About Faovale Imperium

A free, on gallery performance with poetry and music placing Pacific voices in the heart of the Museum alongside objects from our collection.

Join New Zealand Samoan / Welsh comedian James Nokise and DJ Don Luchito for a funny and thought-provoking exploration of the National Museum of Scotland’s Pacific collections.

The performance shares a counter-narrative to the epic voyages of Captain James Cook as he encounters the many cultures of the Pacific spreading ‘enlightenment’ to a people who lived in ecologically sustainable structures and knew how to sail without compasses.

This is a modern and irreverent, reclaiming of Pacific storytelling. The two male performers themselves highlight the traditional absence of female representation in telling of these stories, but contemporary poetry from female Pacific artists fills this void.

Faovale Imperium was originally inspired by the National Museum of Scotland’s Pacific Islands collections, and was devised specifically to be experienced in museum spaces. The show has recently toured New Zealand and returns home to our museum before a nationwide tour.

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival 2024.

Event information

This is an informal, standing performance (60 minutes) with no seating provided unless required. Please let us know by emailing publicevents@nms.ac.uk if you require a seat.
Sign up in advance on the day of the performance, from 14:30 beside the Feast Bowl in the Grand Gallery (Level 1, National Museum of Scotland). See museum map for further information.
To ensure your place, return to the Feast Bowl 15 minutes prior to the start of the performance to collect your audience token.
Prior to the performance, any big bags or backpacks will need to be stored in the museum's Cloakroom where there are self service lockers available. The Cloakroom is located in the Entrance Hall, beside the Information Desk on Level 0.
The audience will be using an escalator and glass lifts to travel from the Grand Gallery to the Facing the Sea gallery. Please advise staff if you would like assistance in using the lifts.

If you have any further questions about this event, please email us at publicevents@nms.ac.uk.

Accessibility and facilities

We want everyone who comes to our museums to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit.

Museum entrances

There is level access to the Museum via the main doors to the Entrance Hall on Chambers Street and the Tower entrance at the corner of Chambers Street and George IV Bridge.  

Lifts

Lifts are available to all floors of the museum.

Toilets

Toilets are available on most floors of the museum, including accessible toilets and baby changing facilities. There is a Changing Places (U) toilet in the Entrance Hall on Level 0.

Borrow a wheelchair

Wheelchairs are available for loan at no charge. Please note wheelchairs cannot be booked in advance. On arrival, ask about availability at the Information Desk. Small mobility scooters are permitted inside the museum.

Assistance dogs

Guide dogs, hearing dogs and other recognised assistance dogs are admitted. 

Visit our accessibility page for general access information for the National Museum of Scotland.