The Girmit

A chance of a lifetime! To work and live in paradise, free travel,
accommodation and food provided - The Dream. Or nightmare for 2 million
Indians kidnapped or taken through coercion and blackmail to faraway
countries to replace the gap left by the slavery system for something
almost identical.
In partnership with The Fiji Girmit Foundation
NZ, the National Library of New Zealand and Pātaka Art + Museum, Nadia
Freeman presents an immersive experience through the Pacific’s untold
history of indentured labour from India to Fiji. Nadia tells the story of
her ancestors using live sound sampling techniques, poetry and recording
narrations of first-hand accounts researched through the National Library
of NZ.
This presentation will be conducted in two locations:
-
The National Library (Auditorium) of NZ on Thursday the 27th of February
at 6pm. Entrance via Aitken Street. Pre-show
Information.
- a sensory relaxed performance at Pātaka Art +
Museum alongside Cry
of The Stolen People exhibition on Friday 28 th of February at 7pm. Pre-show
Information.
Recreations of the song from The Girmit will be
available for purchase to download, accompanied by a Lyric Book.
The
Girmit was developed with support from APRA AMOS Art Music grant and Kia
Mau Festival. It won Outstanding Technical Achievement at the Dunedin
Fringe Festival. The show's debut in Wellington in 2022 had a sell-out
season, so buy your tickets now before they sell out.
Watch the
trailer: https://youtu.be/ly3vWN1DeWk
Reviews:
"Freeman
uses the juxtaposition between her own ethereal vocals and the horror of
the past to create an ambience like nothing I have ever experienced. Her
music is performed as a superb electronic live show, with Freeman mixing
and creating her own sound directly on the stage in front of the
audience." - The Post
"A powerful mesmerising and moving
theatre experience." - Theatreview
"Freeman is powerful and
enticing. She has the patience and conviction of a long-time performer." -
Art Murmers
Content warning: PG, contains descriptions of human
rights violations.
Accessibility:
Entrance is via Aitken
Street (corner of Molesworth Street), Wellington. There is limited parking
but is a short walk from the Bus Station and Train Station.
The space
is wheelchair accessible.
The National Library has one wheelchair you
can use. Please contact the National Library via phone on 0800 474 300
prior to the 27 of February to arrange this.
The auditorium is
compatible with hearing link technology. Please contact Nadia on
iammissleading@gmail.com to arrange this.
Please refer to the Pre-show
Information. for further accessibility information.
Creative
Team:
Writer / Performer / Composer: Nadia Freeman
Tabla
and backing vocals: Harshaa Prasad
Mr Arakati: Michael Mckeon
Director & Script Advisor: Sameena Zehra
Voice Actors: Yogesh
Chetty, Zilla Joesph, Shamshad Sen and John Thoman
Sound and Visual
Design: Marc Freeman
Supported by: The Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ,
the National Library of New Zealand, Pātaka Art+Muesum and The NZ Fringe
Tour Fund.
Venue Access Information Wheelchair accessible
-
Theatre
-
$10.00
-
27 February 2025
-
60 minutes
-
18:00
-
The National Library of New Zealand
-
National Library
-
PGR