Function at ASB Polyfest with Shimpal Lelisi & Chch School

15 March 2013

Function at ASB Polyfest with Shimpal Lelisi & Christchurch School

The ASB Polyfest is hosting a special function this morning, with the guest speaker being highly accomplished actor, writer and performer – Shimpal Lelisi. The function will take place at the Greyhound Lounge in the Manukau Sports Bowl at 10:30am this morning.

Niue born – Shimpal Lelesi began acting at an early age in school productions. He also performed at the ASB Polyfest on the Niue and Cook Island stages while at Mt Albert Grammar.

Lelisi got his break in the late 90s as a member of theatre troupe – The Naked Samoans, a group of New Zealand- raised Pacific Islanders who mined comedy from their experiences of growing up brown and misunderstood, in the world’s biggest Polynesian city.

The Naked Samoans later formed the tight scrum of creative talent behind hit TV series bro ‘Town, and feature films Sione’s Wedding and Sione’s Wedding: Unfinished Business. Lelisi was the voice behind the character Valea Pepelo in bro ‘Town and played the role of Sefa in Sione’s Wedding. He also in the core cast of Shortland Street from 1999 – 2000 playing the role of Nurse Louie Iosefo.

Lelisi has been involved in the ASB Polyfest as a performer, spectator and also a presenter for the festival television programme.

Shimpal Lelisi will speak at this morning’s function along with the Chairman of the ASB Polyfest Trust – Steve Bovaird, Event Director – Theresa Howard and ASB Sponsorship Manager – Wendy Hay.

Rangi Ruru Girls School from Christchurch will perform at the function this morning. In 2011, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School were the first Christchurch group to come to Auckland and perform at the ASB Polyfest. Thirty students from the Rangi Ruru kapa haka group came to the ASB Polyfest that year, despite some of them losing their homes in the February quake.

They enjoyed the experience so much that this year the school have sent their Samoan group. They will perform at the function in the Greyhound Lounge and then as a guest on the Samoan Stage in the lunch break today (at 2:05pm).

Today marks the third day of the four day ASB Polyfest. Five stages will be in full swing from 9am this morning, with a crowd of 30,000 expected at the Manukau Sports Bowl for today’s entertainment.

The Hapai Te Hauora Maori Stage features the Division 2 kapa haka competition from 9am – 5pm with 11 schools vying to be promoted to Division 1 next year, The University of Auckland Samoa Stage has 16 groups on stage from 9am – 5pm, the drums will be beating on the Waka Pacific Cook Islands Stage with 11 groups on stage from 8:30am – 4pm, the NZMA Tongan Stage features 36 traditional Tongan dances such as the Ma’ulu’ulu and Kailao from 8:30am – 4.15pm.

The MIT Niue Stage runs from 9am – 4:30pm with Tangaroa College looking to reclaim their overall title on the MIT Niue Stage. They were runners-up last year after winning from 2008 – 11 and are on stage at 2:30pm today.

The ASB Village features contemporary entertainment today with dance crews, singer Sela Sosoli and popular performers – Tyree and Deech.

The 2013 ASB Polyfest takes place at the ASB Sports Bowl from Wednesday, 13 March to Saturday, 16 March. Entry is $5 with pre-school children free of charge.

Website: www.asbpolyfest.co.nz

ENDS

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