UMA LAVA
YOU BETTER SAY YOUR PRAYERS WELLINGTON!
Anapela Polataivao + Goretti Chadwick + Mario Faumui = a hell of a good time in the F.C.C production of Uma Lava by Victor John Rodger at Circa Theatre from November 23-December 7. Don't miss out...
We sat down with Anapela & Goretti aka Pani & Pani to have a chat with them about the show:
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What is new & different about this play for Poly Peeps?
Anapela: It's a difficult one isn't it because we'd like to think that we can be open and honest & talk about how we really think & feel about people. In this play there's really nothing to veil it or soften some of the blows that happens inside in terms of dialogue and how different characters are expressing the way they think about people in different occupations for example like academics or those in religious ministries. We'd like to think that it's not for us but I also think to a certain degree it is for us because there area a lot of truths inside that I think if all masks are really off & you come to talk about what you really think about others - that's what you're coming to watch.
How exciting is it being back on stage with each other?
Goretti: It feels normal. It's not a Pani & Pani show but at the same time it is. It's us being stupid with someone else and it's really nice doing something thats un-PC. It's quite freeing to be able to drop several F Bombs and other bombs, little pāfaga bombs, atomic, nuclear (laughs)
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What is the special magic that happens when you guys work together?
Goretti: We want to know when lunch break is, we need to be able to sit down, do we have mattresses? there are - there's 2, and we just have a really awesome team. This is a team that are not going to get anywhere because we're all losers (laughs) We're all vasti's so it's really nice aye? It's fun coming to work!
How important is it that Pacific people are writing and telling our own stories?
Goretti: I think it's really important otherwise we're going to see the same stories - you know our parents are on the benefit, or they're all cleaners or we're all living in State Housing. Thats the same story line we're all going to be given, it doesn't matter what format, so it's good for us to just write our own stories because - and I'm just trying to avoid that word that I hate, I hate the word diversity so much (laughs) It's important that we're telling our stories and even if we're not telling our stories it's nice that it's being told by a Pacific Islander.
What’s your advice to fledgling young brown women who want to get into performance?
Anapela: I really want to say take training, some type of classes because you know, you want to progress in the game, you don't want to come and bots it.
Goretti: People do think that if you take training, you don't have natural talent and thats crap. It's not natural talent vs training. Honestly it can be the most annoying thing ever cos people think that you don't have natural talent if you get training ...
Anapela: Right and there's something to be said for taking formal training and being classically trained. If you are a serious player I'd say do as much as you can, go to the auditions, take every opportunity, find some classes to go and do ...
Goretti: Use your phone, video yourself, practise! Thats what they do overseas, a lot of the time they'll video your audition ...
Anapela: And move with the times, I know one of the schools is huge on screen acting, so they're getting really clued up on how to craft for screen which I think is really important.
Goretti: Well they're our babies aren't they so there's a different love for them and you've gotta put it aside because he's not our baby on stage, he's the same as us.
Anapela: Yes and also they're professionals in their own right, they've done the yards in their own way and have arrived at this point in time with their own accolades you know? They've earned their spots. They're always here to do the work and what I love is they're early, on time and learning their lines. PIPA yo (laughs) It's brilliant because Letti and I were once upon a time their tutors and it's a thing when you're now working with them. It's all that stuff that you built from the beginning as foundation and now you go 'Cool there you go!' you know what I mean? And on this end as much as they're our babies they're also our colleagues and also our friends and yeah, co-stars - you know it's all family. They've got their own voice and they walk and talk and be whoever they would like to be in these spaces. I love it!
'Uma Lava' opens at the Circa Theatre in Wellington on the 22nd of November and runs through until the 7th of December.
Get your tickets to the show here
