New Zealand born Tongan, Albert Mateni (26), aims to inspire Pacific youth with his theatre play, ‘Hearts of Men’ with an all Tongan cast set to debut on 5 – 14 April at the Mangere Arts Centre in New Zealand. 

Affected by the suicide rate within the Tongan community, Albert wrote the play to encourage youth that the only thing that can stop them from reaching their dreams is themselves. It as another version of a motivational speech that he believes young people can understand and absorb, and he is grateful to finally see it come to fruition.

“Now that it’s getting closer I'm really nervous and excited at the same time. I've waited so long to bring this play to life and I'm [a] few short weeks away from achieving that,” he told Matangi Tonga.

‘Hearts of Men’ has earned Albert the 2018 Tongan Youth Trust Excellence Award Arts & Music last week and was shortlisted in New Zealand’s Playwright B4 25 Competition 2016 [2]. It is about the journey of a young Tongan man living in New Zealand with a dream of winning gold for his country at the Olympics. However, life hits him with a punch he never expected and puts his dreams, his heart, his will, and his faith to the test.

Albert, who suffers from a medical condition and works full-time in banking, wrote the play over five years, in his spare time during his lunch breaks, and on weekends when he wasn’t playing or training for rugby. In spite of the setbacks he experienced, he credits his faith for helping him push through.

“What motivated me through these five years and through constant hospital wake ups was knowing that the struggles I’m given isn't a burden or a setback but a blessing from God. You can say my faith kept me grounded and going. My faith in God and believing in myself.”

“I also want to make a statement and that is, if you believe in something don’t give up and that’s what I am doing, I am not giving up.”

Unable to win any funding grants to bring his play to life, his strong desire to see it on stage lead to paying the cast, venue, refreshments and other theatre expenses out of his own pocket.

“I decided to fund the project myself because I feel we needed real stories on stage to represent our people in a different light. Stories that address issues within our community and stories that will motivate others.”

Albert’s talents don’t stop at writing though, he is also an actor and a dancer having graduated from the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts in 2011.

“Yes, I am acting in the play. I have given the directing role to a more experienced director, Vela Manusaute, and glad that I did as producing, writing and acting on top of a full-time job is all I can handle right now.”

He is dreaming big, to reach the screens of Hollywood one day and already has plans for more projects.

“Yes, my ultimate goal is to become an actor full time and to make it in Hollywood one day God willing, allowing the opportunity to introduce the world to our culture.”

“My next project is a secret and hope to share it with you soon. Don’t worry it will not take five years, haha.”