive Theatre Company, and as brothers together, for this particular show we’re opening a door that most humans won’t open, and now we’re making a theatre show with the material that comes out of it.” - Beulah Koale

Things were about to get very personal for these three as they delved into themselves and their relationship, discovering that there was a lot more going on than they had allowed space for until now. Something happened one particular night several years ago, and it kept coming up, forcing them to acknowledge that a few things had been swept under the rug for too long.

Bringing up the old feelings that exploded that night and exploring them was painful, real and ultimately what they needed, not only to create the show but to begin to heal the cracks in their brotherhood.

I LOVE YOU G lays bare how they broke, healed, and re-connected through their creative process, and how the cracks, if you can face and acknowledge them, can direct you towards something that is even deeper and more beautiful than what was there before.

They want to share with audiences how beautiful it can be to love, to deeply love, and to be unafraid to explore what is present both within and between brothers. They want to show what it means to be there for each other, and to really honour their va.

“It’s them, it’s authentic, it’s real, it’s dynamic, I think it’s a great story.” - Sam Scott MNZM, co-director (Massive Theatre Company Artistic Director).

“They’re three of my favourite people, and they’re three of my favourite performers, and what they have in them excites me as a creator.” - Scotty Cotter, co-director

I LOVE YOU G sees three of New Zealand’s best actors bring their real lives to the stage. Full of trademark cheek, grit and a whole lot of heart, I LOVE YOU G is a gutsy and at times uncomfortable love letter to brotherhood - a joyous invitation to “soften the fuck up.”

I LOVE YOU G is on at Te Pou Theatre from Wednesday 1st May – Saturday 11th May