Be immersed in the heart of the Pacific Ocean with UPU, an award-winning, dynamic and electrifying theatre experience. With powerful poetry, compelling storytelling and unforgettable performances, it brings the ocean’s rich voices to life - exploring cultural struggle, joy, and identity across the islands. Following its sold-out season at the Sydney Opera House, UPU continues to captivate audiences around the world.

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Poems as Broad and Deep as the Pacific Ocean Itself

 

UPU-meaning ‘word’ in many different languages of the Pacific Islands - is a collection of voices from a people who live on a sea of islands connected by the largest body of water on earth, known as Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, the Pacific Ocean.

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Through the words of 23 poets, ranging from emerging voices to acclaimed literary figures, UPU weaves a rich tapestry of stories, experiences and perspectives from First Nations peoples of the islands.

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These poems reflect on cultural identity, history and the challenges faced by Pacific communities-from Hawaiians debating Captain Cook’s legacy, to the joys of SPAM in Guam and other Americanised islands, to the Marshall Islands’ struggle against rising seas.

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Poetry is powerful on the page - but on stage, it’s pure magic. The show’s energy comes alive through a cast of extraordinary Pacific performers, each with a rich background in theatre, film and television, whose passionate delivery of these words will transport you across the ocean.

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Enhanced by evocative lighting, projections, and a multi-layered soundscape, UPU is an intimate and unforgettable experience - a celebration of the Pacific, its people, and their stories.

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All poems are performed in English.