YOUNG VOICES FROM REFUGEE, MIGRANT AND LOCAL BACKGROUNDS SHINE A LIGHT ON THEIR FUTURE
Mixit presents
Hope
Standing on the Edge – Eying Up Our Future
A team of young people aged between 15 – 25+ are coming together this summer under the guidance of senior arts leaders, together with emerging artists, to create an interdisciplinary performance exploring ideas, concerns and dreams about their futures. This devised work, Hope: Standing on the Edge – Eying Up Our Future will be on from 24 – 25 January at the Pitt Street Theatre.
Zeroing in on the year 2050 the participants will consider how old they will be in 25 years, unpack where they wish to be at that age, what their hopes are and what do they think the world around them will be like at that time. What fills them with anxiety, optimism or hope?
From the rapid growth of AI, the predominance of social media and an increasing lack of social connectedness that’s playing out in their generation. Does their future hold possibilities for a more utopic world that brings people together in a place of improved harmony, social cohesion, equity and justice? Could the world be a place of darkness and dysfunction, or will harmony and boundless possibility prevail?
Throughout the year creative community project Mixit brings together young people from former refugee, migrant and local backgrounds and uses participation in creativity, including dance, drama and music, as a means to engage and develop social and life skills. Every summer an annual public performance is presented, and this year’s showcase includes participants from Aotearoa, Afghanistan, Congo, India, Myanmar, Turkey, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Sudan.
This summer’s creative leaders are Margaret-Mary Hollins, a respected theatre director, who will be mentoring Kaviesha Abeysinghe-Perera, an emerging director. Kaviesha, a former Mixit participant, is now on the permanent staff of Mixit as she prepares to take on the role as the organisation’s future director.
Current Mixit director and co-founder, Wendy Preston, is at the helm of this summer’s project as creative producer, while also mentoring other emerging artists. This includes choreographer Ray Santiago, a Unitec Dance grad who has been part of Mixit since 2020, who’s been juggling a career in the hip hop dance scene, and former Mixit participant and emerging artist Izadine Ahmat Abdallah, working on research for the project, and as technical support.
Mixit has been providing dynamic, inspirational creative opportunities to young people from former refugee and migrant backgrounds since 2006. The mahi of Mixit has significantly contributed to the engagement of our ever-increasing diverse communities in Auckland. Many thousands of young people have engaged in theatre, dance, spoken word poetry, music and so much more through Mixit. Supported individuals have gone on to succeed in areas such as medicine, law, the trades and within creative fields.
Mixit has a focus on developing emerging leadership and HOPE is a showcase of young people shining in the key creative leadership roles, mentored by senior arts leaders. Other Mixit Alumni will also be working hard behind the scenes, including in catering, and stage and production management.
Hope
Standing on the Edge – Eying Up Our Future
Saturday 24 January, 1pm and 5pm
Sunday 25 January, 5pm
Pitt St Theatre
78 Pitt St, Auckland Central
Tickets: $10 - $30 or Pay What You Can
To secure seats contact info@mixit.co.nz
Be early as there’s limited seating and consider your parking options in the K Rd area.
www.mixit.co.nz