Milestone Afro-Kiwi Play To Headline Festival

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Po’ Boys and Oysters - the first Black queer play to debut in New Zealand to rave reviews - is returning for an encore season, and will headline the very first Aotearoa Festival of Black Arts in Auckland.

Written by and starring Auckland-based Estelle Chout, who was born in the Caribbean nation of Martinique, the play is set in the suburb of Mission Bay. It follows Flo and Jo, a lesbian couple preparing to adopt a baby, as they host a dinner party to share the news with Jo’s outspoken sister, her conservative husband, and an unexpected guest — a young man from Feilding.

“We received such a powerful response from audiences last time, and we felt there was more to say - especially with how quickly the world is changing,” says Chout of the new version.

“We wanted to revisit the story, refresh the script, and anchor it even more deeply in the urgent issues that matter right now.”

Po Boys and Oysters is among the highlights of the very first Aotearoa Festival of Black Arts, launching next week. This groundbreaking festival celebrates the richness and diversity of Black creativity in Aotearoa, presenting a dynamic programme of theatre, music, film, movement, visual arts, literature, and community events.

Last performed in 2022 and named a finalist for the NZ Adam Playwriting Award, Po’ Boys and Oysters will see Chout reunited with original cast members Sandra Zvenyika, Andrew Johnson, and Jack Briden - who returns from the UK to reprise his role. In a major casting coup, New York Times bestselling author and acclaimed spoken word artist Sonya Renee Taylor will travel from the U.S. to join the production.

“Our stories as Black, queer, migrant women are rarely seen on New Zealand stages,” she says.

“Sharing these narratives isn’t just about representation — it’s about building connection, challenging stereotypes, and holding space for complex, joyful, and resilient communities.”

Po’ Boys and Oysters is the first stage production developed by Black Creatives Aotearoa, an organisation dedicated to supporting the creative work of African and Caribbean artists living in New Zealand. Since then BCA has also co-produced ANTi by Keagan Carr Fransch (2024) and The Play That Gets Louder by Theo Shakes (2026), continuing its commitment to nurturing Afro-Kiwi playwrights.

The organisation’s founder, Dione Joseph, will return as director for Po’ Boys and Oysters.

“The themes at the heart of this work - racism, belonging, family, and love — are more urgent than ever,” Joseph says.

“What feels most pressing now is how easily society looks away from the issues that continue to shape our lives. Po’ Boys and Oysters doesn’t let us look away. Instead, it invites audiences to lean in.”

Po' Boys and Oysters’ encore season is at the Herald Theatre from 22-29 November. Tickets are available now at: www.aucklandlive.co.nz/show/po-boys-and-oysters#tickets-times.

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