Lila Crichton - Director, Composer and Lyricist
Luchiano Edwards Tuioti - Choreography and Movement Direction

Lila Crichton

A Master of None: Brown Fala is a deeply personal work that honors the women in my life—my sisters, mother, and aunties— as well as the children whose experiences are often overlooked. The show sheds light on the widespread issue of violence against women in Samoa, using theatre as a space for visibility, dialogue, and healing. While this is a universal issue, this work is crafted specifically for my people, ensuring that Pasifika audiences, particularly Samoans, feel seen rather than burdened by shame.

At the heart of the show is the woven mat (fala), both a literal gathering place and a metaphor for revealing hidden truths and restoring what has been broken. The process of weaving—from harvesting pandanus leaves to boiling, drying, and finally weaving—mirrors the journey of confronting difficult realities and finding strength in community.

The show starts in the harvesting of the leaves. We present the picture perfect paradise of Samoa giving the naive perspective that people love and the blind conformity of our culture that relies on this image. Then it moves into the the preparation and boiling of the leaves and it’s here that we start to see things begin to break down and for problems to start to boil to the the top of the pot. We move then to the drying of the leaves where we lay everything out and people begin to blame and people begin to take accountability. Finally, we begin the weaving of the leaves where we start to see the community mend itself. This fala is then presented to our audience as an invitation to meet and discuss.

The show is designed to be immersive and specifically tailored for Samoan audiences, incorporating familiar motifs, language, and traditions. It embraces Samoan Tikanga, integrating practices such as the ie lavalava, Le Va, the ’ava ceremony, tatau, ifoga, sulatoga, and vala’au. These cultural elements create an accessible and intimate space, where the Samoan diaspora can feel a deep sense of belonging. Rather than adapting Pasifika culture to fit Western theatre, this show brings theatre into the world of Pasifika tradition, ensuring that the art remains rooted in and reflective of our people.

As a Samoan male, I recognize the privilege of creating this work safely and the responsibility to use that privilege to amplify voices that have long been silenced. The woven mat in this work is an invitation—for women to be seen and for men to listen, reflect, and acknowledge the harm that has been perpetuated.

A Master of None: Brown Fala
(45min show)
Friday 14th February 9:00pm
Saturday 15th 3:00pm
Saturday 15th 9:00pm
Sunday 16th 9:00pm

Lila Crichton - Director, Composer and Lyricist
Hayden Nickel - String Arrangements
Ensai August - Percussion Arrangements
Māia-te-oho Holman-Wharehoka - Guitar and Bass Arrangements
Masunu Tuua Galo - Keys Arrangements
Luchiano Edwards Tuioti - Choreography and Movement Direction

Multi-discipline , Dance , Pasifika contemporary dance ,

45 mins