‘Sons of Vao’: Vela Manusaute brings first Niuean story to ATC

Five minutes from the ASB Waterfront Theatre is the Auckland wharf where a young Vela Manusaute once fished with his brother and his father after arriving from Niue in 1979.

Forty years later, the Niuean-Sāmoan playwright stands by the same waterfront preparing to make history.

His new play, Sons of Vao, is the first Niuean story ever presented on the main stage by Auckland Theatre Company (ATC).

The Adam NZ Play Award-winning drama is written by Manusaute and co-directed by his partner, Anapela Polata’ivao ONZM (Tinā, One Thousand Ropes).

For Manusaute, the moment is bigger than theatre.

“It is the first of its kind for the Niuean language to be in the mainstream audience," Manusaute tells Island Time. “People are going to hear my words, hear my stories, our stories, and celebrate our stories."

Sons of Vao follows three brothers who move from village life in Niue to suburban Ponsonby in Auckland. But the true terrain of the play is the volatile shadow of their father, Vao, played by Beulah Koale (Tinā, Hawaii Five-O).

Vao is charismatic and handsome, but his anger controls the household. Violence is the language through which he raises his sons.

“I am who I am today as a man because of my father,” Manusaute says. “As a child looking up, he was a hard man for us, hard man for me.

The award-winning director says the drama was inspired by his own upbringing and the complicated love he still carries for his late father.

“It's inspired by my own personal journey…the heart is a tribute to my father. I wrote this story because I wanted to celebrate him, because he passed on without me saying my farewell.”

While Sons of Vao deals with family violence, masculinity, displacement, and generational trauma, it also carries moments of humour and warmth.

Manusaute, who is also an award-winning comedian in Aotearoa New Zealand, says laughter became a way to survive difficult experiences.

“Drama was my way of standing up for myself and making people laugh instead of them making me cry,” he says.

The story is brought to life by an all-male Pacific cast including Koale, Haanz Fa’avae-Jackson (Red, White and Brass), Epine Bob Savea (Hibiscus & Ruthless, Fantail), and Brett Taefu (Freedom Fighter).

For Pacific audiences, the play opens conversations about the lasting impact of violence inside the home and the struggle to break those cycles.

But Manusaute says the story is ultimately about love, healing and understanding.

“The key theme is really a celebration. Looking back, love is so vital,” he says. “I'm blessed to be able to tell this particular story.”

Creative Team

Playwright: Vela Manusaute

Co-Directors: Anapela Polata’ivao & Vela Manusaute

Production Design: Sean Coyle

Composer: David Long

Sound Design: Sam Clavis

Dramaturg: Stacey Leilua

Engine Room Assistant Director: Sepelini Mua’au

Sons of Vao runs from 18 June to 5 July at Auckland’s ASB Waterfront Theatre. Tickets are available here.