Lusi Faiva on being a sensitive, ‘ground-breaking’ creative and returning to Samoa

The walls and fireplace of Lusi Faiva’s cosy living room are a celebration of her artistic career and achievements.

Her Creative New Zealand 2020 Arts Pasifika Award and Arts Access Artistic Achievement Award 2019 certificates can be spotted amongst numerous photos and woven objects. Gifts and trophies and certificates that show a glimpse of the career that Faiva as a pioneering creative has had over her decades of artistic practice. 

Back in 2001, Faiva performed one of her first autobiographical shows, Lusi's Eden, based on her experience of her early childhood years spent living in institutions. At the time, Shona McCullagh, Artistic Director of Auckland Arts Festival, said Lusi’s Eden “remains one of the most impactful works I have ever seen. This was truly ground-breaking work.” 

Faiva’s work continues to be known for being deeply personal, often autobiographical and having an impact on those who have the privilege of bearing witness to her performances.Her latest show AIGA also draws heavily on the life history of Faiva along with the experiences of her co-creators and performers. It will be premiering in Te Whanganui-a-Tara as part of Kia Mau Festival from the 5th to 7th of June. This coincides with Samoa Language Week 2025, which the theme for is ‘Ia malu lou sā. Folau i lagimā | A well-grounded self is a successful self’. The show was a three-year crip time devised work that premiered in Tāmaki Makaurau in 2024.

For Faiva, staying grounded is an essential part of her personal journey of success and the accomplishment of sharing her story with audiences. “My story is so strong and intense that it intrigues many people. I have to keep it real and honest about what I share. I'm a sensitive, disabled artist. I have to keep telling myself not to cry. I know it'd make my face look worse and awkward. But I know it's a good feeling to interact with the audience.”

This week heralds a return to the Kia Mau Festival stage, in 2021 Lusi performed a traditional Samoan dance performance ‘Taupou’ in collaboration with LeMoana Arts and Everybody Cool Lives Here. She also performed the piece at Cuba Dupa Festival in the same year. At this year’s festival, Wellington audiences will be able to experience the disabled joy that is AIGA, with audio description (AD), NZSL interpretation and a wheelchair accessible stage and venue. 

For Faiva, a founding member and artistic director of Touch Compass, accessibility in theatre spaces isn’t an ‘add-on’ or ‘optional extra’, it’s a core part of the performance and experience. Each show is accessible as opposed to single performances with AD or NZSL. This dedication and care hasn’t gone unnoticed with a review from The D*List’s Olivia Shivas saying “being in a space that revels in disability pride for just one evening was healing for many in the audience” in regards to the premiere of AIGA. Sam Brooks stated, “the thing that sits with me most about AIGA, beyond the show, is that it felt like the first fully accessible show I had ever seen” in their write up of the 2024 shows at Auckland Arts Festival.

When asked what she looks forward to in the future, she says she's looking forward to doing more shows before she retires and hopes to take AIGA to Samoa in 2026. Going to Samoa will be an opportunity for Lusi to return to her homeland and to provide an accessible and relatable theatre experience for the disabled community of Samoa. “I have never been to Samoa, not even once. I’ve been to different places, but not Samoa! This is my first time going there with an access theatre piece, the core of my connection, my Mother’s birthplace. It is going to be very special but emotionally crucial for me.”

AIGA is showing at Te Whaea in Newtown 5th - 7th of June as part of Kia Mau Festival. Tickets can be purchased here. 

Content Warnings include PG Rated, strong language, sexual references, sexual assault themes, flashing images & lights, and loud music.

You can support Lusi’s Boosted campaign to take AIGA to Samoa here.