The Circle

Kia Ora, Malo ni, Talofa Lava, Malo e lelei, Kia Orana and Bula! 

We are Shifting Centre - an indigenous arts collective based in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara and we are debuting a brand new theatre work 'The Circle' at Kia Mau Festival in June 2025. Therefore we have partnered with BOOSTED to raise some funds to support us on this journey.

Director: Sefa Tunupopo

Producer: Tamia Filipo

Media & Marketing: Havea Latu

Lighting Designer: Isadora Lao

Lighting Operator: Grayson Ziogas

Sound Designer(s): Montell Nickel, Grayson Ziogas & Levi Siaosi

Cast:

Oto Lupo

Kaysee Savali

Montell Nickel

Kowhai Deuchars

Levi Siaosi

Sahara Hanipale

As we all may or may not know, funding for the arts is scarce and creating a show can be very expensive - especially when you want to put on a bloody good show! Therefore we've chosen to campaign through BOOSTED to support and push us further to our goal.

We are very blessed to have received partial funding from Kia Mau Festival. Although to ensure we are able to appropriately compensate all our artists and crew, create the envisioned costume & set design, pay for music rights and ensure maximum audience outreach - we require further financial support. 

All funds from this campaign will goes towards:

• Fair remuneration for all artists involved.
• Costume design.
• Set design & props.
• Materials to create high-quality marketing.
• Music rights.

As emerging Tangata Moana artists, we have identified a need to create a work that delves into the intricacies of journeying towards a world that embraces our unique needs and dreams. 

This need has arisen from our lived experiences navigating artistic spaces that often overlook or misalign our ways of moving, creating, or being. Specifically, an artistic landscape that does not cater to, nor facilitate nearly enough space to street-dance styles - the artform in which this story will be told through. 

The Circle will also offer an alternative lens on what support can look like, and it’ll encourage audiences to critically reflect on how we uplift ourselves and others. It is a work that speaks to the deep need for solidarity, support, and love within artistic and personal communities. It is about building a world that does not force us to conform but instead allows us to thrive as we are—a world that acknowledges the value of Indigenous ways of knowing, creating, and connecting.

In Pōneke, there is a noticeable gap in street-dance-dedicated theatre works, which has led many street dancers to feel disconnected from formal theatre spaces. This project aims to address that gap by creating a space where street dancers can see themselves reflected within a theatre environment. By offering alternative artistic pathways, we intend to demonstrate that theatre and choreographic work can be a viable option for street dancers—not as the only path, but as an open door to explore new creative possibilities.

We also recognise that free creative expression is a privilege. We recognise that many indigenous voices around the world are being silenced, therefore we hope The Circle can be a reminder that true solidarity exceeds our own four walls. Our own communities. And ourselves.