In this interview, writer and solo performer of 'Tautua: a Journey', Fale Tumanu, tells us what inspired her to write poetry and create the play.
The Samoan proverb - 'O le ala i le pule le tautua' (the way to leadership/authority is through service) is often held up as a compass that Samoans use to navigate relationships and their place in society. As Fale Tamanu tells us, "it involves humility, respect and love".
As she points out in the introductory note to her performance - "By questioning the traditional view of acts of service as always virtuous and dignified, she enlightens the darker, more toxic and sometimes contradictory attributes within the way Sāmoan individuals use tautua to navigate the world around them".
