UPU are a collective based in New Zealand who aim to create more opportunities for Pacific performing artists by making contemporary, Pacific centred works for both stage and screen. UPU, meaning ‘word’, in many different languages of the Pacific Islands, brings together the voices of those living among the islands of the Pacific Ocean, also known as Te moana Nui a Kiwa.
Coming together at the Sydney Opera House, UPU Collective combines poetry with evocative storytelling. Through the work of 23 poets, the history and cultural struggles of the pacific islands is explored, reflecting on identity and the perspectives of First Nations peoples.
With Artistic Direction and Curation from Co-Creators Fasitua Amosa and Grace Iwashita-Taylor, this captivating performance will transport and delight you.
The ensemble cast, including Maiava Nathaniel Lees, Fasitua Amosa, Nicola Kāwana, Mia Blake, Ana Corbett and Shadon Meredith, are utterly mesmerising. Their impassioned and powerful performances will make you laugh and fill you with a deep sense of reverence. Their ability to move about the stage, their words bouncing off one another, appears effortless.
Spam’s Carbon Footprint by Craig Santos Pere, which explores the Americanisation of the islands, details the joys of SPAM in Guam. Mixing levity with cultural erasure, the performance is vibrant and engaging. Quips about the glory of SPAM are undercut with comments on health impacts, asking you to consider the consequences of foreign interference.
Another highlight is SONGS OF THE FAT BROWN WOMAN by Sia Figiel. The combination of the detailed and descriptive words with the exuberance of the performers, creates the most vivid picture in the minds of the audience of the fat brown woman. Her presence leaps off the stage, truly revealing the sheer power of words and the people that wield them.
Lighting, Projection Design and Technical Operator, Rowan Pierce does an incredible job creating a consuming and provocative light and soundscape that enhances the words being spoken. The projections and various lighting effects provide an intimate atmosphere that makes the audience feel as if we have all gathered together to share stories and tell truths.
There is a part of me that feels, as a caucasian person, I am not equipped with the cultural knowledge or lived experiences to truly understand the depth of the stories presented by UPU Collective. I have no doubt that the performance would land differently if a person has ties to the Pacific. But perhaps that’s the point. My eyes and my heart have been opened to the words and stories of these incredible poets, leaving me with a sense of awe and deep gratitude for being afforded a glimpse into this world.
To be able to hold an audience in the palm of your hand through the spoken word is a gift, and one that was on full display tonight.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
UPU Collective will perform at the Sydney Opera House until 10 May 2025.
For more information and to purchase tickets head to the Sydney Opera House website.
Reviewer attended on 7 May 2025.
Photos: Daniel Boud
