The Naked Samoans is a
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
comedy group made up of Polynesian entertainers, most of whom are
Samoan. The group performs social humour and satire that attracts a broad audience, especially among white New Zealanders, without sacrificing the group's Pacific Island identity. The group has gained success in both television and film projects as well as in theatre, which remains their primary base in entertainment. The members of this group are
David Fane
David Rodney Fane (born 28 December 1966) is a New Zealand actor of Samoan descent.
Early life and education
Fane was educated at St. Pauls College in Grey Lynn.
Career
Fane got into acting quite late and trained at the New Zealand Drama ...
,
Mario Gaoa
Mario Gaoa (born 1971) is a New Zealand actor, writer and director, best known as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy group. He is of Samoan descent. As part of the group he has appeared in the film Sione's Wedding; provided the voices of ...
,
Shimpal Lelisi
Shimpal Lelisi (born ) is a New Zealand actor and TV presenter, best known as one of the members of the Naked Samoans.
Biography
Born in Niue, Shimpal came to New Zealand at the age of four. He began acting at an early age, taking part in scho ...
,
Oscar Kightley
Oscar Vai To'elau Kightley (born 14 September 1969) is a Samoan-born New Zealand actor, television presenter, writer, journalist, director, and comedian. He acted in and co-wrote the successful 2006 film ''Sione's Wedding''.
Biography
Kightley ...
,
Robbie Magasiva
Robbie Joseph Magasiva (born 21 May 1972) is a Samoan-New Zealander actor who has starred in several films and as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy troupe. He has also appeared on television and in theatre, and was the co-presenter of New Z ...
and
Iaheto Ah Hi.
Early beginnings and work
The group—consisting of Fane, Gaoa, Lelisi, and Kightley—began in 1998 with a stage production entitled ''Naked Samoans Talk about Their Knives'' (a parody of a New Zealand film ''
Topless Women Talk About Their Lives
''Topless Women Talk About Their Lives'' is a 1997 New Zealand film about a group of twenty something friends. It was based on a TV series.Robbie Magasiva
Robbie Joseph Magasiva (born 21 May 1972) is a Samoan-New Zealander actor who has starred in several films and as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy troupe. He has also appeared on television and in theatre, and was the co-presenter of New Z ...
and
Iaheto Ah Hi joined the group in January 2001 and have remained members since.
In 2003 they performed ''Naked Samoans Go Home'' at
Downstage Theatre
Downstage Theatre was a professional theatre company in Wellington, New Zealand, that ran from 1964 to 2013. For many years it occupied the purpose-built Hannah Playhouse building. Former directors include Sunny Amey, Mervyn Thompson, and Coli ...
in Wellington and the Herald in Auckland.
Between 2004 and 2006, the Naked Samoans were involved in two major projects. In television, the original members created the animated show ''
bro'Town
''bro'Town'' is a New Zealand adult animated comedy television series and sitcom that ran from 2004 to 2009. It starred David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Shimpal Lelisi and Oscar Kightley.
Overview
The main characters in the series are five 14 year o ...
'', New Zealand's first adult animated show. It received critical praise and numerous awards from the country's domestic entertainment industry. In film, most of the group members starred in the comedy film ''
Sione's Wedding
''Sione's Wedding'' (also marketed outside New Zealand as ''Samoan Wedding'') is a 2006 New Zealand comedic film directed by Chris Graham and written by James Griffin and Oscar Kightley, and produced by South Pacific Pictures.
Plot
Set in Au ...
'', known as ''
Samoan Wedding'' in other regions such as North America, co-written by
Oscar Kightley
Oscar Vai To'elau Kightley (born 14 September 1969) is a Samoan-born New Zealand actor, television presenter, writer, journalist, director, and comedian. He acted in and co-wrote the successful 2006 film ''Sione's Wedding''.
Biography
Kightley ...
and James Griffin. The movie became one of the highest-grossing Kiwi films of 2006, making over $NZ3 million. However, it also got media attention as being a victim of unauthorized distribution, resulting in some loss of potential revenue. ''
Sione's Wedding
''Sione's Wedding'' (also marketed outside New Zealand as ''Samoan Wedding'') is a 2006 New Zealand comedic film directed by Chris Graham and written by James Griffin and Oscar Kightley, and produced by South Pacific Pictures.
Plot
Set in Au ...
'' was later released in Australia and distributed in the United States under a new title ''Samoan Wedding''.
After a successful 2006, the Naked Samoans returned to their roots and performed with their new production, ''Naked Samoans Go Home (Again)'', in December.
In 2018 for a 20-year anniversary celebration the Naked Samoans teamed up with the Pasifika theatre company The Conch to present a show called ''Naked Samoans Do Magic,'' commissioned by the Auckland Arts Festival (co-produced by The Conch). The production had a season from March 22 - 25, 2018 at the
Civic Theatre in the Auckland Arts Festival. One of the reviews states, "While hinting at many of the social problems that affect Aotearoa and the world, the production celebrates the transformative power of magic and of theatre, leading to a sense of optimism and hope."
Filmography
*
Sione's Wedding
''Sione's Wedding'' (also marketed outside New Zealand as ''Samoan Wedding'') is a 2006 New Zealand comedic film directed by Chris Graham and written by James Griffin and Oscar Kightley, and produced by South Pacific Pictures.
Plot
Set in Au ...
*
Sione's 2: Unfinished Business
*
bro'Town
''bro'Town'' is a New Zealand adult animated comedy television series and sitcom that ran from 2004 to 2009. It starred David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Shimpal Lelisi and Oscar Kightley.
Overview
The main characters in the series are five 14 year o ...
References
External links
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New Zealand comedians
New Zealand satirists
New Zealand comedy troupes
Polynesian-New Zealand culture
Samoan-New Zealand culture