O Le Pepelo, le Gaoi, ma le Pala'ai | The Liar, The Thief & The Coward

In Sāmoa’s not-so-distant past, Pili Sā Tauilevā is a proud Ali’i (chief) in the village of Moa. He has devoted his life to the sacred fa’a sāmoa tradition of service. When he suddenly falls gravely ill and refuses to name a successor, his daughter and son become rivals for the title. But nothing plays out as expected when others come out to join the race.

O lana fanau ua ala ai ona ola umi. Auā e talepe e tamaiti mea uma, pe a to lana mānava.The only thing keeping him alive is his children. Because when he dies, they’ll ruin everything.

Power, politics and tradition collide in this darkly comic piece by Natano Keni (Sāmoa/Aotearoa) and Sarita So (Khmer/Aotearoa). It is a commentary on the growing divide between those who have chosen to stay and those who have chosen to leave.

Using both English and Gagana Sāmoa, O le Pepelo, le Gaoi, ma le Pala’ai | The Liar, the Thief, and the Coward is a modern tale of a man who’s out of step with the times and whose time is running out. Who then will survive?

🎟️ Book Tickets here 
🎭 O le Pepelo, le Gaoi, ma le Pala’ai | The Liar, the Thief, and the Coward by Natano Keni and Sarita So
📅 5 - 23 Mar 2024
📍 ASB Waterfront Theatre

🎭 A collaboration between Auckland Arts Festival, Auckland Theatre Company and I Ken So Productions.