From God to Coconut

The world's first two-handed solo, Leaving the Underworld, opens at BATS Theatre in Wellington on Wednesday 15th September. This new devised piece blends Tongan mythology and contemporary physical theatre, and stars its creator Fiona Truelove along with Naked Samoan Jerome Leota.From God to Coconut

The world's first two-handed solo, Leaving the Underworld, opens at BATS Theatre in Wellington on Wednesday 15th September. This new devised piece blends Tongan mythology and contemporary physical theatre, and stars its creator Fiona Truelove along with Naked Samoan Jerome Leota.Truelove initially created the show as a solo exploring her Tongan-Irish heritage, with the assistance of the Playmarket BATSLab scheme. With a season at BATS secured and Creative NZ on board as funder, dramaturge Nancy Brunning soon became the director, and Leota was brought in to provide live music before becoming a second performer as the show evolved.

Truelove hopes to take Pacific Island theatre into a new direction, saying it was important for me to go back pre-colonisation and explore storytelling in a way my ancestors might have. People can come to think myths aren't relevant to their lives, subsequently I don't know what my culture is so I have to write modern-day myths to find out who I am.?

With its exploration of societal attitudes towards New Zealand-born Pacific Islanders, Leaving the Underworld comes at the perfect time for the country with Pacific Islanders both captaining the All Blacks and carrying the flag for the New Zealand Olympic Team.

Truelove believes that it is this very water that appears to divide us that actually draws us all together. New Zealanders are all Pacific Islanders, we are a Pacific Island nation and need to define our own stories.?

This idea of unity is reflected in the composition of the seven person Leaving the Underworld team, with Truelove drawing together a crew spanning Irish, Pacific Island, Maori, and Pakeha backgrounds.

Leaving the Underworld shows at BATS Theatre at 7pm nightly from the 15th to 25th September (no show Sunday). Tickets cost $15 full or $12 concession, and can be purchased from BATS on 802 4175, book@bats.co.nz, or 1 Kent Terrace, Wellington.