Breakthrough Church Auckland

THIS IS AN ARTICLE ON THE WESTERN LEADER DATED 18.10.2013 PRIOR TO OUR KELSTON SHOW; TOUGH TOPIC ON SHOW: OVERCOMING OBSTACLES: David and Leva Faafua, both 25, star in the production and say the messages portrayed and challenges faced by the characters are true to them. Suicide, depression and bullying aren't often easy to talk about. But members of Auckland's Breakthrough Church are prepared to put the spotlight on issues that are all too often swept under the carpet. They will bring a free stage production Return to Eden to Kelston this Sunday. True stories from each cast member make up the fabric of the play which focuses on bullying and depression. It follows the struggles of 10-year-old Joshua - born to teenage parents Ana and Jason who never planned on having a baby. Joshua is on the receiving end of constant taunts from his family and is bullied by older school students which makes him feel there's no way out. Kelston residents David and Leva Faafua, both 25, play Ana and Jason in the production and have revisited aspects of their past for their roles. ""Everything in the script is real to us,"" Mrs Faafua says. ""It's more powerful for people to get on stage and perform something real to them."" The pair married at 21 and have two children together but things weren't easy when they discovered they were expecting. ""My parents told me I couldn't have the baby and I got to a point where I didn't want to live anymore. I felt I had no purpose,"" Mrs Faafua says. Mr Faafua also felt pressure and high expectations from his family. ""I resorted to things like alcohol and hanging with the wrong people. I was disowned from home and had to live in a backpackers. Things got really hectic,"" he says. The couple found hope and guidance through the church and have since been able to reconnect with their families. Production director Lynette Leota has battled bipolar in the past and says the production aims to bring about social change, especially within the Pacific Island community where suicide rates are high. ""If we don't stand up now this will become the norm and this is our way of taking a stand,"" she says. ""A lot of churches feel the issues are too much or too heavy but we have to be quite confronting about it to make a change. It's good to be controversial,"" she says. The cast will travel to Tonga next April to perform and will present the show at Kelston Boys High School auditorium this Sunday at 7pm. Call event manager Pamela Savieti on 021 081 57 077 for information.