Following their individual tales, Chance to Ignite showcases 7 young women as each of them stand in the limelight to share with to us about their struggles, and how they have overcome them to ignite the flame within. The show is just under and hour long, and in that time I am able to get what I need from most of their individual stories.

As the show unfolds, I worry at certain moments where specific monologues dabble into little aspects of spoken word poetry. I like poetry but feel that the westernised interpretation of spoken word has influenced young artists to always victimise themselves in their spoken text. Some of these monologues have aspects of that same influence. I’m not saying that it is necessarily a bad thing, no. But I strongly feel that it is equally important as New Zealanders and people of the Pacific, to pay homage to our ancestry of orators, and always find a way to be triumphant with the telling of oneself. Again, it might be a taste thing but I just don’t want to find myself in this pity-fest, leaving the theatre feeling sorry for the victim and uneasy. The show makes me feel that at times, but generally overall I feel that the humour is able to bring me back and uplift me again. 

Repetition is only valid when it serves a purpose. In this instance, the voice and character arc of the adolescent is repeated. In the end I find there is some resolution in the name calling battle with a popular male, but it potentially needs the most work to fine tune the need of wanting to be a good person. 

There is a combination of relatable monologues, my highlight being the scene where one of the women speaks about seeking hope and being rescued by her four-year-old niece, after her grandmother passed away. The scene reminds me of the recent passing of my nana, and the same words – if I was okay – asked by my four-year-old nephew.

At the time, I do not admire the use of jujitsu on stage as it reminds me of a theatre warm up; the actors are scattered across the stage and as a viewer, I struggle to hone in on one actor. Then I consider that jujitsu is a Japanese martial art and method of close combat for defeating an armed and armoured opponent in which one uses no weapon or only a short weapon. The jujitsu scene is there to symbolise the inner battle of finding your spark so I think with tightened choreography, it potentially has the power to be one of the strongest scenes.

Overall, the showcase is just another typical Massive Nui Ensemble piece of highly physical production. As a Pacific male, I struggle to identify with a lot of the considered ‘feminist white girl’ issues. I look forward to how it may be received in Mangere, where the audience is predominantly brown and may not relate to all the issues.

I strongly believe that Chance to Ignite has the potential to empower and uplift women, and perhaps men too. 

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