Flying Fetu is committed to building abundant futures for artists of upu (word). Led by co-directors Grace Iwashita-Taylor and Lana Lopesi, Flying Fetu’s mission is creating spaces to unapologetically be a writer, holding communities of upu, and fostering pathways for upu to thrive.

Rolling Out The Fala
10am – 11am Basement Theatre
To open our full day Flying Fetu Festival, we roll out the fala for none other than Nathaniel Lees. Lees is an award winning actor and director who has paved the way for generations of actors and directors after him. Flying Fetu co-director Grace Iwashita-Taylor sits down with her mentor as they take us on a journey through Lees life.

The Naughty Corner
11am – 12pm Basement Studio
We all love reading and seeing works that cross the line and take us to new places. But what is it like being on the other side? In this session, Tusiata Avia, Vela Manusaute and Amanaki Hope Prescott, who each write against the grain in ways that get them sent to the naughty corner, discuss the taboo or tapu topics of their work and how they walk that tight line in their work. This session is chaired by Victor Rodger.

Fanua Feels ' Moana Motions
12pm – 1pm Basement Theatre
Simone Kaho, Maluseu Monise and Karen Leef talanoa with Faith Wilson about the nurturing of their relationships water and land through their creative practices, witness the anchoring of a sense of belonging in moana and whenua, both here in Aotearoa, and through the salt Pacific ocean to the islands of our ancestors. This session is presented in partnership with Saufo?i Press.

The Outliers
1pm – 2pm Basement Studio
Neither here nor there, many writers find their chosen form doesn’t quite sit within the options in the “select art form” section of a funding application. This session celebrates writers Rosanna Raymond, Michel Mulipola & Sheldon Rua as outliers, dwelling on the literary fringes. This session is chaired by Grace Iwashita-Taylor.

World Building
2pm – 3pm Basement Theatre
The black box theatre, flat stage and digital screens cannot confine these writers. For Anapela Polataivao, Jahra Wasasala & Scotty Cotter, storytelling requires the building of alternate worlds. Join them in conversation to see what motivates them, keeps them protected and what stories they tell in these multidimensional spaces.

Whispers (on critical conversations)
3pm – 4pm Basement Studio
Criticism is no easy game, especially within your own communities. More often than not critical conversations take the form of private tea spilling, rather than public discourse — but why? Lana Lopesi speaks with Pelenakeke Brown, Daniel Satele and Leilani Tamu about criticism, hard conversations and if it’s even all worth it.

Ancestral Literatures
4pm – 5pm Basement Theatre
When Teresia Teaiwa wrote that if we assume our literature was only oral, “we continue to mystify writing as a practice and reinforce it as alien”, she was acknowledging the literary expanse found across the Moana. In this session Terje Koloamatangi, Teremoana Rapley, Daren Kamali, and Amiria Puia-Taylor join Salvador Brown in conversation to discuss their own ancestral storytelling practices.

The Wrestler and the Movement Psychopomp
5pm – 6pm Basement Studio
Michel Mulipola, the wrestler and Jahra Wasasala, the movement psychopomp both use story, body and movement in their work. They will each share an offering from their work and then enter into talanoa about their creative practice.

Permission Slips
6pm – 7pm Basement Theatre
We can’t always wait for our permission slips to be signed to tell our stories, as many Moana creatives know, sometimes you just need to build your own spaces. In this session Vea Mafile'o of Malosi Pictures, Sisilia Eteuati of Tatou Publishing, and Taualofa Totua of Filemu Zine talk to Faith Wilson of Saufo?i Press about giving themselves permission to build storytelling platforms.

Shaking Out the Fala
7.30pm – 9.00pm Basement Theatre
To bring the Flying Fetu Festival to a close, the fala is shaken out one last time. Join us for an evening salon session, of brand new and yet to be heard work. Guaranteed to include laughs, tears, and possibly some awkward silences. Hear from Tusiata Avia, Vea Mafile?o, Cia Muller, Leki Jackson Bourke, Samara Alofa, Fetuolemoana Teuila Tamapeau, Faith Wilson and Grace Iwashita-Taylor.

Flying Fetu in partnership with Basement Theatre and funded by Creative New Zealand.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before show start time. Latecomers admitted into the theatre at Basement's discretion. No refunds will be given.

Please note unfortunately the Basement Studio space is not wheelchair accessible.

$15 and $20 Basement Mates tickets available for this event. Find out more about Basement Mates here.

COVID-19 measures at Basement Theatre:

- Our spaces are small and have a lack of airflow, so we still strongly encourage you to wear a mask while watching a show. You are welcome to remove it to eat and drink.

- If you have any COVID-19 symptoms or have been required to isolate, please stay home. If you find yourself with a ticket but are unable to come, here are the details on what you can do with your ticket.

- Full details of Basement Theatre’s Covid-19 prevention measures

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