THEATRE REVIEW: KA’A
09.08.2022 Basement Theatre
This review is part of the HAU festival series. HAU (te Hī me te Hā) is a 2-week festival of new and original indigenous, Pasifika and/or LGBTQi+ stories with songs, dance and text celebrating the movement of the atmosphere, the winds of change and the shifting vibrations of energy and light. Check out the review of Hine Te Rēhia here!
Photo credit: Ralph Brown
Who owns your body?
Your culture. Your friends. Your family. Your community. But do you?
KA’A is a fusion performance that showcases singer/songwriter Pati’s original new music. Half gig, half theatre performance, the night was an electrifying exploration of identity and culture. Using music, personal stories and other multimedia elements, Pati powerfully asks what it means to be a woman in Samoan communities.
Pati has such a charismatic personality, moving across the space with intensity. She lights up every corner of the stage and draws you in close. Mixed with the intimate setting of Basement Theatre, it really felt like I was listening to a close friend venting about their struggles. Pati does such a great job of translating her experiences and personal traumas into song. Each piece had so much emotion and energy. Her vocal range is also astounding, and she has a certain lyrical charm that is unique to Pati.
Half gig, half theatre performance, the night was an electrifying exploration of identity and culture.
The performance blurred the lines of theatre and musical act: using a blend of projected home videos and monologuing to tell her story presents Pati’s songs as a direct musical response to her experiences - the ebbs and flows between narrative and musical sections mirroring the ups and downs of her life. I felt that the most intense moments came from this blend, particularly around the midpoints of the show. The band also did an amazing job of providing a solid foundation for Pati’s voice.
Photo credit: Ralph Brown
Photo credit: Ralph Brown
Overall, this was an enjoyable and powerful performance. Using the stage as a platform to challenge traditional Samoan ideas, Pati provides a strong exploration of Pasifika women, their bodies and their identity. Pati has a great stage presence and I couldn’t imagine this performance working so well without her energy and personality. The interweaving of narrative, video and music created a really unique performance experience. Hosted in such an intimate space, sitting in the audience of KA’A feels like sitting in the room of your best friend. Definitely grab your tickets to this vibrant and captivating music performance.
You can book your tickets to KA’A here!