MATALA
MATALA was a project initiatied at the beginning of 2021 to provide an opportunity to emerging artists in the Marlborough region to develop their creative and artistic skills through a 30 week pre-professional, multi-disciplinary training programme.
Through our 30 week pre-professional training programme our Creative Facilitators worked with students to create a 45 minute original work. Originally crafted for live performance, COVID-19 meant this had to be adapted to a digital show weeks before live show, which became available for online paid viewing between 29th November - 5th December 2021.
In Tongan, Matala is often used to describe the growth or ‘blooming’ of flowers. Life, growth, dispersal and regeneration. Dance and spoken word, song and pure energy, this exciting new work from Fua Creative celebrates growth, culture and new life. Crafted through the lens of Vita and Nicole Vaka, Sheldon Rua, and Kimi Young, this is the new wave of Pasifika voices in Te Tau Ihu. MATALA has been created through a 30 week programme which harnessed the energy, experiences and creative excellence of the rangatahi talent of Waiharakeke Blenheim.
MATALA is proudly funded by Creative New Zealand's Nga Toi a Rohe - Arts in the Regions Fund 2020
THE CREATIVES
Director: Vita Vaka
Executive Producer: Nicole Vaka
Director of Music: Vita Vaka
Director of Spoken Word: Sheldon Rua
Director of Dance: Kimi Young
Director of Photography: Daniel Wye
Video Editor: Joey De Guzman
Camera Assistant/Operator: Charlotte Panoho
Camera Operator: Peata Panoho
THE
STORY
The story behind the Matala show was a organic process. The script grew from a organic process of creating music, choreography and spoken word based on key themes of matala which were identity, culture and pure energy. this resulted in a montage of different art pieces that developed into an abstract theatre production that displayed only few of the local talent in blenheim who grew and blossomed (matala) through the workshops and the professional arts experience.
You can read more on the story in the
MATALA Process
TESTIMONIALS
“I have developed as an artist in this professional experience. it Helped me to understand and have an insight of what it is like in the industry of performing arts. Not only have I gained the confidence as a performer but I have found confidence in myself as a creative."
“Matala. Wonderfully creative, thought provoking and visually sensational – loved it!”
“Amazing, your craft is so creatively insane, our household loved it.”
“Through Matala I gained many skills, such as choreography, dance and vocal techniques and song writing."
“The show was beautiful! Everything was so well done; I can’t believe how professional it was. I loved seeing the choreography in it and the performance everyone worked so hard for. I wish it was performed for a live audience – surely when restrictions lift? All in all I loved it so much, such a performance is revolutionary especially in a little old town like Blenheim. What a blessing to watch, I couldn’t stop smiling. Great to see all the creative gifts put to use, my heart is so full!”
Music & Dance Segment of the Mātala Show has successfully been selected into the Silver Reel for Top of the South Film Festival. This film has been nominated for an award & will be showcased across Nelson, Blenheim and Motueka.
Supported by
