A play of Pacific cultures, voyaging and love, known as, “My Grandfather is a Canoe” has won a prestigious Dunedin Fringe Festival’s Touring Award to perform at Auckland Fringe.

The award means the play will go to the Auckland Fringe Festival in September, this will follow a five-day season at Christchurch’s Little Andromeda in July.

According to first-time playwright, Faumuina Felolini Maria Tafuna’i, the play was based on a book of poetry she launched last year.

“We tried to give the community an immersive experience with the music, the colours and vibrancy of the Pacific,” she said in a media release.

Faumuina added that the award has given us another port for our waka to visit and share our stories, celebrate our ancestors, our artistry and connections.

The award provides NZ$1,000, free registration and support to deliver the play at Auckland Fringe.

The play features eight Pacific languages which includes the poetry of Papua New Guinean Michael Dom and Faumuina's son, Oliver, who is one the lead guitarists and vocalists. 

Each poem had its own illustration, created by artist, Silivelio Fasi, which were projected on stage.

With the COVID-19 Omicron outbreak, My Grandfather is a Canoe was thrown into a few storms with Faumuina, who is a wayfinding strategist, and her Dunedin collaborators Inati Aotearoa, producer Pip Laufiso and musical director Hiliako Iaheto, all getting sick the week of the show.

“We started this show using wayfinding to work out all the things that could go wrong and how could we mitigate them? Hence, we had my niece, Lasela Sumner, in from Christchurch as an understudy.

“Lasela was amazing with only a day in my role, and the rest of the cast made up of the White family - Dad Petone, Mum Mauosamoa and their two daughters Emily and Melitiana -rallied to support her. So, to get the touring award despite that upheaval is so gratifying.”

Laufiso said that theatre titans Pacific Underground’s Tanya Muagututi’a and Posenai Mavaega also came to Dunedin to support the production and overall delivery.

She said the lessons learnt over two years of contingency planning for events and community wellbeing came into sharp focus.

“The arts sector has been hammered with cancellations but it has also risen to the challenge to find innovative solutions.

“Pasifika creatives reached out to each other to offer and provide support and our own whānau / aiga and community pitched in to help cover the bases.”

Iaheto, who went from leading the band to mentoring his musicians online, said he was proud of the band, which also included Siaosi Kei, Lopeti Sumner and Waisea McGoon shared the leadership roles and performed so well on stage.

Directing the play is Marisiale Tunoka, a Dunedin-based actor and director.

“To have an all-Pacific cast meant we had a more organic process, and we didn’t have to spend time explaining our cultures to each other. 

“Prayer, shared meals and having children at rehearsals also made it special.”

Fabric artist Ron Te Kawa designed the costumes. 

Taylormade Media sponsored the sound and lighting while 555 Dunedin Motel assisted with the accommodation, “but more than that, Manager Justin Hanning looked after our young artists and made them feel welcome,” said Ms Laufiso.