Bill Sevesi's Dream

This Artsville TV documentary plucks its way through a Kiwi-focused history of the ukulele, from Waikiki to Wellington, using the dream of “godfather of Polynesian music” Bill Sevesi as its starting point: namely “that the children would be playing the ukulele all over the country.” Presenter Gemma Gracewood (of the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra) reveals the instrument’s Pacific adoption and burgeoning popularity, and meets acolytes of ‘the uke’: from Herman Pi’ikea Clark to Jennifer Ward-Lealand, to Sevesi strumming with onetime pupil Sione Aleki.

A documentary on the ukulele's place in New Zealand was unavoidable given the little instrument's skyrocketing popularity. It shows that the ukulele, as much as it is a Hawaiian instrument, has a unique story in Aotearoa New Zealand. It's made and played in such different ways throughout the Pacific and in New Zealand we have our own distinct style.

– Presenter Gemma Gracewood in The Dominion Post, January 2011

Key Cast & Crew

Gemma Gracewood

Presenter

Gayle Hogan

Producer

Ying Ly

Director

Colin Hogg

Writer, Executive Producer

Jennifer Ward-Lealand

Subject

Anthony Nevison

Sound