A Master Of None: Brown Fala | Spring Tour 2025

A Master of None: Brown Fala is set to captivate audiences across Aotearoa this spring, presented by NZ Fringe in partnership with CNZ Pacific Arts Strategy, with performances at two landmark venues:

Sunday 12 October – MTG Century Theatre, Napier

Wednesday 29 & Thursday 30 October – Black Box Papa Hou, Christchurch

Created by Lila LJ Crichton—the dynamic Samoan writer, director, composer, and lyricist—Master of None: Brown Fala is an evocative and deeply personal performance. A tribute to the mat, the memory, and the voices who will not be silenced. It illuminates broader experiences of Pasifika women and invites collective healing through storytelling and ritual.

At its heart lies the fala—a woven mat symbolic of gathering, restoration, and shared resilience. Passed between hands, and across generations, Brown Fala is a rich, spoken word theatre created to be a soundscape of memory, care, and resistance.

Deirdre Tarrant, reviewed the work at NZ Fringe 2025, praised the production as “emotive, generous and thought-provoking… a magical and intense hour.” She specifically acknowledged Crichton’s impactful presence, describing him as “a formidable performer” who brings integrity, compassion, and rich musical storytelling to the stage.

Further highlighting his rising profile, Crichton was acknowledged as Creative New Zealand’s Most Promising Pasifika Artist of NZ Fringe 2024 and Momentous Music Award winner in 2025, returning with his debut album crafted into this fierce and heartfelt theatrical experience.

Crichton’s vision for A Master of None: Brown Fala is both deeply personal and profoundly resonant. Excited for his return to his hometown, Hawke’s Bay, he draws on Samoan cultural motifs and symbolism. He weaves a performance that is as intimate as it is expansive.

“This work is precious to me as my debut, and as a chance to frame Samoan theatre with the same prestige seen in Opera. Every detail, from the music and performers to the fashion and set design, has been curated with love for our culture”, says Crichton.

“I wanted to shine a light on stories that often go unheard, creating a mature storytime that speaks to children and the inner child in every adult. These songs and stories are pieces of myself, weaving Samoan culture and its Aotearoa diaspora so our audiences can see themselves reflected, cherished, and celebrated.”

The work has already garnered strong critical acclaim for its emotional honesty, powerful use of music and movement, and its brave exploration of themes of family, resilience, and healing. Audiences are invited into a shared space where cultural specificity meets universal storytelling—an experience that is transformative, thought-provoking, and ultimately celebratory.

Tickets are available via the Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival website and Eventfinda. Given the strong acclaim from earlier performances, limited availability is expected.

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