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Samoan in Melbourne @picaainc

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Pasefika Navigators: Workshop #1 with Dr Matt Bray

Thank you to Dr @mattbray_au for mentoring our amazing Navigators today in a calm and informative workshop.

Shout out to all our navigators who came out and we can t wait to see you in the check ins and our next work shop, Leshgooo🫶🏽

#pasefikanavigators #youthleadership #pasefikayouth

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We kickstart the 1st of our training sessions with local Pasefika champion Dr Matt Bray! We can’t wait to learn from him and to hear more about his beautiful Rotuman culture and his journey as a medical practitioner. We got the best of the best here in Melbourne lessshgo Navigators!!!

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#foundationinchrist #thankful #blessedlife #family #youareenough❤

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The cast & crew of HOLDING THE VĀ are thrilled and incredibly blessed to be recipients of 3 awards for this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival @melbfringe |

🏆Best in Words & Ideas category
🏆Crowd Pleaser Award
🏆Geelong Creative Development Award - Supported by Geelong Arts Centre @geelongartscentre

Fa’afetai lava to the Judges of @melbfringe o la outou pule lea.

A HUGE fa’amalo to our audiences, village & families who showed up each performance to witness the mana of Pasefika art.

Fa’afetai tele lava for the unwavering support from City of Maribyrnong @artsandculturemcc Aaron Rowlands @azabojangles & Bluestone Church Arts Space Staff & our @picaainc aiga. We are all part of this waka ✊🏾

To God be the glory always 🙌🏾

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MEET THE AIGA

And finally, the man behind it all
FULISIA ASALEMO TOFETE
(Luatuanu’u | Lona i Fagaloa)

An award-winning Samoan multidisciplinary artist based in Naarm’s west, Asa has worked internationally across theatre, poetry and screen.

His credits include Pop-up Globe, Angels in America and Adagio Sophisticated Circus. Asa received BroadwayWorld Sydney’s Best Supporting Actor Award for Much Ado About Nothing and V’s Most Manic Actor Award for Real Bodil.

His original works include ReHavaiki, Tū Mau, STAY, Poly-Zygotic and Holding the VĀ. Asa directed Good Grief at La Mama Theatre, and his poetry appears in Under the Brimbank Sky and FANUA: Voices of Our Islands.

Asa is Creative Tautai of PICAA Inc. and Artistic Director of its MUA Pacific Theatre Festival.

A note from Asa

“Well, after introducing everyone else, apparently it’s my turn. Awkward.

Holding the VĀ started with a few poems, a lot of ideas and some very patient people who agreed to come along for the ride. I’m not sure they knew what they were signing up for. Neither did I.

What we’ve created together is something I’m incredibly proud of.

There’s been plenty of laughter, headaches and moments where we’ve questioned our life choices. But through it all, we’ve looked after each other.

Maybe holding the vā doesn’t mean holding everything. Maybe you can put something down and trust somebody else will pick it up. (HTV)

It takes everyone to paddle the va’a.
I love this aiga. I hope audiences feel the love, laughter and care that went into making this show.

Fa’afetai lava! What a crew!

Afai ua iai se upu ua lē tusa ma o outou finagalo, ia fa’amagalo mai.

Ia fa’alaolao peau o le ea ma le vasa. Ia fulifao le va’a o mala, ae laga le va’a o manu. Ia taunu’u ma le manuia i le taulaga ua fa’amoemoeina.

Alofa tele atu xxx”

HOLDING THE VĀ
Melbourne Fringe 2026
14–18 October
Bluestone Church Arts Space, Maribyrnong

#HoldingTheVa #MelbourneFringe #PICAA #MeetTheAiga

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5 shows of HOLDING THE VĀ done and our last 2 performances tomorrow. We have had great crowds & some big Pasefika hyena laughs.

Here’s what some of the crowd have shared in their experiences with our show! Fa’afetai lava to all those who have shown ALOFA to HOLDING THE VĀ.

For those who’ve seen our show, feel free to share your experience & leave a comment on the website.

Malo lava fam! Last day tomorrow still tickets for our matinee available!

📸 @fiafia_art

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HOLDING THE VĀ closes this weekend! 4 shows left for our season at @melbfringe

Get in fast fam! Link in bio 🎟️

🎥 @fiafia_art
🎵 @kasekimusik

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MEET THE AIGA

Next up, the man who needs little introduction, LELILI’O STEVE TAFEA (Solosolo & Aufaga)!

Steve is a seasoned performer, musician, director and community leader with a deep connection to Pacific arts across Aotearoa and Australia.

His creative journey began in Christchurch with Pacific Underground, where he performed in Prospects, Rangi and Mau’s Fantastic Voyage and Island Summer. These experiences helped shape his passion for Pacific storytelling and his commitment to creating spaces where Pacific voices and experiences could be shared.

In 2016, Steve directed Melbourne’s first Samoan theatre production, Amataga o le Alofa, an important milestone in bringing Samoan stories to Melbourne stages.

An accomplished musician, Steve has performed with Pacific reggae bands Jahmen and New Generation and has been an accompanist for Pasefika Vitoria Choir since 2016.

His talents also extend to traditional Samoan dance, choreography and MC hosting. From community festivals to Melbourne’s Moomba Parade, Steve has spent decades bringing Pacific people together through music, dance and storytelling.

Throughout his career, Steve has continued to share his knowledge and experience, supporting Pacific artists and strengthening connections within the community.

For Holding the VĀ, Steve brings his musical experience, creative knowledge and deep understanding of Pacific performance to our aiga.

“Steve is one of the finest Pacific artists I know. His talent, knowledge and generosity are extraordinary. Every project I’ve worked on with him has been better because of what he brings. I have enormous respect and admiration for this man.”
— Notes from the Director

HOLDING THE VĀ
Melbourne Fringe 2026
14–18 October
Bluestone Church Arts Space, Maribyrnong

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1 HOUR UNTIL OPENING OF HOLDING VĀ | MELBOURNE FRINGE FESTIVAL

For our Pasefika people ✊🏾

We are EXCITED & PUMPED to share this piece with our audiences. Get your tix - selling fast!

🎥 @fiafia_art
🎵 @kirrahamosa

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OPENING NIGHT TONIGHT & WE ARE SOLD OUT!!!! Cheeehooo!!!
We are PUMPED to share this show so get your tix to the next few shows!
Link in our bio!

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MEET THE AIGA

Next up, the talented hands behind our costumes, MALAGAMA’ALI’I GINA TAFEA (Lalomālava, Papa Sataua, Sapapali’i)

Gina is a Samoan artist and costume designer, and a graduate of Auckland’s Design Academy, specialising in fashion design and construction.

Her practice focuses on sustainable approaches to traditional and contemporary Pasefika attire, with expertise in measina Samoa.

As Director of PICAA’s Lalaga Ola Cultural Arts Programme, Gina leads costume design for theatre productions and facilitates community tuiga-making workshops.

Her work has featured in Amataga o le Alofa, ReHavaiki and The Taumesina Samoa Exhibition. Her tuiga creation, Atamamao, was commissioned and exhibited at Melbourne Museum, celebrating the stories and cultural heritage of Pacific peoples living in Victoria.

“Gina has such a wealth of knowledge and creativity. She puts so much care into what she does, and we’re lucky to have her bringing our costumes to life.”
- Notes from the Director!

HOLDING THE VĀ
Melbourne Fringe 2026
14–18 October
Bluestone Church Arts Space, Maribyrnong

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Our cast & creative team are ready to share the mana of HOLDING THE VĀ! They’ve worked hard over the past few months & tomorrow we open for @melbfringe - get your tickets fam!

🗓️ 14 Oct - 18 Oct
📍Bluestone Church Arts Space
🎟️ https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/holding-the-va
Supported by City of Maribyrnong & @picaainc

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