Mā

“E lele le toloa ae ma’au i le vai” – The toloa bird flies all over but always returns to the water.

‘Mā’ is a poignant, and heartwarming new theatre work.  Merging compelling poetry and eccentric devised theatre to comment on the themes of chosen family, motherhood, and identity.  

Mā will be Jonjon Tolovae’s debut work as an independent emerging artist.  

Programmed through Auckland Pride Elevates Programme, the world debut of Mā is one of three shows, featured in this not-to-be-missed Lineup! 

A celebration of not only MVPFAFF+ peoples but our Pacific Community in its entirety.

Your contribution positively impacts the production quality, helping to cover costs such as set design, costume and creative talent.

“E le falala fua le niu, ae falala ona o le matagi” - The coconut tree does not sway by itself, it sways because of the wind.

Director/performer: Jonjon Tolovae

• Music Director/performer: Lijah Mavaega
• Performer: Nikeidrian Lologa-Peters
• Cultural Advisor: Jake Tupu
• Costume Designer: Sammy Salsa
• Dramaturg: Joshua Iosefo
• Producer: Kasi Valu 

We appreciate any form of support whether it is sharing the link, donating or purchasing a ticket to watch the show! 

Opening Tuesday 25 February - Saturday 01 March 2025 at Q Theatre - The Loft 

Tickets: https://aucklandpride.org.nz/shows/ma/ 

GIRLLL! We need the KARA Coconut Cream, not the Gluten-Free Coconut Cream! 

We are gratified to have a solid support system, both pastoral and financial from the Auckland Pride Elevates Programme.

The funds we are asking for are towards just remuneration for practitioners involved, along with embellishing the show with high-quality production elements. 
 

• Materials for costumes 
• Production Gear for Staging & Lighting
• Fee for Musicians 
• Fee for Videographer 
• Fee for Producer 

“A logo tai ua logo uta” - What is felt in the ocean is felt in the land

Mā is an interpersonal work for Jonjon Tolovae and the cast involved. The platform of Auckland Pride Elevates is unique in its ability to highlight stories that are generally overlooked or afforded to Rainbow Emerging Artists. 

We understand the duty of care we have, not only to our communities but to these generational stories. The onus of highlighting the Trans-Fa'afaine diaspora experience is nuanced, and complex, but deserves to be told, not just with this single show, but again, again and again. We hope this project is an impetus for a more modulated and diverse landscape of storytelling. 

Mā is one nail coat, part of a vast array of acrylics, that will over time,  level up with new layers and jewels. This first iteration is the first step towards developing work across different festivals, theatres and spaces. 

"E le sua le lolo i se popo e tasi" - It takes more than one coconut to produce a substantial amount of oil

Our journey is the sum of our ancestral bloodlines and villages, both genealogical and cosmologically chosen. To ensure we keep our furnace not only Burning but Shining we come to you, our community to support this Kaupapa. 

Donating to this theatre show as part of the Auckland Pride Elevates programme helps amplify voices and stories that are often underrepresented in mainstream media. You are enabling a creative space where MVPFAFF+ & Takatāpui narratives can thrive, fostering visibility and understanding within the community.