Conchus Summit
Part of WTF! Women’s Theatre Festival!
Proudly presented by Circa Theatre and The Conch
Sat 25 Feb From 1pm
Nina Nawalowalo, Artistic Director of The Conch, calls you to the Conchus Summit – bringing together the voices of current leaders amongst the Pacific Women’s Performing Arts community, with the purpose of opening dialogue between experienced and emerging artists through talanoa and performance events.
CONCHUS CONVERSATIONS
1-4pm | FREE ENTRY
An exciting afternoon of presentations by senior pacific female artists Nina Nawalowalo, Anapela Polataivao and Tusiata Avia taking you into the heart of their current questions, challenges and practice.
Register here
PRE-SHOW WTF! LAUNCH CELEBRATION
5.30-6.30pm
Please also join us from 5.30pm for the pre-show WTF! Launch Celebration with guest speakers, Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban QSO and Circa Council member, Judge Carolyn Henwood CNZM.
EVENING SHOWCASE
6.30pm | $15
Bookings: 04 801 7992 or circa.co.nz
End the day with a showcase of Wellington’s emerging and mid-career Pacific female artists, with performances from Tupe Lualua (Director of Le Moana), Filoi Vailaau (PDNZ Fono) and Selina Alesana Alefosio (PDNZ Fono). With special guest performances from Anapela Polataivao and Tusiata Avia.
Featuring as part of the Conchus Summit – Saturday 25th Feb
Tusiata Avia is a Samoan-New Zealand poet, performer and writer. She performed her one woman show ‘Wild Dogs Under My Skirt’ from 2002-2008; in 2016 it was re-mounted as a play for 6 actors, directed by Anapela Polataivao (who won the excellence award in direction for it at 2016 Auckland Theatre Awards) and produced by FCC. Tusiata has held a number of awards including the Fulbright Pacific Writer’s Fellowship at the University of Hawai’i, the Ursula Bethell Writer in Residence at University of Canterbury and the Janet Frame Literary Trust Award. She teaches Creative Writing and Performing Arts at Manukau Institute of Technology.
“Her work does what the work of major writers is supposed to do: it enlarges the way you see the world.” – Bill Manhire
Nina
Nawalowalo’s work has been presented at over 40 international festivals. Her awards include the Int. Brotherhood of Magicians Comedy Award, CNZ Pacific Innovation and Excellence award and Outstanding Theatre Award in Edinburgh 2014.
In 2016 , Nina had two of her works programmed into the Auckland Arts Festival and recently concluded sold out seasons in Wellington and Auckland of her work ‘The White Guitar’.“Getting taken seriously as a woman artist in New Zealand is a challenge – getting taken seriously as a brown woman artist is another ball park altogether. My own 30 year career in the performing arts has taught me a great deal about the realities of what it takes to succeed and to negotiate the real social challenges. Overcoming these challenges are what makes our work so strong.”
Anapela is Samoan-born. A graduate of Toi Whakaari; New Zealand Drama School, she and her partner Vela captained South Auckland’s theatre company Kila Kokonut Krew for 14 years.
She is a New Generation Arts Laureate recipient of 2014. In the same year, KKK’s acclaimed musical The Factory completed a two month Australian tour followed by a five week season at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Anapela is an award winning Actor and Director – her latest directorial work on Tusiata Avia’s Wild Dogs Under my Skirt earned her a Best Director’s Award at the 2016 Auckland Theatre Awards.
She is currently an Acting Tutor at the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts and recently featured in ‘One Thousand Ropes’ which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival this year.
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CONTACT
Booking Line: 04 801 7992
Please email circa@circa.co.nz for any ticketing queries, group bookings or general Box Office related questions.
