A feel-good story driven by love and legend from the Pacific heads to Auckland’s The Civic this month.

A long time ago, a young boy from a mythical island nation lost a precious taonga, and a curse befell the whole island and its descendants.

Many decades later in Tāmaki Makaurau, a young man named Tanga learns of the dark secret of his family’s past. Tanga leaves behind the girl he’s falling in love with to go and discover the truth about his heritage and confront the challenges of his identity and his past.

Tanga’s sitting in the nightclubs pondering on the important decision when his aunties appear singing ‘Will You Be the One?’, a track from New Zealand soul singer Hollie Smith. The song itself, but also the way it’s sung, sets the tone for the show. “It’s sung in a way as if the ancestors are singing in a choral manner to Tanga, encouraging him on the path he should take,” explains vocal coach Nick Afoa.

Weaved into this love story are some of Aotearoa’s biggest pop songs of the last few decades, from artists like Annie Crummer, Che Fu, Anika Moa, King Kapisi, Brooke Fraser, Nesian Mystik, P Money, Stan Walker, Six 60, Hinewehi Mohi, Sola Rosa and more. 

A total of 12 singers take the stage, including Afoa as the kaumatua figure from the home of Tanga’s forefathers. The impressive cast lineup and selection of New Zealand music that inspires the storyline is led by musical director Jacob Nansen, with the help of Stan Walker and Teeks. Dance, another crucial element to the show, is led by choreographer Hadleigh Pouesi.

All of this began from the vision of writer and producer Pak Peacocke, who has been in the entertainment industry for over 35 years. Peacocke ran a four-week theatre workshop, which developed the show’s concept to tell a universal love story. His wife Eithne Curran, a film industry veteran, is also involved in the show creating Pasifika-inspired costumes for the cast.

On the first day of rehearsal, Afoa was overwhelmed by the talent in the room. “I can’t really put into words how great it was to be surrounded by amazing singers,” he says. “I thought, I might as well go home because they’re so good, I couldn’t think of anything to teach them,” he laughs. Afoa himself has had a colourful career, from being a Junior All Black to singing the national anthem at All Blacks home matches, to more recently playing the role of Simba in Lion King: The Musical when it ran here in 2021.

Not everyone in the show has such an illustrious CV. Some have no theatre background, some are TikTok stars while others are multi-award winning artists. “It took me back to 10 years ago when I first started out in theatre and doubted myself, but I’m so grateful I had great leadership around me who nurtured me to the roles I was given and it’s Deja vu now because I’m replicating that to the young, fresh talents coming through,” Afoa says.

The young talents Afoa speaks of includes Anasetasia Mackay, who has found herself overcome with emotion during rehearsals for the show.  “Every rehearsal we’ve had so far, I’ve cried because when you hear the songs sung with so much passion by a cast you consider your family, it makes you so proud. I actually get goosebumps, no matter how many times I hear the same songs,” she says. 

Mackay plays Venus’ sassy best friend, the party pooper of the group – “but in a caring way,” she quickly adds. “Venus has fallen in love many times and has had her heart broken many times, so when she falls in love with Tanga, I’m unsure if this guy is the one, so I get all protective.” One of the songs that the best friends sing to Venus is Anika Moa’s ‘Falling in Love Again’.

The show will be a burst of nostalgia for those born in the 80s and 90s, Mackay says. “It’s such a beautiful show where there’s something for everyone and the injection of pop songs from our country just makes sense with the storyline.”

As for Afoa, this show is something new. “It’s out on a ledge on its own.” he says. He’s never been in a position where he’s had to create a show from scratch with other like-minded people. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be in this position again. It’s such a unique process where we’ve had input from the cast on certain scenes, which is rare and so this experience stands on its own.”

Pacifica the Musical runs August 19 – 28 at The Civic, Auckland.

This is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.