Title: For My Father Director: Ziggy Yominao Writer: Andrew Kuliniasi Rating: M17 Duration: 60minutes Actors: Emmanuel Simeon ∙ Daniel Romney ∙ Hannaniah Dickson ∙ Andrew Kuliniasi ∙ Denzel Apelis After the passing of their father, four siblings are burdened by the financial costs of haus krai, funeral and burial. Consequently, they reach out to their long-neglected, estranged half-brother who has the means to pay for it all. For My Father is a play by KnackStudios in collaboration with Dare2Create, performed at the Moresby Arts Theatre. It covers themes of physical and sexual abuse, LGBTQ+, financial hardship, youth unemployment, neglect, and family brokenness. The play artfully blends realism and naturalistic style purposefully to enable the performance to be relatable to a Papua New Guinean audience while also addressing the gritty realities of life. The production uses the theatre’s lounge as a performance space instead of the traditional stage which not only gives the audience a feeling of involvement but also gives an advantage to the setting of the entire living room scene. For My Father stands out among most plays I’ve watched, because it’s a play written by Papua New Guineans for Papua New Guineans. Despite most of the cast being young, their ability to present the complexities of life and the condition of human nature while experiencing grief was masterfully executed. Each actor excelled in portraying their respective characters. Each character is unique with their own personal struggles and backstories which make the play all the more captivating. Michael Katau (Denzel Apelis) is the eldest half-brother who lives overseas and is the most successful out of all his siblings; Elisha Katau (Andrew Kuliniasi) is a member of the LGBTQ+ community who engages in prostitution to provide for his siblings; Braxton Katau (Daniel Romney) is a pastor concerned for his father’s and siblings’ spiritual well-being; Benny Katau (Immanuel Simeon) is the unemployed brother who hangs around with a bad crowd; and Anita Katau (Hannaniah Dickson) is the youngest and also their father’s favorite. Despite each character being so different from one another, audiences can still find something to relate to. For My Father was written with the intention to tell every individual’s story which in my opinion was successfully done. The average Papua New Guinean may not relate to Elisha’s story, but they can relate to Benny and his struggle of living as an unemployed youth. Others may relate to Michael’s feeling of abandonment by parental figures and also his drive to become successful. Whatever the circumstance, the play will tell someone’s story directly or indirectly – through words, actions, emotions or situations. I encourage more Papua New Guineans to watch For My Father. It is both a realistically and emotionally driven play that will leave you crying tears of laughter, sadness, anguish and bitterness.