Tatau: Rites of Passage

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Event Tatau: Rites of Passage
Venue Herald Theatre, Auckland CBD, New Zealand
First Date 1 February 1996
Last Date 29 February 1996
Dates Estimated No
Status Unknown
World Premiere No
Description The play by the Christchurch group Pacific Underground, working with Australia's Zeal Theatre, is based on the histories of Samoan families who have emigrated to New Zealand since the 1940s. They use the tatau -- Samoan for tattoo -- as a metaphor for their experiences.A New Zealand-born Samoan who doesn't want to be named is the subject in this play. On opening night last Thursday he lay down on stage surrounded by his family and the artist, Su'a Paulo, came on stage and began the tattoo. Each night since the tattoo has continued and the play is built around it.
Primary Genre Theatre - Spoken Word
Secondary Genre Drama
Subjects Tatau
Tattoos
Organisations
Contributors
Name Function Notes
Oscar Kightley Actor Minister, Floyd
Mishelle Muagututi'a Actor Missy
Joy Vaele Actor
Oscar Kightley Director
Stefo Nantsou Director
Works
Text Nationality New Zealand
Samoa
Production Nationality New Zealand
Further Information The show also played in the Pacific Wave Festival in Sydney in 1996.
Event Status Completed
Data Set Theatre Aotearoa
Event Identifier 188331