Prayas Presents: Tiffin Box 

Spotlight on Serena Mani 

By Nabeelah Khan (she/her)

Serena Mani (she/her), an actress and poet of Fijian-Indian descent, explores her experiences as an intersex and trans individual through the lens of her South Asian heritage in her poetry performance Ocean Waves Carry Me Home. The title, drawn from a line early in the piece, reflects her deep connection to the ocean, symbolising her ancestral ties and the journey of immigration that shaped her identity.

Tell us about your performance: 

I started writing my performance after feeling the need to see work I could relate to. Making this piece has been cathartic and has helped me process my experiences and emotions. Performing is a way to push myself out of my comfort zone and share some writing about myself which feels very vulnerable and confronting. This performance will be the first time I’ve performed my poetry outside of a play-reading context. 

What made you submit your work for Prayas' Tiffin Box?

I submitted my work to Prayas’ Tiffin Box because I felt like it would be an awesome platform to be supported by. I look up to Prayas as a theatre company and how they uplift the South Asian community. Prayas acts as a platform for our voices to be heard while creating accurate representation through authentic storytelling, especially in an environment where it’s usually not seen. 

What has the process of crafting your performance been like? 

It’s been a journey. I first started writing poetry during my final year studying Acting, Performing, and Screen Arts at Unitec. I felt compelled to share my story after being miscast, misgendered, and treated as if my experiences didn’t matter. The roles I was offered didn’t align with who I am, and it made me feel like there wasn’t space for someone like me in the industry. Writing became a way for me to process my thoughts, and in my final year, I ended up writing a play that incorporated different mediums, including poetry and monologue work. 

How do you think/hope the performance will sit with audiences (both younger & older audiences) 

I feel like my identity or even topics I talk about can often be seen as taboo, especially through a South Asian lens. For me, performance is just about adding humanity and authentic experiences to people who often get judged for existing outside of what the “norm” should be. It can be a challenging process especially when my work goes against the Patriarchy and internalised racism. 

I want the audience to be able to take what they can from it. The main thing I would hope for is more empathy when speaking about experiences that people often wouldn’t go through. I also hope to be able to help represent anyone who feels like there isn’t an example to look up to and hope my experiences can be relatable to some. 

Have there been any key inspirations or anecdotes that you have incorporated into your performance?

My main inspirations come from poets and writers I admire, such as Gemishka Chetty (also a performer in *Tiffin Box*) and Rupi Kaur. I'm also inspired by Studio Ghibli movies for their whimsical and comforting nature, and I often listen to the singer Raveena, whose music I find soothing. I love artists who unapologetically share their experiences and reveal parts of themselves through their work.

What other performances featured in Tiffin Box are you most excited to watch?

I’m really excited to see the other Artists who are sharing their poetry like Gemishka Chetty and Jayshri Ratnam. Both of them are writers and performers I look up to a lot and admire especially because they work to represent South Asians within the diaspora. 

Prayas Theatre is set to welcome the festive season in Tāmaki Makaurau with a feast for the senses in their latest undertaking, ‘Tiffin Box’, live from October 8-12 at the Basement Theatre. Packed with a vibrant mix of theatre, comedy, dance, poetry and music, this hour promises to serve something for everyone! Just like a tiffin box brimming with flavours, each performance offers a unique taste of South Asian culture, blending tradition and creativity in a dynamic celebration of the arts. Don’t miss this exciting pre-Diwali showcase!

You can catch Serena Mani performing Ocean Waves Carry Me Home as part of Prayas' Tiffin Box, with 10 other performances running from October 8th to 12th at Basement Theatre. 

Tickets are available here.