In early 90s Christchurch, a remarkable group of Pasifika performers take their first steps towards success.

In early 90s Christchurch, a remarkable group of Pasifika performers take their first steps towards success.

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"And I said, why don't we start our own theatre company?"

In the unlikely setting of Christchurch in 1993, something remarkable is underway. In a small theatre at the Arts Centre, a young Samoan man steps out onto a stage and addresses the audience.

"For too long now, my people, we have been oppressed. We were once welcomed into this country with open arms because the government at the time needed cheap labour. Now it seems we are no longer welcome."

The character's name is Samoa, played by then-novice actor Oscar Kightley. The play, called Fresh Off the Boat, is the debut show by a new theatre company called Pacific Underground, a group that will change both theatre in New Zealand and the way pacific stories are told.

For all his bold words, Samoa - real name, Englebert - isn't the hero he believes himself to be. The would-be revolutionary leader still lives with his mum and is terrified of leaving home to look after himself.

In that sense, Englebert and Oscar had a fair bit in common back in 1993. Oscar may have felt like a newbie acting on stage in just his second professional performance - and the first play he's written - but the home truth was something different. He had been performing all his life, mostly in shows at his church.

"And they're very traumatic experiences, to be honest."

"No director is as scary as your own rellies in the front row of church at White Sunday, looking at you and daring you to get it right and not muck up."

Oscar Kightley, one of the Pacific Underground founders, was born in Samoa in 1969 and moved to Auckland as a child. He trained as a journalist at the now-defunct Auckland Star but his move towards theatre began in 1991 when he moved to Christchurch for TV work. To his surprise, Oscar discovered a community of Pasifika and palagi actors, writers, dancers and musicians in the southern city. They were all young, talented and ready. And their timing is just right.

"Our pacific community was starting to grow. In fact it grew by 40% in the 1990s."

"We were all born around the same time, all young and hungry and beginning to explore the performing arts as a career."…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details