Vela Manusaute

The first Niuean to graduate from drama school Toi Whakaari, Vela Manusuate scored a 1997 Chapman Tripp award for comedy, as part of duo The Brownies (alongside Canada Alofa). Facing limited roles for Pacific Island actors, Manusuate helped found theatre and music group Kila Kokonut Krew in 2002. The team's biggest hit to date has been The Factory, based partly on his father's move to NZ; in 2014 it was reborn as a web series.  

Having done the first Tongan play, and now the first New Zealand Pacific Island musical you can’t help but ask “What’s next?” Sharu Delilkan, in a Theatre Scenes review of musical The Factory, August 2011