Curation by Grace Taylor
A co-production with Auckland Arts Festival.
The world of Oceania is not small. From the energetic volcanoes of O'ahu to the wild tides of Aotearoa, she is borderless, vast, and growing bigger by the day. After decades of dismissal and disconnection, her children are closer than ever. It’s time for a reunion.
This Auckland Arts Festival, Silo Theatre brings the wealth and power of Pacific literature to roaring theatrical life. Curated by award-winning poet Grace Taylor and led by powerhouse director Fasitua Amosa, UPU gives the stage to Oceania’s most electrifying poetry. Ben Brown, Karlo Mila, Albert Wendt and more: UPU celebrates our Oceanic trailblazers, the icons and the new writers transforming Aotearoa today.
UPU is a major new production born out of two knock-out Matariki seasons at the Basement Theatre. An all-star line-up of leading Māori and Pasefika performers will invigorate the words of our literary legends and bellow out the proclamations and provocations of the next game-changing generation.
UPU features the work of the following poets:
Tusiata Avia , Audrey Brown-Pereira, Ben Brown, Jaqueline Carter, Sia Figiel, Konai Helu Thaman, Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, Briar Grace-Smith, Simone Kaho, Daren Kamali, Celestine Kulagoe, Albert Leomala, Grace Mera Molisa, Karlo Mila, John Pule, Lyz Soto, Leilani Tamu, Apirana Taylor, Tayi Tibble, Selina Tusitala Marsh, Hone Tuwhare, Brandy Nālani McDougall, Maualaivao Albert Wendt, Noʻu Revilla & Craig Santos Perez
Recommended for ages 15+. Contains strong language and adult themes.
Nathaniel Lees performs in UPU at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Raymond Sagapolutele Photography
Jarod Rawiri performs in UPU at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Raymond Sagapolutele Photography
Ana Corbett performs UPU at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Raymond Sagapolutele Photography
Nicola Kāwana performs in UPU at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Raymond Sagapolutele Photography
Jarod Rawiri performs in UPU at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Andi Crown Photography
The cast of UPU perform at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Andi Crown Photography
Nicola Kāwana performs in UPU at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Andi Crown Photography
The cast of UPU performs at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Andi Crown Photography
The cast of UPU performs at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Raymond Sagapolutele Photography
Gaby Solomona at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Raymond Sagapolutele Photography
Shadon Meredith performs UPU performs at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Andi Crown Photography
Gaby Solomona performs UPU performs at Rangatira, Q Theatre, 2020. Photo credit: Andi Crown Photography
Performance
Mia Blake
Ana Corbett
Nicola Kāwana
Nathaniel Lees
Shadon Meredith
Jarod Rawiri
Gaby Solomona
Production
Grace Taylor
Fasitua Amosa
Micheal McCabe
Rowan Pierce
Anonymouz aka Faiumu Matthew Salapu
Tyla Vaeau
Kristin Seth
Joash Fahitua
