Title: Tales Theatre Schools Tour
Creator: Tales from the Kava Bowl Theatre Company, Suli Moa, Māngere College performing arts department students’ year 10 through to year 13 – and Alisi Tatafu – community advocate, advisor, and classroom specialist.
Artform: Theatre.
Timeframe: September – November 2022, 8 week programme.
Location: Māngere College
This funding will see Suli Moa alongside Māngere College performing arts students complete a creative process (research, develop, and create/write) for a new theatre script. The outcome of this creative process is to have a piece of work, tour-ready with a small lighting rig and sound equipment. The work will then operate on a Pop-up model, where we will go into the communities and schools – rather than the community and the schools going to the theatre we take the theatre to the people.
“The stage play I will create will be based on a collation of everyday school events that involve students. From early migration to sporting success to religion, sexuality, and political movements – to name a few. This piece will celebrate young people and culture highlighting the impacts of who we are as a people. Our contribution to the world and our unique identity. A piece like this is very important in our current environment. I aim to address cultural identity, a topic that many young people struggle with, cultural barriers and connections, and our strengths and weaknesses. This show will include traditional Pasifika dance/movement and song/chant - Our Pasifika Kaupapa of storytelling. Which we as a company have developed since 2012 with our very 1st play "A Heart's Path".- Suli Moa
The show will also include a post-show Q n A, allowing the process of a Fono/ Hui to welcome feedback, and have an open dialogue and discussions between generations within the audience.
Suli Moa studied at Toi Whakaari, The New Zealand Drama School, graduating with a BA in Acting in 2009. In 2011 he went on to further his studies at The University of Auckland gaining a Graduate Diploma in Teaching Secondary Drama & Dance. He has taught Drama in various secondary schools within Auckland and has lectured at The Manukau Institute of Technology in the BA program of performing arts within the Faculty of Creative Arts.
In 2013 he was awarded the Emerging Pasifika Artist award from Creative New Zealand. In 2016 he was awarded Best Pasifika Playwright for his 4th stage play 12TH ROUND, and in 2018 he received the same award for his 5th stage play TALES OF A PRINCESS in the Adam Award by Playmarket NZ. Suli’s screenwriting credits are Polynesian Panthers, Feijoa Club, Far North, and dialogue writer for Shortland Street. Suli is currently an understudy for renowned novelist Alan Duff.
“I was so thrilled when our “call for proposals” attracted the attention of a renowned and award-winning theatre professional, Suli Moa. His proposal to develop from scratch a school touring theatre show was well beyond our annual grant round! But after much negotiation, we’ve persuaded Suli Moa to undertake the initial creative process stages (research, develop, and create/write) alongside local students. Māngere College performing arts students will collaborative with Suli to produce a new theatre script which one day will set off to tour New Zealand!” Arts Broker, Renee Tanner
