Takapuna
"The loneliness roars" - What the audience said in Takapuna
featherStrength, Takapuna - 5 July 2026
The night after the World Premiere, a different room, a different audience, the same honesty.
On adjusting to a child the world doesn't expect:
"I'm really conscious how hard it is to adjust to what it means personally - and with our society - when your child isn't perfect, and it's reasonably obvious that that's so."
On the families you never see:
"There's multitudes of different intricate situations that people are living their lives so silently. You know that their lives may be different, but you don't always get that proper insight of what it actually looks like."
On watching featherStrength:
"Having that insight from watching featherStrength was a real vulnerable reminder for me. So I can see my tears running down... I've obviously really appreciated watching that film. Thank you."
On permission:
"The permission to look after yourself. The permission to take time. The permission - it's okay to be lonely."
On the loneliness:
"Because the loneliness, when you're having a special new child, is loud. It roars! But it's nice to see something that gives you the permission."
This is what featherStrength is for - not to explain caring to people who don't know it, but to hand a moment of recognition to the ones who do, and haven't had permission to say so out loud.
If any of this sounds like your own bridge, come tell us about it.
featherStrength - living the life you didn't plan for. [Add your voice at featherstrength.com/the-bridge]
‘Solidarity’ Sculpture
