The Star: October 10, 2019

Thursday October 10 2019 The Star
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
THEATRE/ARTS 29
Actress returns to direct Pasifika play
• By Georgia O’Connor-
Harding
TANYA Muagututti’a was in her
early 20s when she was cast to
play a key role in an original play
capturing the challenges Pacific
Islanders face when they move to
New Zealand.
Now, 25 years on, the original
cast member is back as a director
for Pasifika production Fresh Off
the Boat.
Muagututti’a has been asked
by The Court Theatre to direct
the show – which she first toured
with her theatre company Pacific
Underground in 1993.
Written by Oscar Kightley and
Simon Small, the play successfully
toured the country before
heading over to Australia and
Samoa between 1993 and 1995.
“I am pretty blown away to
have been asked, I feel very fortunate
to have been part of that
early journey and coming to a
point now where it is a new generation.
I am honoured to be able
to direct it,” Muagututti’a said.
She said the writers of the
show are her old friends and to
bring their play to the stage 20
off years later adds to the honour.
Set in Christchurch, Fresh Off
the Boat focuses on the challenges
Pasifikas face when they
move to New Zealand.
Although the show was first
performed in the early 90s,
SHE’S BACK: Original cast member Tanya Muagututti’a (third from right), has been asked
to direct Fresh Off the Boat for The Court Theatre after first performing as an actress in the
production in 1993. Muagututti’a with the 2019 cast and crew.
Muagututti’a believes it is now
more important than ever the
story is told.
She said there are all sorts
of challenges faced by Pacific
Islanders when they first move
to New Zealand – from culture
shock to language barriers.
“I think that is why it is such
a relevant story today – not only
in Christchurch but all over the
world,” Muagututti’a said.
Muagututti’a said Fresh Off the
Boat is a well-known story in the
cities’ Pasifika communities.
“Twenty-five years later, this
story is really about enforcing
that Aotearoa and Christchurch
needs to embrace all people who
come here,” she said.
The show will truly be a family
affair for Muagututti’a. Two of
her daughters – Talia-Rae and
Josephine Mavaega will play the
roles of Evotia and Ula in the
production.
When Muagututti’a first
‘This story is really about
enforcing that Aotearoa
and Christchurch needs to
embrace all people who
come here’
– Tanya Muagututti’a
performed in the production
in 1993, she played the role of
Ula, alongside with her sister
Mishelle.
In the new production, her
husband Pos Mavaega is the
sound designer while her
brother-in-law Tony De Goldi is
the set designer.
While Muagututti’a is a firstgeneration
New Zealander she
shares a deep connection with
her Samoan culture.
When her father moved to
New Zealand between the 1930s
and 1940s, children were told off
and beaten for speaking Samoan
and had to sacrifice their
language.
Muagututti’a said she is hoping
the production will inspire
performers of a Pasifika heritage
to keep sharing their stories and
give them a sense of identity.
•Fresh Off the Boat
will run at The Court
Theatre from October
19 to November 9. To
book tickets go to https://
courttheatre.org.nz
www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.nz