Gentrification and Other Wet Dreams

“When I’m asked why I moved back to Christchurch, it’s hard not to wince at the underlying subtext, to take offence where offence might not be intended, though an inevitably patronising tone escapes their lips. After all, what does someone like me - someone visibility queer and Asian to be specific - benefit from living here. The city’s reputation as ‘white AF’ is hard to dispute, the colonial history hardly historical and more present tense. Vibrancy and cultural expression are still seen as eccentric here, something to raise your eyebrows at, and arts and culture often relegated to the most traditional forms. Yet here I am.”

Gentrification and Other Wet Dreams is an exploration of home and belonging, split between cities and cultures, traversing memories of Ōtautahi Christchurch to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, from queerness to being Chinese. A story of fish and chip shops, gay bars, Ancient Greek tragedy, sex journals, Google reviews, and punk poetry. Nathan Joe’s latest work blends personal essay, playwriting and poetry, defying genre and form.

The work is presented here as a rehearsed reading with a small chorus of actors - names yet to be confirmed.

Expect an introduction to the work, alongside the reading, followed by a brief post-reading discussion afterwards.

FREE event, bookings required.

This event is recommended for ages 16+ and contains adult language and themes. It will take place in COVID-19 Level 1 or 2. Please ensure you bring your mask (in Level 2) and sign in at the door.

About the artist

Ōtautahi Christchurch-based award-winning playwright, performance poet, theatre-maker and theatre critic Nathan Joe will be in residence at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora from 2 August to 24 October as part of the Arts Four Creative Residency project, with funding support from Creative New Zealand and the Stout Trust (proudly managed by Perpetual Guardian).

Nathan was the 2020 NZ Poetry Slam Champion and the 2020 Christchurch Slam Champion, and has performed and spoken at events such as the Auckland Writers Festival, WORD Christchurch, Tedx Auckland and the Auckland Pride Gala. He is spending his residency writing a long-form poetic essay Gentrification & Other Wet Dreams, an ongoing exploration of identity alongside wider questions of citizenship. It will question what it means to return to a home that was never yours.