UPU

A Journey through the Heartbeat of Pacific Poetry

Tickets are available to 2025-26 Playhouse Members starting Friday, June 13 - click here to become a member to buy your tickets now. Regular tickets go on sale to the public on July 2 at 10am. 

This creative blend of live performance and spoken word explores themes of South Pacific Indigenous culture. Prepare to be transported across the islands of the ocean and experience new perspectives and stories. 

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, or the Pacific Ocean. Through the words of 23 poets, ranging from young voices to acclaimed literary figures, UPU explores a rich tapestry of stories, experiences, and perspectives from First Nations peoples of the islands. 

These poems reflect on cultural identity, history and the challenges faced by Pacific communities — from Hawaiians debating Captain Cook’s legacy, the joys of SPAM in Guam and other Americanised islands, and the Marshall Islands’ struggle against rising seas. The show’s magic comes alive through a cast of Pacific performers, each with a rich background in theatre, film and television, whose passionate delivery of these powerful poems will transport you across the ocean. 

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

Recommended for ages 15+. Performance will contain strong language and adult themes.

“Pay What You Will” is offered on select performances. Here’s how it works:

– You still need a General Admission ticket. Book your seats in advance at tickets.theplayhouse.ca, by calling our box office at 458-8344, or visiting us at 686 Queen Street.

– At the performance, we will provide an envelope and ask audience members to pay whatever amount they wish following the performance, either in-person or online. 

You decide the price of your tickets!

The objective of “Pay What You Will” is to increase access to our programs, and to encourage our patrons to take a chance on new and exciting performances.