Defying Destiny: Black Faggot Returns, Unapologetically Queer And Fiercely Relevant

Black Faggot, the blazingly funny and politically charged play by award-winning playwright Victor Rodger ONZM, is making a timely return to the stage this June, this time with the longtime collaborator Anapela Polata'ivao ONZM in the director's chair. Transferring from the Court Theatre season Black Faggot is set to own the Rangatira stage at Q Theatre from June 25-29, continuing its powerful challenge of conventions and celebration of queer Pasifika voices.
Black Faggot captures the diversity of queer Pasifika experiences through a series of (mostly) humorous monologues from a vast array of (mostly) gay Samoan characters. From a camp, closeted member of Destiny Church who finds himself on a march against the Civil Union Bill, to a butch Polynesian who is loudly and unapologetically gay; from an anal Samoan clean freak who's annoyed that his partner's just orgasmed on their brand-new bedspread, to an award-winning fa'afafine artist who relishes explaining the true meaning behind her new work 'Cracker Wanna Poly.'
Victor Rodger weaves humour, hurt and humanity through a range of beautifully drawn characters all struggling to reconcile being gay, black, and part of mainstream New Zealand society. With cracking comic timing, this play is funny and filthy, raw and emotional and full of love.
The cast, including Gideon Smith (Grafted, Camp Be Better) and Jake Arona (Dawn Raids, Fresh Off the Boat, O Le Malaga Fa'a'Atua), promises to deliver an unforgettable production that reclaims the potentially derogatory label 'black faggot' as its own, pushing beyond it to reveal the comedy and drama of life where being gay and Samoan is merely a starting point — not the final word.
Originally premiering at Auckland's Basement Theatre in 2013, Black Faggot was written in direct response to Destiny Church's now-infamous 'Enough is Enough' march on Parliament in 2004 and the 2012 protests against the Marriage Equality bill. As Rodger reflects:
'At the very, very least, one of those kids marching against the bill will be gay and feeling wretched about themselves as they grow up… Black Faggot is a response to that.'
More than a decade on, the play remains painfully relevant, reflected in recent headlines that include: 'Brian Tamaki's Destiny Church Pride protests: Te Atatū witness describes terror inside library,' 'Destiny Church library protest 'intimidating and unacceptable' – police,' and ''Woke churches': Destiny Church bites back as church leaders condemn Pride protests.'
For a generation of young queer people and their allies who didn't have the chance to see Black Faggot 12 years ago, and for those with lived experience over the last decade, this return gives voice to Pasifika queer communities that are still facing public backlash.
'It is my fervent hope that this brand-new production of Black Faggot brings comfort to those who need it and discomfort to those who need it,' says Rodger.
Anapela Polata'ivao ONZM (Samoan) is an award-winning director and actor, known for her powerful storytelling and advocacy for Pasifika voices in the arts. She takes the helm for this landmark production following critical acclaim, including her performance in the cinematic triumph Tinā. With her signature blend of insight and fierce compassion, Polata'ivao breathes new life into this vital work, continuing her long-standing commitment to telling Pasifika stories with honesty and integrity.
Victor Rodger ONZM (Samoan, Scottish) is one of Aotearoa's most daring and decorated playwrights. Born in Ōtautahi, Rodger is known for his bold, provocative works that explore race, sexuality, family, and cultural identity. His body of work includes Sons and My Name is Gary Cooper. Through his company FCC (Flow, Create, Connect), Rodger has championed new Pasifika voices and produced some of the country's most powerful and provocative theatre, including Wild Dogs Under My Skirt and The Savage Coloniser Show, both directed by Anapela.
Black Faggot has resonated globally, with sold-out seasons in New Zealand, Australia, and at the Edinburgh Fringe.
'Turbo-charged hilarity of superior sketch comedy into a poignant and humane plea for tolerance…' — Sydney Morning Herald
"Their manner and style of presentation is engaging and infectious, and their ability to morph from one character to another — gay, straight, male, female — makes this a most entertaining piece of theatre." — Dominion Post
'Presented with simplicity, humanity, utter conviction, and remarkable insight.' — GayNZ.com
Play Details
Black Faggot
Dates: June 25-29, 2025
Venue: Q Theatre, Auckland
Book tickets at www.qtheatre.co.nz

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Black Faggot's Victor Rodger on Destiny Church and why his groundbreaking play remains so relevant today

Like a lot of young homosexuals, it made me feel a lot of self-loathing. But I wasn't raised to denigrate people who were gay. My mother was very young when she had me – she turns 72 this year – but she elected to keep me and I'm so grateful she did. She let me do swirly swirlies in her blue dress when I was going through my Deborah Kerr phase, from The King and I, and she got me the Barbie dolls I craved as a young fella. She was still surprised when I came out when I was 26, but she's always just let me be. When Destiny Church led its 'Enough is Enough' march on Parliament in 2004 against the Civil Union Bill [giving legal recognition to same-sex relationships], I knew without a doubt that at least one of those young men would be gay. Hating on themselves and marching against themselves. I wanted to write something metaphorically for that kid. Then, in 2012, there were more protests against the marriage equality bill, with members of the Pasifika community coming out against it. I knew it was time to finally get over the line. Victor Rodger: "Some seriously appalling things are going down in our own backyard." Photo / Dean Purcell Black Faggot premiered at Auckland's Basement Theatre in 2013. I wanted it to be funny, which it is, and I also wanted to diversify the spectrum of Samoan queer characters, who until then had often been typified by fa'afafine as objects of mirth, with no complexity or layers. Two actors play multiple roles, mostly queer Samoan men, from super camp to super butch and everything in between. There's also a fa'afafine, a Samoan mum, and a pumping iron straight brother, but the spine of the show is a relationship between a young Samoan man on the down low and an out-and-proud Samoan man. When I heard The Court Theatre in Christchurch wanted Black Faggot on its programme this year, I wondered if it was still relevant. I'd thought about doing it myself in 2023, for the 10th anniversary, and had asked myself the same question. A few years ago, I was a dramaturg on a trans rom-com about a Tongan fakaleiti at high school and the captain of the First XV, who takes a bet that he can make her fall in love with him. When we did our first showing to a group of students, they were just so invested in the trans main character having a happy ending. For me, as an older, queer person, I was blown away because that never would have happened in my era. Destiny Church members wearing Man Up T-shirts disrupt the Auckland Rainbow Parade on Ponsonby Road in February. But as they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same. I was in the UK when I saw the headlines: 'Brian Tamaki's Destiny Church pride protests: Te Atatū witness describes terror inside library'. I wasn't expecting something like that to happen, but it didn't surprise me, either. We are living through a period in history right now that is as startling as it is unstable. And here in Aotearoa, we can't kid ourselves that we're in a position to look overseas and say 'Well, at least it's not that bad here', because some seriously appalling things are going down in our own backyard. Back in 2013, I wanted to pull Black Faggot. I was unravelling over all sorts of other life stuff and had convinced myself it was the worst piece of shit that had ever been committed to paper. Everything felt pretty grim and dark. The premiere got a standing ovation, but even that offered no relief. With this new season, I've been able to engage with the show from a much better place. I forbade my mother from seeing it, but she disobeyed me and went to the opening night in Christchurch, which is where I grew up. She's always been concerned with the amount of swearing in my work and that people will think she raised me to talk in the gutter. I did that all on my own. She's also not a great fan of sex, and there's a lot of sex talk in the show. But she coped and was blown away by the two actors, one of whom is the son of a family friend from the same church. There are moments in it when you can hear a pin drop, like when the young Christian character keeps praying to God to be made straight. That resonates with so many of us who've been through the same thing, just wanting to be #normal. On the night I went, there was recognition and there was laughter, but the overriding emotion was celebratory. That's not a word I would have used, but seeing it now, I thought, yes, this is absolutely a celebration. And a necessary one. Victor Rodger is an award-winning playwright based in Wellington and a 2024 Arts Laureate. The new production of Black Faggot, directed by Anapela Polata'ivao (who starred in the feature film Tinā), has just completed a four-week season at The Court in Christchurch and is on at Auckland's Q Theatre from June 25 to 29.

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'We wanted to fill a gap that we felt': Young duo finds niche in film industry

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