Amataga O Le Alofa - The Beginning of Love

This show displays a variety of Samoan creative arts - theatre, music and dance. The show premiered in June 2016 to a sold-out audience (City of Yarra Emerge Festival 2016), and due to an overwhelming response from the Pacific community of Melbourne - as well as support from the Multicultural Arts of Victoria - the cast has prepared a more developed show with extra scenes, dances and songs for larger audiences.

'Amataga o le Alofa' (The Beginning of Love) promises an evening of LOLs and LMAOs - showing Samoan comedy and drama at its finest. The show utilises artists from the Melbourne Samoan community - including a strong cast drawn from renowned performance groups: The Melbourne Samoan Choir, Nesian Pearl, and Tama Tatau.

Written by: Delsa Evotia Tuitea
Directed by: Steve Tafea
Producer: PICAA INC. (Pacific Island Creative Arts Australia Inc.)
Choreographers: Victor Vitaliano and Filomena Wairasi
Music Director: Rita Seumanutafa
Costumes: Gina Tafea

Cast: Sanele Savea, Tavai Faasavalu, Litia Huch, Patrick Faaaifili, Asalemo Tofete, Danny Wairasi, The Melbourne Samoan Choir, Nesian Pearl, and Tama Tatau.

Conflict creates an imbalance of power for the heavenly gods Tagaloa,Lau A’au and Anoano, when Tagaloa impulsively creates a new land and sea far from their reign in order to continue their legacy. Caught in the midst of this struggle are their children, and future rulers, Tagi and Tuli, who are caught in a love triangle with the beautiful Sina. The young gods are torn between their unprofessed love for Sina and their duties as children of supreme gods. “Amataga o le Alofa” offers a showcase of Samoan creative arts and artists in the form of music, dance, theatre and craft, exploring themes of power, hidden agendas, familial duties and honour whilst framed in the beautiful Samoan culture. Produced by PICAA INC, this production is created, developed and performed by the Samoan community of Melbourne, Victoria and was premiered to a sold-out audience at the City of Yarra Emerge Festival 2016.

Note: This is the first of two shows (Please see 'Amataga o le Alofa' Sat 24th September, for the second show).