O le Pepelo, Le Gaoi Ma Le Pala’ai – The Liar, the Thief and the Coward

Co-Writer / Director: Ui Natano Keni (Samoan/Aotearoa)
Co-Writer / Producer: Sarita Keo Kossamak So (Khmer/Aotearoa)
Directors Mentor: Maiava Nathaniel Lees

I Ken So Productions

‘O le Pepelo, Le Gaoi Ma Le Pala’ai’, ‘The Liar, the Thief, and the Coward’ is set in a not so distant past Samoa, where Pili Sā Tauilevā a proud Ali’i from the village of Moa has suddenly fallen ill sending him into a fast downward spiral, leaving him unable to tend to his duties within the family, church and village itself.

In a sacred paradise where “your path to leadership is through service”, Pili’s dwindling light sends the family into overdrive to keep the fire going. But nothing plays out as expected when others come out to join the race.

As principles change will the foundation of Pili’s family remain?

16-17 June 2023
Preview 14 June
Circa One
Weds 6.30pm, Fri – Sat 8pm, Saturday Matinee 2pm

Adult $45
Concession $35
Friends of Circa $32
Groups 6+ $35
Groups 20+ 30
Under 30 $30
Preview $35
Student $25 (w $15 stand-by)

M Rated, 13 years and up, coarse language, smoke effects, loud music, violence.

Runtime: 120 min including 15 min interval

No lockout period

SHOW PROGRAMME – Click here or on image below

Cast:
Semu Filipo
Fiona Collins
Albert Latailakepa
Taofi Mose-Nehemia
Maurea Perez-Varea
Brett Taefu
Jake Arona
Villa Junior
Lanakila Opetaia-Tiatia
Crew:
Production Manager: Nicholas Batey
Set Designers: Mark McIntyre & Tony De Goldi
Lighting Design: Isadora Lao
Sound Design: Emi Pogoni & Karnan Saba
Costume Design: Cara Louise

Script Advisor: Tusi Tamasese
Choreographer: Tupua Tigafua
Stage Manager: Samoana Nokise
Operator: Wren Glover
Poster Artist: Rose Miller
Photography: Mike Clare

Learn More About the Collective

Nō Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

I Ken So Productions is a company founded by Sarita So and Natano Keni, in 2017 they presented ‘Riverside Kings’, co-written together, produced by Sarita and directed by Natano Keni. ‘Riverside Kings’ was a show influenced by Natano’s upbringing as a first-generation Samoan in the area of Timberlea, Upper Hutt, New Zealand. They received three nominations for the Wellington Theatre Awards, for ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ one for the company and one for their actor Lale Ausage and a nomination for ‘Best New Playwright’, which they won for this category.

In 2019 I Ken So Productions was invited to present ‘Digging to Cambodia‘, directed by Natano Keni and Anya Tate-Manning, as part of the Kia Mau Festival 2019, subsequently they have been invited to present the show again in 2020, for Fringe Wellington and The Basement Theatre in Auckland. They were invited and due to travel to Hawaii to present ‘Digging to Cambodia, as part of the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists, however due to Covid-19, this has been postponed until a later date. More recently they were able to continue developing the show and present a short season of the show at The Basement theatre March 2021.

The foundations of our work and the stories we tell are inspired by our own cultural backgrounds, and informed by the landscape of our upbringing, Aotearoa, New Zealand. Nurturing the seed of the story and navigating through the sea that binds us universally.