A DOUBLE BILL PRESENTED BY ATC YOUTH COMPANY
F U T U RE -T EN SE CURATED BY KEAGAN CARR FRANSCH DIRECTED BY JANE YONGE & LEO GENE PETERS
AND
T H E T r i a ls BY DAWN KING DIRECTED BY ACACIA O’CONNOR & MATTHEW KEREAMA
A DOUBLE BILL PRESENTED BY ATC YOUTH COMPANY
FU T U RE -T EN SE CURATED BY KEAGAN CARR FRANSCH DIRECTED BY JANE YONGE & LEO GENE PETERS
AND
T H E T r i a ls BY DAWN KING DIRECTED BY ACACIA O’CONNOR & MATTHEW KEREAMA
22 NOV – 25 NOV 2023 BASEMENT THEATRE DOUBLE BILL TEAM
CREATIVES
Production Designer — Bekky Boyce Sound Desgner — Paige Pomana
YOUTH COMPANY CREATIVES Lighting Designer & Operator — Luuk Heijnen
PRODUCTION Production Managers (Pilot Productions) — Khalid Parker and Annah Jacobs Sustainability Champion — Chinmaya Dixit Sound Operator — Connor Magatogia Stage Manager (Future-tense) — Cameron Gregan Costume Assistant (The Trials) — Hazel Oh
P E R FO R M E D BY
T H E T r i a ls BY DAWN KING
THE TRIALS
CREATIVES
Director — Matthew Kereama Director— Acacia O'Connor Assistant Director — Harriet Barter THE TRIALS
CAST
THE JURY Tomaz — Kais Azimullah Zoe — Violet Castle Gabi — Zoe Courtney Noah — Chinmaya Dixit Mo — Erin McCarthy Mika — Hazel Oh Maeve — Ishani Phatarpekar Ren — Megan Pochin Leo — Oscar Shaw Kaia — Luka Wolfgram Xander — Keltie-Kewan Young Amelio — George Zhang THE DEFENDANTS Defendant One — Mustaq Missouri Defendant Two — Nicola Kāwana Defendant Three — Tahi Mapp-Borren
FUT U RE -TE NSE FUTURE-TENSE
CREATIVES
Director— Leo Gene Peters Director — Jane Yonge Dramaturg — Dan Goodwin Curator — Keagan Carr Fransch FUTURE-TENSE
CAST
Chloe Bettina, Brandon Cudby, Sahil Goyal, Shanna Paese, Nikolai Puharich, Kalia Regan Te Ohorere Williams, Zane Wood FUTURE-TENSE
WRITERS
IN ORDER OF PERFORMANCE Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana — It Died with the Taiao Vira Paky — Intervention Shelby Kua — Human Being Zane Wood — Empathy Propaganda Tuakoi Ohia — Uki Alex de Vries — What happened on the day we finally broke ground on the Second Harbour Crossing on the shores of the Waitematā
This show contains content that can be upsetting. If you are feeling vulnerable or would like to talk to someone, please reach out to: Youthline – free call 0800 376 633, free text 234 or visit www.youthline.co.nz. For more information on eco anxiety, we suggest the following resources from Wellington City Council; https://wellington.govt.nz/climate-change-sustainability-environment/climate-change/climate-changein-wellington/climate-change-anxiety or Healthline: www.healthline.com/health/eco-anxiety The Trials is 1 hour, 15 minutes, without an interval. The Trials contains strobe lighting, strong language and references to the climate crisis, bereavement, execution, euthanasia, and war crimes. Future-tense is 1 hour, 10 minutes, without an interval. Future-tense contains strobe lighting, strong language, sexual references, depictions of mental illness, threats of violence, suggested drug use, and themes of racism. PRINCIPAL
CORE
VENUE
FUNDERS
FUNDER
PARTNER
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Our Youth Company
In 2022, Auckland Theatre Company established its inaugural Youth Company, an in-house ensemble of young theatre artists learning about theatre in a way that is exciting and challenging. It is a part-time, year-long course offered free to participants, building on Auckland Theatre Company's wonderful history of youth arts. Our aim is to let young people learn in a working theatre, feel comfortable in this space, and to train in an environment that acknowledges that being an artist takes enormous strength and resilience.
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The 2023 company had the opportunity to perform in ATC's King Lear by William Shakespeare, and in a new adaptation of Jarry's Ubu Roi adapted and directed by Esaú Mora. The company are mentored by three artists; Keagan Carr Fransch, Matthew Kereama, and Sam Phillips. Our Youth Company is made possible by the generosity of the Youth Company Supporters Group. Auditions for the 2024 Youth Associates and Youth Company are in January 2024. Find out more at atc.co.nz
Haere Mai. Welcome. Keagan Carr Fransch Programme Director of ATC Youth Company 2023
This year, the ATC Youth Arts leadership rōpū of Matthew Kereama, Keagan Carr Fransch and Sam Phillips wanted to build a programme that was connected, with one clear artistic goal: to engage the 2023 Youth Company members in a year-long journey of reconciling our past, present and future, through the medium of theatrical performance. Every play we worked with - whether for skills-based exercises in-house, or for public performances - was chosen to help us reflect on the things that make us human: our art, our behaviours, and our world. Through each selection, we invited the company to ask “what are we leaving for the next generation to inherit?”
The Trials and Future-tense give the company an opportunity to answer that question. It has been a pleasure to witness them grapple with the urgent and often divisive issues surrounding the climate emergency, economic inequities, and cultural preservation, and it has been a privilege to learn from them. This company is from a generation of young people that are undoubtedly the most knowledgeable on the state of the world, the most active in fighting for its survival, and the most maligned for it. I watch them with wonder, pride, and not one bit of envy. If “the meek shall inherit the earth”, then we’re in trouble. So, thank goodness this generation, and this Youth Company, are anything but meek. The kids are alright, and we’re in good hands if we listen to them.
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Directors
MATTHEW KEREAMA
ACACIA O'CONNOR
Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, Matthew Kereama of Ngāti Manomano, is a Māori stage and screen actor, classical singer and stage director who has excelled in the performing arts for the past decade. During this time, he has worked closely with internationally renowned directors from NZ Opera, Wellington Opera, Auckland Theatre Company and Te Rehia Theatre Company in Assistant Director roles. Notably, Matthew was assistant and resident director for Auckland Theatre Company’s North by Northwest. During this production he worked closely with director Simon Phillips. Recently, he was assistant director for New Zealand Opera’s touring production of Così fan tutte, directed by Lindy Hume. Next year Matthew has been booked into multiple assistant director roles with NZ Opera.
Acacia O'Connor Ngāti Porou, Tainu, graduated Toi Whakaari in 2017.
In 2020 Matthew completed a BMUS with HONS majoring in Classical Performance at the University of Auckland, where his dissertation focused on the dialogue of opera directors. Matthew has worked as a teacher and tutor for tertiary institutions such as the University of Auckland and YOOBEE South Seas for the past three years. Matthew is also a co-leader for the ATC Youth Company.
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While this is Acacia's directing debut, she has put herself in this position many times, she wrote and pulled-together her first show A Chance to Sing at 18 and during her time at Toi Whakaari, Acacia created and directed a joyful ensemble cabaret show as well as brave messy solos. Acacia is hugely passionate about the power art has to bring people together. Alongside her flourishing acting and writing career, Acacia has taught at both TAPAC and Point Chev Drama Club for the past four years as she loves to cheer young actors on as they learn to fly.
T H E T r i a ls
Directors Note The Trials is a harrowing play, one that masterfully grabs you, holds a mirror to your face and asks… “what are you doing to help?” One of those rare pieces of art I want everyone I know to consume. As writer Dawn King said in an interview with The Guardian; “it’s not me pointing the finger at other people, definitely not.” She holds up her hands. “From this point on, people will always say to me, ‘Oh, did you fly? Did you not take the train?’ I’m putting myself up here.” We write this with a churning in our stomach as we are so brutally aware of how little we are doing to help the environment, but now is the time for urgent action. From the onset, our goal was to create a piece that was green from the
inside out. We strived to implement techniques to lower our carbon footprint, recycle our sets and costumes and inform ourselves on real climate action. Urgent action stemming from a place of love for Papatūānuku and her Tamariki. If no one sees the show, we will know, we showed a hand full of young theatre makers a green way to put on theatre. Not only are we wildly proud of the work the twelve young cast members and our heroic assistant director have put into this, we appreciate the bravery, vulnerability and dedication they have bought, all while navigating high-school, full-time jobs and life’s curve balls. - Acacia O’Connor & Matthew Kereama
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T H E T r i a ls Youth Company Cast The Jury
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KAIS AZIMULLAH
VIOLET CASTLE
ZOE COURTNEY
TOMAZ
ZOE
GABI
CHINMAYA DIXIT
ERIN MCCARTHY
HAZEL OH
NOAH
MO
MIKA
MEGAN POCHIN
OSCAR SHAW
MAEVE
ISHANI PHATARPEKAR
REN
LEO
LUKA WOLFGRAM
KELTIE-KEWAN YOUNG
GEORGE ZHANG
KAIA
XANDER
AMELIO
The Defendants
MUSTAQ MISSOURI
NICOLA KĀWANA
TAHI MAPP-BORREN
DEFENDANT ONE
DEFENDANT TWO
DEFENDANT THREE
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Directors
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LEO GENE PETERS
JANE YONGE
MTA Theatre Directing - Toi Whakaari / VUW 2004. As director of A Slightly Isolated Dog, Leo has built a trilogy of works that explore storytelling as a celebratory, explosive party. Both Don Juan (2015) & Jekyll & Hyde (2016) have had seasons across New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, The UK & Edinburgh Fringe. The Trojan War premiered in 2022 & has performed in Auckland, Wellington, Hawkes Bay Arts Fest, Taranaki Speigelfest, Hamilton & Taupo Arts Fests. Leo has also directed other works for the company including Slay/Save the Dragon (2021), Safety in Numbers (2022), Death and the Dreamlife of Elephants (2009-11), Settling (2007), & Perfectly Wasted with Long Cloud Youth Theatre (2013). Leo directed/dramaturged Strange Resting Places (2006-11) & Awhi Tapu (2011) for Taki Rua , Black Confetti at Toi Whakaari (2017), & created/directed An Awfully Big Adventure for Capital E (2014-18).
Master of Theatre Arts (MTA) in Directing, Victoria University and Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School (2015). Masters in Arts Politics, New York University: Tisch School of the Arts, Fulbright scholarship (2019). Jane's directing work includes Scenes from a Yellow Peril by Nathan Joe (2022), Another Mammal by Jo Randerson (2021), 48 Nights on Hope Street (Auckland Theatre Company, 2020), the Basement Theatre's 2019 Christmas Show, A Fricken Dangerous Space-mas, The Basement Tapes (Wellington Theatre Awards Best Director 2017, Scotsman Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018), At the Wake by Victor Roger (Circa Theatre 2018).
future-tense
Directors Note It feels slightly ironic to be directing a series of plays set in the future when the current moment is so dystopian. Climate change, war, floods, fires, postcovid (can we even say that we are post-covid?). There are days where it seems like the world is imploding, far more so than ten years ago. To imagine a positive future requires a huge amount of hope and vision, something that as a globe it feels like we are yearning for. In response to our current reality, the six writers commissioned by ATC’s Youth Company have created new plays with tones ranging from sardonic and satirical, to surreal, to strange, to playful, to melancholic and yes, to hopeful too.
Our company, A Slightly Isolated Dog, makes explosive and playful performance works that are a communal celebration of the beauty and ridiculousness of life. The themes of Future-tense have been wonderfully fitting for us and the questions we explore in our work. How do we build a world together in which everyone can be in abundance? How do we pave the way for future generations? A massive thank you to Keagan Carr Fransch and Samuel Phillips for providing us this opportunity to test drive these new works. Thank you both for your absolute support and aroha during this process. Thank you to the writers for collaborating with us and trusting us with your scripts. And thank you to the Youth Company, to the performers for committing to this wild and wacky adventure. - Leo Gene Peters & Jane Yonge A Slightly Isolated Dog
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future-tense Youth Company Cast
CHLOE BETTINA
BRANDON CUDBY
SAHIL GOYAL
SHANNA PAESE
NIKOLAI PUHARICH
KALIA REGAN
TE OHORERE WILLIAMS
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ZANE WOOD
future-tense Writers
LISTED IN ORDER OF PERFORMANCE
TE HUAMANUKA LUITEN-APIRANA IT DIED WITH THE TAIAO
VIRA PAKY
SHELBY KUA
INTERVENTION
HUMAN BEING
ZANE WOOD
TUAKOI OHIA
ALEX DE VRIES
EMPATHY PROPAGANDA
UKI
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DAY WE FINALLY BROKE GROUND ON THE SECOND HARBOUR CROSSING ON THE SHORES OF THE WAITEMATĀ
DAN GOODWIN DRAMATURG
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About the six plays in
future-tense IT DIED WITH THE TAIAO BY TE HUAMANUKA LUITEN-APIRANA
The year is 2123, and the New Zealand landscape has been destroyed. Everyone lives in underground bunkers, and virtual reality rules: we control every action with our minds and can only connect with one another online as our bodies are drip-fed, atrophying, in pods. Many people haven’t even touched another human in their lifetime. In this daring imagining of a possible future, playwright Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana asks vital questions: Can culture and technology exist in harmony, and can an environmentbased culture exist in a world that is increasingly based online? How do we keep sacred traditions alive in a world where we are so dependent on our phones, and when is it too late? When have we gone too far? INTERVENTION BY VIRA PAKY
In this modern allegory, playwright Vira Paky examines the future of Tāmaki Makaurau through the relationship between the city of Tāmaki Makaurau and a young woman that is representative of its 12
most diverse populations. This story is about love - the love this woman has for her city and the way in which her city has hurt her and refuses to make space for her after years of sacrifice. Through their connection, both the young woman and the city learn to heal old wounds and rediscover the meaning of ‘home’. HUMAN BEING BY SHELBY KUA
Ren is determined to receive her One True Purpose. After all, it’s what everyone whoever matters does, so surely she should as well. All she has to do is go through a series of challenges in the three days leading up to her birthday. Easy peasy. But when the trials begin, something seems off — are the choices she’s making really her own, or is there something — or someone — else at play? In Human Being, playwright Shelby Kua builds a choose-your-ownadventure play, that asks: are you an active participant in your own narrative? Do you know where the future lies in this present moment, and are you awake enough to shape it?
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DAY WE FINALLY BROKE GROUND ON THE SECOND HARBOUR CROSSING ON THE SHORES OF THE WAITEMATĀ BY ALEX DE VRIES
EMPATHY PROPAGANDA BY ZANE WOOD
The year is 2030, and the world has changed: love is incredibly hard to come by, and there is no easeful connection between people. There is also no middle ground, as the gap between the haves and the havenots has only grown. In Empathy Propaganda, playwright Zane Samuel Wood explores what happens when people from opposing walks of life, with opposing values, find themselves in a room together, trying to connect. UKI BY TUAKOI OHIA
It is 2028, and people are excited about ‘Uki: Past and Future’ - a new high tech app that allows you to ask any question about a decision you made in your past, and in turn receive a ‘high possibility’ answer about the outcome in your future. In Uki, writer Tuakoi Ohia highlights our human need for the answer to the constant question: Did I do the right thing?
It’s ten years from now, and Prime Minister Swarbrick has finally managed to get the second harbour crossing over the line. A group of construction workers ready themselves to finally break ground, but everything falls apart when the sentient AI urinal installed on site learns that Brodie, the love of their life, is actually in love with someone else. In this cheeky comedy piece, playwright Alex de Vries ruminates on a future where automated health assistants are more commonplace. But will unexpected dangers come with the convenience of AI, and are these mercurial technologies any different to the retired political figures that used to be in charge of regulating them? CURATED BY KEAGAN CARR FRANSCH
The six writers of Future-tense were invited to write a play on the theme of the future – that as the people who will inherit the Earth, young artists are best-placed to interrogate exactly what that means, from whatever standpoint they choose; geo-political, environmental, or relational.
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Creative d o u b l e b i l l 14
HARRIET BARTER
BEKKY BOYCE
CHINMAYA DIXIT
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (THE TRIALS)
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
COSTUME ASSISTANT
CAMERON GREGAN
LUUK HEIJNEN
CONNOR MAGATOGIA
STAGE MANAGER (FUTURE-TENSE)
LIGHTING DESIGNER
SOUND OPERATOR
HAZEL OH
PAIGE POMANA
COSTUME ASSISTANT
SOUND DESIGNER
Thank You Youth Company Supporters Group A collective of private supporters have come together under the leadership of Peter Macky and Joan Vujcich to turbocharge the Youth Company. The generosity of the Supporters Group means this programme can be delivered at no cost to the participants. YOUTH COMPANY SUPPORTERS 2023 Co-Leaders Peter Macky and Joan Vujcich Saints Peter Macky, Joan Vujcich Angels Aaron Boonshoft, Andy Eakin & Paul Boakes, Ron Elliott & Mark Tamagni, Dame Jenny Gibbs DNZM, Charlotte & Ian McLoughlin, Chris & Anne Morris, Jane & Mark Taylor, Ian Webster, Anonymous (1) Cherubs Graham Astley & Keiko Pulin, Anonymous (1) Friends Brenda & Stephen Allen, Bruce Allen, Margaret Anderson, Georgina & Stuart Anderson, Alan Barber, Andrew & Libby Barrett, Jonathan Bielski, Martin & Sarah Gillman, Debbie Graham, Rich Greissman & Randolph Hollingsworth, Bridget Hackshaw & Michael Savage, J Keith, Lulu & Philip Lindesay, Lisa McCarty, Tim Melville, Malcolm & Robyn Reynolds, Sarah & John Taylor, Kerry Underhill & Daan van Gulik, Roberta & Ian Varcoe, Simon Walton, Anonymous (3)
To become a Youth Company Supporter and back the next generation of theatre artists, contact development@atc.co.nz.
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Celebrating Our Partners
Major Supporter
University Partner
Supporting Partners
Core Funder
Presenting Partners
Principal Funders
Thank you to the supporters of Auckland Theatre Company
Acknowledgments Auckland Theatre Company would like to thank the following for their help with this production: Tatty's Designer Recycle, Caitlyn Prince and Foodprint. Cat Ruka, Samuel Walsh, Nicola Brown, Paul Bennett, and the entire team at Basement Theatre. Brit O'Rourke and the Dojo, Briana Duffy and the TAPAC team. All the whānau of the ATC Youth Company.
Friday Forum Fri 24 Nov 2023, 5.30pm at Basement Studio Thanks to Generation Zero and Ark in the Park for making Friday Forum happen. Featuring: GENERATION ZERO Generation Zero is a youth-led climate advocacy organisation. They advocate for effective and equitable climate policies, addressing emissions, and the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities.
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ARK IN THE PARK Located within Cascade Kauri Park and the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, Ark in the Park is home to ancient forest giants, pristine waterfalls and streams, and some very special wildlife. Ark in the Park is a collaborative project between Forest & Bird and Auckland Council, supported by local mana whenua Te Kawerau ā Maki.
AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Vivien Sutherland Bridgwater MNZM (Chair) Ngāti Whātua Bronwyn Bradley Karen Fistonich Isaac Hikaka Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tūwharetoa Katie Jacobs Nathan Joe 周润豪 Derek McCormack Graeme Pinfold LEADERSHIP Artistic Director & CEO: Jonathan Bielski ARTISTIC Artistic Associate & Casting Director: Benjamin Kilby-Henson Youth Company Co-Leaders: Keagan Carr Fransch, Matthew Kereama Ngāti Raukawa, Sam Phillips ARTISTIC OPERATIONS Director, Artistic Operations & Deputy CEO: Anna Cameron Producer: Sums Selvarajan Head of Learning & Participation: Sam Phillips Production Coordinator: Paige Pomana Operations Manager: Lucy Gardner MARKETING & TICKETING Director, Marketing: Joanna O’Connor Marketing Manager: Kate Shapiro Graphic Designer: Wanda Tambrin, Nick Lurman Marketing Executive: Maxene London Ticketing Manager: Bruce Brown Box Office Team Leader: Gary Hofman Ticketing Assistants: Izzy Creemers, Molly Curnow, Weichu Huang, Tobias Mangelsdorf, Jake Parsons, Talia Pua, Sophie Roberts, Sophie Watson FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Director, Finance: Elena Nikolaeva Finance Officer: Dina Abramova Accountant: Reena Mudliar Head of Strategy: Natasha Pearce
ASB WATERFRONT THEATRE Director, ASB Waterfront Theatre: Sharon Byrne Event Manager: Henrique Beirão Co-Front of House Managers: Lucas Haugh, Dario Kuschke Venue Technical Manager: Johnny Chen Senior Venue Technician: Nathanael Bristow Technical Team: Clint Edwards, Mike Keating, Max Manson, Patrick Minto, Aaron Mitchell, Joseph Noster, Ruby Van Dorp Front of House Supervisors: Billy Blamires, Joshua Bruce, Sofi Issak-Zade, Sania Jafarian Front of House: Cara Allen, Ivy Alvarez, Luke Bishop, Elliot Blakley, Billy Blamires, Leila Bouzayne, Joshua Bruce, Emily Burr, Ruben Cirilovic, Jack Clarkson, Bailey Cropp, Mia Crossan, Sam Dawkins, Nat Dolan, Benjamin Forrester, Eva Fulco, Eugene Garry, Mary Grice, Lara Grozev, Grace Hood-Edwards, Kirsty Leggett, Vena-Rose Lennane, Prakritik Mal, Millie Manning, Pearl McCracken, Carla Newton, Arien Okan, Finlay Pinkerton, Fraser Polkinghorne, Pawan Rao, Ailsa Scott, Emily Smith, Joshua Tan, Theo Younger
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CONTACT ATC 487 Dominion Road, Mt Eden PO Box 96002 Balmoral, Auckland 1342 P: 09 309 0390 F: 09 309 0391 atc@atc.co.nz atc.co.nz CONTACT BOX OFFICE ASB Waterfront Theatre 138 Halsey Street Wynyard Quarter, Auckland Subscriber Hotline: 09 309 3395 General Box Office: 0800 ATC TIX (282 849) boxoffice@atc.co.nz FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL! @TheATC @aucklandtheatreco #aucklandtheatrecompany #asbwaterfronttheatre
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Auckland Theatre Company's Youth Arts Programmes support young artists to immerse themselves in the world of theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Keen to join? Head to atc.co.nz/youth-arts for more info
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OUR YOUTH COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS YOUTH COMPANY SUPPORTERS GROUP. PRINCIPAL
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