Nathaniel Lees and Oscar Kightley: director and writer of A Music Portrait of a Disabled Samoan on their new Auckland Arts Festival production

Pati Umaga was once given ultimatum by his father to become a either a church minister or a lawyer - and instead launched a career in music that changed his life.

He found success as the bass player of the Holiday Makers, but he was left tetraplegic after a fall.

He suffered years of hardship but eventually re-found his purpose as an advocate for the disabled community through his music - and he's turned his story into a stage show called A Music Portrait of a Disabled Samoan.

Oscar Kightley has assisted in writing the show, and Nathaniel Lees has directed it - and the pair are looking forward to sharing this story with Kiwi viewers.

"It's really great, I'm working on my friend's show about his life story and it's really interesting and it's so cool to be able to put it on a stage."

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