Pacific Theatre writing in the UK 2012 - 2024
Play Readings +
The Collected Works of Sani Muliaumaseali'i
TALUNE
A girls dream portends the devastation brought to Samoa in 1918 by the flu pandemic.
‘Last night, I had the most magnificent dream; I dreamt my whole family came to the wharf to meet me’
Talune, is a powerful stage work blending fact and fiction to evoke the 1918 influenza pandemic in Samoa. Premiering in London in 2018, it follows Teine (Nina Thilas Mohs) returning to Upolu from the big island of Savai‘i, walking home alone from the wharf when her brothers fail to meet her. Told through dreamlike vignettes that move to and fro between Teine’s monologue and the surrounding action, the work blurs reality and imagination as her personal loss opens into the wider grief of a nation.
At its centre is the arrival of the SS Talune , the New Zealand ship that carried influenza to Samoa, its impact compounded by the negligence of Colonel Robert Logan (Alan Mosley). Engaging with the entangled histories of Samoa and New Zealand, the play confronts colonial power and the disregard for Samoan lives.
Blending singing, movement, and storytelling, *Talune* is both remembrance and reckoning—a tribute to those lost and to the enduring resilience of the Samoan people.
**Footnote:**
Some historical context draws on the book *Mau : Samoa's struggle for freedom* by Michael Field, alongside anecdotal family knowledge, woven by Sani Muliaumaseali‘i into a deeply human account of this tragedy.
TICKETS: ONLINE £20 / Door sales £25 - Cash only
REVIEW: “Is there anything more powerful than a true story? Yes. It is an untold story.”
Play Readings +
Performers read a script aloud, usually without sets, props, or costumes, emphasizing vocal delivery over staging.
+ Music + Movement + Momentos Moana a Kiwa
AVA CEREMONY & MORNING TEA - 10:00 - 10:55
To mark Samoan Independence Day (1 June 1962), a special presentation will take place on at Saturday 6 June 2026, during the week of national celebrations.
This event will feature a demonstration of the ‘Ava ceremony, one of Samoa’s most significant cultural rituals. Guests will have the opportunity to experience the ceremony in an intimate setting, offering insight into its meaning, protocol, and cultural importance.
The presentation will be followed by light refreshments and morning tea.
The AVA & MORNING TEA tickets will no longer be available after May 27 - BUY NOW!
ABOUT THE WRITER
Layered artist, operatic tenor, and Pacific cultural architect Sani Muliaumasealii turned to writing after personal upheaval. The only Samoan writer creating specifically for the UK stage, he is a singular voice and true game changer. Co-founder of GAFA Arts Collective, he fuses language, ritual, and music, reshaping British theatre through Pacific perspectives.The works gathered here reflect this, alongside politics, history, and creative passions. All are envisioned for full staging in London in 2027, celebrating Sani’s 60th year. A pioneer in his field, he continues to shape and expand the presence of Samoan and Pacific voices on the UK stage. Sani holds the chiefly (Matai) title of Siliga from Vaitele, Samoa.