Review: Siblings show is a cup of tea for the whole whānau

A group of us went to see Siblings at Te Pou Theatre and it was such a cool experience from the moment we arrived. Some of us were wheelchair-users, and the venue was really spacious and easy to move around in, which made a huge difference. The staff were so accommodating too to the point where they even removed extra seats so we could all sit together comfortably as a group. That little detail meant a lot because it made us feel included before the show even started.

As soon as we entered the theatre space, the stage immediately caught my attention. It was set up right in the middle with a white flooring, see-through curtains hanging from the ceiling, creating a square-like shape around the performers. Once we got comfortable, the cast was already on stage, standing in a circle and chatting to each other. It felt like we were getting a little behind-the-scenes glimpse before the real show even began. It was a nice way to settle in and feel connected.

What I really loved about the show was the way the performers told their stories. Each person would share their truth and experience, then it would seamlessly pass on to the next cast member. It was like you were getting to know each of them piece by piece, and by the end, you felt like you’d learned something personal about each one. It reminded me of how real-life conversations flow between siblings that are full of memories, stories, and little moments that connect you.

My favourite part of the show was something I’ll call the “cups story”. Each cast member came out with a trolley stacked with cups, and each cup represented a sibling. As they stacked and moved the cups, they shared stories about the different relationships they had with their siblings. It was simple but so powerful you could almost actually feel the love, struggles, and bonds that come with being part of a family. 

Watching the show made me reflect on my own siblings and the relationships I have with them. It reminded me that everyone’s on their own journey – my friends, the cast, even myself. We all have our own stories and challenges, but there’s something grounding about remembering where we come from and who we share our lives with.

I also loved the familiarity in a few parts of the show. I’ve seen some of their previous work before, and it was really cool to see how it all tied together in this final sequence. I also recognised one of the cast members who I’ve seen perform in the past that I happen to know as a youth worker, so getting to witness how far he’s come in his journey felt really special. It was like we were not just watching the show, but supporting and celebrating his milestone too. They have a way of making you feel like you’re part of the journey, and that really stayed with me.

As a disabled person, I also appreciated how naturally the show acknowledged identity and connection. It didn’t feel forced; it was just honest and real. That’s why I think it’s so important to talk about the bonds we have with our siblings, and how they shape us.

Siblings left me feeling like I’d been on a journey too – not just as a viewer, but as someone reflecting on my own life and the people closest to me. It was heartfelt, beautifully put together, and leaves you thinking about the relationships that matter most. I definitely have no regrets about being a loyal audience fan! 

- Review by Naomi Vailima

On Monday 28 July, I attended a relaxed performance of Siblings at Te Pou Theatre in Auckland’s Corbyn Estate. 

The play started with the cast and crew introducing themselves in a warm welcoming way and telling us that a cup was hanging in the centre for Hannah. To share some of the sense of puzzlement that gave the audience, I’ll explain the significance later. 

Siblings is described as a multi-layered theatre piece directed by Pelenakeke Brown and associate director Barnie Duncan, featuring a cast of four tāngata whaikaha/disabled performers exploring sibling relationships, disability, agency and care. It was three and a half years in the making.

The cast of Dazz Whippey, Jordan Kareroa, Roka Bunyan and Kiriana Sheree, expertly brought to life the profound nuances of not just having siblings, but the impact on the sibling relationships when one of them is disabled – that odd, unique and often quirky relationship between siblings shoots off into unforeseen directions. At the heart of this show was that the relationships were explored from the perspective of the disabled sibling.

Each cast member of Siblings introduced their whānau by way of different cups on a tea trolley. While the placement of the cups was important for some, it was the variety of cups and the thought that had gone into choosing which cup represented which sibling that got me thinking about which cups would represent me and my wee sister.

The choice of cups to explore this unique relationship was masterful. We all have a favourite cup and cups we really dislike because they’re too big, too small, too thick, too thin, or horrible colours or textures. Cups are more than simple drinking vessels - they often evoke strong likes and dislikes and can bring a sense of comfort and familiarity to us in a way that other objects don’t. What kind of cup would you and your siblings be? I’d be a large coffee mug, and my wee sister would be a small stripy cup. 

The show is divided into different scenarios, often variations of children’s party games, illustrating the dynamics of sibling relationships. The game that resonated most with me was Grandma’s Footsteps. In this version they’re trying to steal her keys without being noticed and it was interesting to reflect on what the various ways of crawling, slithering, running and grabbing the keys say about the different personalities of siblings

Funny and quirky, Siblings was also poignant and sometimes downright sad when characters talked about how they navigate support from siblings that starts to feel intrusive, or what it feels like to lose a sibling. 

This show was designed with access in mind. Three of the performances in this run had NZSL interpreters. The performance I attended was a relaxed performance, where the audience were invited to come and go as they liked and told that it was fine to make noises and to clap and laugh and cry. Audio description was built into this show for everyone to hear. Sean Rivera, the describer, almost became like another character, delivering the description in funny and interesting ways. It’s a tricky balancing act to build in description like this and I think they mostly got it right, there were only a couple of times when I had to try to piece together what was happening from the soundscape.

Siblings certainly got me thinking about my relationship with my wee sister and how me being disabled has impacted that relationship. I was five and she was three when I went away to a boarding school for blind children, only coming home at holidays for the first couple of years. Me not being at home definitely influenced the cups I chose to represent us and our relationship. 

And Hannah’s cup? There were originally five cast members who workshopped this play. Hannah, represented by a cup with a bright yellow sun on it, unfortunately passed away before the final set of rehearsals for this show. She is a sad loss for the disabled community and I can’t help wondering what cups she’d have chosen to represent herself and her siblings.

It's still pretty unusual to have a cast of all disabled actors onstage talking about our lives so I’d highly recommend seeing Siblings for that reason alone. More than that, the piece is really human and engaging with great performances and it really made me think.

- Review by Paul Brown

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