There’s a certain amount of cackling time that needs to be allocated when you’re a star-struck Pacific interviewer in conversation with the internationally acclaimed actress Stacey Leilua.

A powerhouse of Pacific storytelling, from her breakout role as Ata Johnson in NBC’s Young Rock  to her extraordinary performances in Wild Dogs Under My Skirt and The Savage Coloniser Show, Leilua has long been a champion of culturally grounded, community-driven art.

We laugh for almost half an hour over Zoom, traversing the trajectory and steep terrain of her incredible career. Now she’s telling me how important it is to bring that same energy to one of the most elite art forms - opera.

Opening in September, The Monster in the Maze is NZ Opera's community opera reimagining the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur through a uniquely Aotearoa lens. The community-centred production brings together professional artists and local performers of all ages. For Creative Producer Leilua (Māori, Sāmoa, European), the project is more than a production - it’s a movement.

“We want to move opera away from being a palagi space and make it welcoming for our Māori and Pacific people,” she says. “That’s what drew me and Anapela [Polataivao] to the work.”

On the back of her standout role in TĪNA, Anapela Polataivao has taken the helm of The Monster in the Maze as director. She declares bringing her long-time collaborator on board was critical.

“It was imperative to bring Stacey onboard. She operates in a way that is absolute from the outset and keeps operations in check. I’m so proud we have a top tier nerd on side,” laughs Polataivao (Vailoa, Vaiusu, Fagae'e and Safue/Sāmoa).

Leilua and Polataivao’s creative partnership spans over two decades, beginning with the trailblazing Kila Kokonut Krew. “There’s a shorthand between us,” Leilua explains. “We know how to work together, and it brings out something incredible.”

Anapela Polataivao (left) and Stacey Leilua. Photos: Andi Crown Photography

Power to the people

Their collaboration on The Monster in the Maze continues this legacy, blending professional excellence with deep ties to their Māori and Pacific communities.

“It's always 'Bels',” Leilua says of her friend and colleague Polataivao’s success. “We have to allocate time for photos, autographs - it all comes back to accessibility and when you see her walking around, with the community choirs, she's right there,” referring to the show’s rehearsal schedule.

“People can come up and give her a hug, and tell her how much the film [TĪNA] touched them, and it’s just bridging the gap - like we're not out here being movie stars and you can’t touch us - we're here and we're having lunch with you guys,” Leilua says of the laughing and cackling that’s part of their ‘love language’.

It’s the community element in The Monster in the Maze that has seen both Leilua and Polataivao make the time and effort, investing in the community choirs involved. They have travelled to each city where The Monster in the Maze will run, sharing kai with local performers, and listening to their stories.

“We were just in Christchurch and Wellington, sitting with people, hearing what they’re feeling. It’s a constant reminder of why we signed on to this,” Leilua says.

She’s quick to emphasise that the opera’s success isn’t measured by perfection, but by participation.

“Someone might sing off tune or walk in the wrong direction - but they’re on stage at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, singing next to Joel Amosa and Ipu Laga’aia. That’s what matters!”

Accessibility and breaking down barriers are central to Leilua’s vision. “We’ve got a visually impaired chorus member, members who need mobility assistance - it’s never been a question of ‘is this okay?’ It’s always ‘how do we make this happen?’”

Her approach grounded in reciprocity and alofa. “I tell the performers, ‘You are integral to the show.’ Without them, there is no show.”

Hard work pays off

This isn’t Leilua’s first foray into opera. In 2018, she co-produced Alofagia: Le Opera – Tu’umuli Atu Nafānua  with Polataivao and Sol3 Mio, a groundbreaking Pacific opera that reimagined Samoan mythology.

“It was powerful to centre our stories, our language and our worldview in a form as grand as opera,” she reflects.

Her journey from community theatre to international television has been anything but linear. A proud mother to her 10-year-old daughter, Leilua has had to navigate the challenges of motherhood while pursuing her passion for the arts.

“There were a few times I enrolled in university to do a BA,” she recalls, “but right on the cusp, I’d get an acting job - the work I really wanted to do - and I’d pivot back.”

That unwavering commitment has defined her path. “I’ve been here for 20 years,” she says. “People think I came out of nowhere, but I’ve been doing the work. I just never gave up.”

Her advice to emerging creatives is clear: play the long game.

“Don’t be discouraged. It’s hard. But hang in there and think about your reason why. You can’t be up there like a lone wolf doing things for yourself. That’s not how we’re built. It’s about the village mentality - helping everyone.”

As The Monster in the Maze prepares to take the stage, her one message to the community is profound: “Without you, we don’t have a show.”

NZ Opera's The Monster in the Maze is touring NZ this month in Christchurch (5-6 September), Wellington (12-13 September) and Auckland (19-20 September).