17 Feb 2017
Groundbreaking theatre company The Conch, makers of last years acclaimed ‘The White Guitar’, are taking over Circa Theatre’s main stage for the day at the invitation of Carolyn Henwood and the Circa board to host The Conchus Summit; to launch the 2017 Women’s Theatre Festival. This bold collaboration is all about foregrounding the work of Pacific women in the performing arts.
Nina Nawalowalo has assembled an impressive array of New Zealand’s leading and emerging pacific female artists including Anapela Polataivao (Winner of the 2016 Auckland theatre awards director of the year) award winning writer Tusiata Avia (Wild Dogs Under My Skirt), Tupe Lualua (Founder of Le Moana), Filoi Vailaau (PDNZ Fono) and Selina Alefosio (PDNZ Fono) for an exciting day of TED talks, heated debate and live performance.
Generously hosted by Circa Theatre the afternoon features powerful presentations from Nina Nawalowalo (The Conch’s Artistic Director), Anapela Polataivao and Tusiata Avia - designed to provoke lively questions and discussion, is completely free to the public, and even has a free afternoon tea included.
The evening performance is a showcase of works from three of Wellington’s most exciting Pacific women theatre and dance makers.
Artistic Director Nina Nawalowalo states
“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.
Pacific women are the storehouses of our arts and stories, from weaving to dance - in the contemporary context they are creating unique and exciting work blending the traditional with the cutting edge. Through the Conchus Summit I wanted to create an exciting day to hear the voices of Pacific women leaders in the performing arts, through TED type talks, and really encourage them to share the heart of their process’, questions and challenges in the now and encourage conversation around the issues. To create a platform for a showcase of Wellington's most dynamic Pacific women theatre and dance makers and to share their work on the legendary stage of Circa One. I want those who come to really get involved in the heat of debate and out of the Summit to hold a series of public meetings during the year to continue the conversations.”
Produced by The Conch in association with Circa Theatre as part of Circa theatre’s Women’s Theatre Festival.
Dates: Saturday 25 February
Details:
Day time: From 1pm, Free registration, with afternoon tea laid on
Pre-show function: From 5.30pm with speeches from Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban and Judge Carolyn Henwood CNZM.
Evening Showcase: 6.30pm-8pm, $15.00
Book now at: circa.co.nz
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