An eclectic group of New Zealand artists including dancers, actors and poets take to the stage for Chewing Your Ears with a passionate message of culture, justice, humanity and evolution.

First up, the audience is given a quick lesson in Samoan, followed by an invitation to laugh, clap, finger-snap or stomp feet in traditional Samoan “call and response” style.

What follows is a series of poetic recitals, which are vocally and physically brought to life by the cast of eight who are committed to making a global difference by stirring others to wake up from within.

Each presentation pertains to local experience, yet delivers a universal message. For example, a poetic overture is acted out by two work colleagues who sit next to each other each day, yet rarely speak a word. Their minds and hearts are full, yet both find it hard to find the right words to say. The haunting dialogue echoes in their minds as they ponder the risk of “trusting somebody else with the strings of your heart”.

These New Zealand artists share a common thread of time, space, truth, home and backbone as they share the challenges of their culture, identity and sense of belonging, expressed in their words: “A 5000-year promise to never stop etching our stories in the dirt.”

The bold ensemble makes brave statements that honour what has gone before and make a stand for what is yet to come. They create an intimate space, present powerful images and deliver their stories with high impact, as they seek to “redefine the stereotypes inflicted on them”.

Aotearoa Speaks was presented at the Brighton Performing Arts Centre as part of the Adelaide Fringe. The season is now finished.

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Click here for all InDaily’s 2014 Adelaide Fringe stories and reviews.