Stranger than Fiction: the creation of two short theatre of the real plays about Closed Stranger Adoption in Aotearoa

Abstract

My MFA explores how a range of theatrical techniques can be used to stage autobiographical and biographical narratives. Using practice-led research I created and staged two theatre of the real plays: Close Stranger and Between Worlds. Both plays are solo performances where I (as the performer) play multiple roles. The subject matter of both plays is the adoption of Māori children into Pākehā families through the New Zealand government’s policy of Closed Stranger Adoption, and the subsequent themes associated with this kind of adoption. Close Stranger is a devised autobiographical play. Between Worlds is a theatre of testimony play that uses the testimony of Māori adoptees (including my own), along with historical and contemporary research data on Closed Stranger Adoption in Aotearoa. I sought to use a variety of theatrical techniques in my plays, so as to make thought provoking, engaging and entertaining theatre that has didactic underpinning. With these works, I also seek to develop my skills and understanding as a theatre artist – in particular as a playwright, devisor and performer. This exegesis is a companion document to my two plays and explains the methodological and artistic choices I made in creating them, and maps out the process of each play from concept to performance.