HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - SEPELINI MUA'AU
SEPELINI MUA'AU
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY TUTOR
SAMOAN
My name is Sepelini Pati Mua’au and I am a New Zealand born Samoan. I am the youngest of 4, my mother is from the village of Falelatai and my father from Levi-Saleimoa. I was raised in Wainuiomata, completed my Secondary schooling at St. Bernard’s College in Lower Hutt and tertiary education at Victoria University of Wellington. I currently work at Victoria Univeristy in the School of English, Film, Theatre & Media Studies as a support tutor for 100-level Maori and Pasifika students, I also tutor for the theatre programme and write plays on the side.
You have a Master of Arts in Theatre - What did that degree entail and why do you think you were drawn to theatre?
Theatre definitely started off as an interest, like many Samoan parents, ideally they wanted me to be a lawyer or doctor. In 2010, my last year of College, I was fortunate enough to travel to London to perform on the Globe Theatre stage, so my family knew there was something there for me. I still took up Law papers at University but after first year decided to pursue the Arts degree. (By decided, I mean I didn’t tell my parents I wasn’t doing Law until quite a while later). By 2016, I had completed my undergraduate, honours and Master’s at Victoria University of Wellington, where part of my Master’s included putting on a full production of a play I wrote, Blackout, which I still have sitting around somewhere.
Would you ever look to get in to TV or is theatre where your heart is?
I guess theatre is where I have been the last couple of years so I haven’t looked into TV at all, but throughout my studies I was fortunate enough to cover many aspects of the arts industry, so I definitely wouldn’t rule out script-writing or acting for the small screen (cue the Shortland St jokes).
You're currently in 'The Movers' which opens tomorrow and shows until the 14th. What attracted you to the role and what do you hope people will take away from the show?
Mover’s is a very exciting project to be involved with. It is a beautiful and subtle piece of theatre and I was immediately attracted to the character’s themselves. I think everyone can appreciate who they are and draw parallels with their own lives. Tai has many similarities to me, a young Samoan and recent graduate who dabbles in odd jobs after finishing university and his experiences in the play are relatable to many Samoans living here in NZ. Book your tickets, you won’t want to miss out!
How has your upbringing & culture shaped you into the man you are today?
We were brought up in the Congregational Church of Samoa (EFKS Lower Hutt) where like many other young Samoans, every year, we got a taste of the stage during White Sunday performances. My many roles included Jesus during the annual easter plays and also his father Joseph in the annual Christmas play. I guess you could say it was then I was drawn to performing in some way. I had the same upbringing like many NZ born Samoan's, with large family gatherings, food for days, cousins who were more like siblings with the odd family drama to mix things up haha. In all seriousness, I am thankful for my upbringing, it wasn't easy but I wouldn't have it any other way.
My siblings and I had a very fortunate upbringing thanks to my parents’ work ethic. And you hear this from a lot of young Polynesian kids growing up here, but it’s true. My parents work hard, they still do. They sacrificed a lot for us so when I say we had a fortunate upbringing, I don’t mean we had a flash house or always had flash gadgets. I mean we were fed, we were schooled, we had clothes (although my cousins/siblings still roast me about my Warehouse clothes) and we were loved. My parent’s continue to inspire me.
What are your goals for the future?
Marry the love of my life, my fiance Liv. Travel the world. Buy a proper bed. I have another play in the works about two Samoan brothers that I’d like to get on stage at some point.
