Who's Poppin?

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MEDIA RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 9, 2008

Tawata Productions presents
Who's Poppin?
by Sopa Enari

Without Popping,
Hip Hop would never have happened.

Emerging writer and actor, Sopa Enari, performs Who’s Poppin?, a stylish mix of theatre and dance, featuring a live band and the godfather of New Zealand Hip Hop, DJ Raw, creating original beats for Who’s Poppin?

Who’s Poppin? is a devised dance show presented as part of the New Zealand Fringe Festival 2009 bringing together the very best of Wellington talent!

Who’s Poppin? Synopsis
Who’s Poppin? creates two characters, Fire and Ice, both who are surrounded by contrasting environments, shaping two opposing lives. Fire and Ice walk differently, they talk differently. Ice is middle class whereas Fire is lower working class. Ice is slick and seamless, whereas Fire is awkward and doesn't give a fuck. Ice is sociable and gets on with most, even those he dislikes, he can talk to. But Fire just fucks everyone up.

The progression of these two lives builds until finally they encounter one another and confront each other for the first time. This meeting of opposing energies produces an epic conflict between Fire and Ice that results in a fusion that brings forth a brand new energy - ELECTRICITY!

Media Angles
• Wellington writer, actor and model Sopa Enari will premiere his debut show Who’s Poppin?, a dance show that features a live musicians and the godfather of New Zealand Hip Hop, DJ Raw.

• In 2008, Sopa Enari met with Popping pioneer, Suga Pop. In New Zealand from Los Angeles, Suga Pop, originally from Wellington, took time to mentor Sopa, as Sopa was able to develop further his concept of Who’s Poppin?

• Known to many as the godfather of New Zealand Hip Hop, DJ Raw has been the backbone to some of New Zealand’s most influential groups, Gifted and Brown, Overstayers, Footsouljahs, King Kapisi and Flowz. DJ Raw

Creative Team
Sopa Enari PERFORMER, PRODUCER
Born in the Sunshine Nation of Samoa, Sopa Enari moved between Samoa and Dunedin before settling in Wellington in the 1980s. Sopa trained at Toi Whakaari, New Zealand Drama School, performing around Wellington in both film and theatre. Sopa is a writer of poetry and theatre and is also a member of the writers’ collective, Writer's Block. Sopa is also a model for popular menswear label, Mandatory.

DJ Raw MUSICIAN
Ian Semanu, or as he is known, DJ Raw, is a Lyall Bay local. DJ Raw is a New Zealand hip hop pioneer. He made his name in the DJ battle scene, dominating all New Zealand competitions for a whole decade, while gaining respect as a world-class turntablist and placing consistently in the top ten of both the DMC (Disco Mix Club) and ITF (International Turntablist Federation) World Championships. He is the only New Zealander ever to be crowned ITF Australasian DJ Champion.

Elia Feterika DRUMMER
Berhampore raised, a Wellington College old boy. A strong member of the Wellington AOG Community. Found and pursued drumming through gospel. Elia also pursued drumming through the PolyFest Competitions and is the founding drummer for Groovalation College.

Natala Gwiazdzinski LIGHTING DESIGNER
Natala is based in Otaki and is of Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Toa. Natala’s previous theatre work includes Lighting Design for Nga Pou Wahine, Streetcar Named Desire, Glass Menagerie & End Game; Set & Costume Design for Nga Pou Wahine, Fallow & Taki Rua Production’s Te Reo Maori Childrens’ Tour 2005.

Chris Ulutupu SET DESIGN
Chris is of Samoan heritage, originally from Christchurch and is a recent graduate of Toi Whakaari, Massey University Design degree.

Tawata Productions, PRODUCER
Founded in 2001 by Hone Kouka, Tawata Productions has produces the very best of Maori and Pacific theatre, touring throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand and the world.

Who’s Poppin?
Showing at Bats Theatre, Wellington,
1 Kent Terrace, Wellington
Mon 23 Feb - Fri 27 Feb, 8pm
Tickets $18 / $14, Fringe Card Holders $10
Bookings 04 802 4175 & book@bats.co.nz

ENDS

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