Tropical Love Birds BY
VELA MANUSAUTE
DIRECTED BY
ANAPELA POLATA’IVAO
MĀNGERE ARTS CENTRE | NGĀ TOHU O UENUKU
WORLD PREMIERE
16—20 March 2021
CREATIVES
CAST & CREW
Vela Manusaute Writer & Performer Vela Manusaute was the first Niuean to graduate from Toi Whakaari in 1996. In 1997, he was the recipient of the Best Male Comedy award at the Chapman Tripps as one half of the comedy duo The Brownies, widely regarded as pioneers of Pacific comedy. As successful as The Brownies were, he soon realised that as a Pacific Island actor, mainstream acting roles were hard to come by. This led to the formation of theatre company Kila Kokonut Krew in 2002, of which he is co-director with Anapela Polata’ivao. Manusaute’s first play, Taro King, was an instant hit in 2002, earning him a Best Writer nomination at The Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. Independently, he has worked on New Zealand films including The Tattooist. Originating the idea for The Factory – Kila Kokonut Krew’s hit stage musical – Manusaute was also behind the web series spin-off, for which he served as executive producer and actor.
Anapela Polata’ivao Director & Dramaturg Born in Samoa, Anapela Polata’ivao’s ancestral roots stem from Vailoa, Vaiusu, Fagae’e and Safune. A Toi Whakaari graduate, she launched theatre group Kila Kokonut Krew in 2002 with Vela Manusaute; the two were prime movers behind the musical The Factory. Polata’ivao’s achievements include the lead role in Night Shift, for which she won Best Actress at the Fresh Shorts Awards 2012 and went on to win Best Actress at the International Short Film Festival in Spain. She was awarded Best Director at the 2016 Auckland Theatre Awards, and was winner of the 2018 Wellington Theatre Awards Actress of the Year. Production of the Year was awarded to Tusiata Avia’s Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, directed by Polata’ivao, and featuring a cast of powerful Pasefika women. She co-founded TAPA (Tautua Aiga of Performance Art) in 2017, and has directed both of TAPA’s shows to date: John Kneubeul’s Think of a Garden and Alofagia: Le Opera featuring Samoan Operatic Trio Sol3 Mio. Polata’ivao is a staunch advocate of storytelling and believes it holds the power to heal and uplift the human spirit.
Produced by TAPA (Tautua Aiga of Performance Art)
1hr 20mins no interval COMMISSIONED BY AUCKLAND ARTS FESTIVAL
SUPPORTED BY
Aleni Tufuga Aleni Tufuga was born in the village of Asau in Savai’i. He arrived in New Zealand in the 1980s. A veteran of the stage and screen in Aotearoa, from Shortland Street, to Westside, to The Factory web series and stage production, Tufuga has made a significant contribution to the screen and stage over the past 20 years. In 2002 he was a founding member of Kila Kokonut Krew. In 2021, Tufuga joins forces with his old ‘gang’ to play the role of Steve in Tropical Love Birds.
Ilaisaane Green Ilaisaane Green is of Tongan descent. A graduate of the UNITEC Screen and Acting programme, she appeared in the stage adaptation of Tusiata Avia’s Wild Dogs Under My Skirt at Auckland Arts Festival 2019. The play went on to tour New York with a three-week off-Broadway season at the Soho Playhouse. Green was part of the core cast of Brutal Lives – Mo’ui Faingata’a, a web series produced by Kingston Productions. Her performance gained her a Best Actor award at the 2020 Sydney Web Festival. In 2020, Green was cast in a Stan Orignal web series, The Common, which was filmed in Australia.
Petmal Lam Petmal Lam is of Samoan descent and is a proud graduate of the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts (2017). Deeply passionate about Pasefika contemporary dance and performance art, Lam is an original member of the Wild Dogs Under My Skirt cast and crew which toured New York in 2019. She has been involved in numerous productions with different independent companies both on and off stage since graduating, and received an Outstanding Newcomer Award at the Auckland Theatre Awards in 2018.
James Maeva James Maeva is an Auckland-based actor with numerous credits in various capacities for many independent and professional productions. His theatre credits include Polo and To Kill a Mockingbird with Auckland Theatre Company, The Blind Date Project with Silo Theatre, and Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo and Juliet with the Pop-up Globe.
Rocky Manusaute Rocky Manusaute is currently in his second year at Auckland University of Technology, studying Computer Science. Tropical Love Birds marks his Auckland stage debut. His first foray into professional theatre was in Victor Rodger’s hard-hitting thriller, Club Paradiso, at BATS in Wellington in 2019.
Vaimaila Carolyn Urale Baker Vaimaila Carolyn Urale Baker debuted in the 2019 season of Wild Dogs Under My Skirt at Auckland Arts Festival, which was later performed off-Broadway at the Soho Playhouse in New York. The same year, she also had the privilege of being a collaborator in the FAFSWAG show Reclamation at Basement Theatre. “These works made such an irrevocable and profound impact on me, that I decided to continue exploring the world of acting. I’m beyond excited that I get the opportunity to work among amazing artists on Tropical Love Birds.”
Set Design Rachel Marlow Stage Manager Cassandra de la Croix
ABOUT THE SHOW Tropical Love Birds is a high energy drama-comedy played out in the trenches of a lovers’ relationship that is tested at the core. Sani is an electrifying beast of a league star. His island queen, Sheena, is a singer in the local band. They are a match that’s heaven-made. Fast forward 15 years, and Sani is now a roadworks supervisor, while his best mate Steve and nephew Junior work under him. Sheena’s singing career is taking off and a major record deal is about to be signed. As fate would have it, Sani’s past catches up with him on Valentine’s Day, initiating a love now on trial between Sani and Sheena. Meanwhile, left-field Inspector Marina suspects Sani and his boys are up to no good and is determined to put them behind bars. Tropical Love Birds ventures into the often-muted world of domestic violence, using the gravitas of humour, sound and theatre-loving-goodness to uplift courage, presence and alofa.
Tropical Love Birds is recommended for ages 13+ Contains domestic violence, strong language and sexual references
WHERE TO GET HELP If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. Women’s Refuge (womensrefuge.org.nz) 0800 733 843 It’s Not OK (areyouok.org.nz) 0800 456 450 Shine (2shine.org.nz) 0508 744 633 Victim Support (victimsinfo.govt.nz) 0800 650 654 HELP (helpauckland.org.nz) Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700; (Wellington): be 04 801 6655 - 0 The National Network of Family Violence Services NZ (nnfvs.org.nz) has information on specialist family violence agencies Lifeline (lifeline.org.nz) 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357 Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7) This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends. Depression Helpline (depression.org.nz) 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Auckland Arts Festival / Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki champions changemaking, the environment, ambitious ideas, powerful voices, and unique experiences that open our eyes, our hearts, and our minds. The Festival programme reflects our contemporary, multicultural city and country with its many communities and influences. It challenges artists and audiences to be bold and explore new ways of reflecting the world we live in. Through the work of the incredible artists of Aotearoa, we aim to unify, uplift and inspire the people of Tāmaki Makaurau and all who visit. A globally recognised celebration of art and culture taking place each March in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland Arts Festival will be presented for the 13th time in 2021. We welcome you!
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