Nova Moala-Knox is making every post a winner in her first year out of drama school.

A 2023 Toi Whakaari graduate, Moala-Knox (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Ranginui, Tongan and Pākehā) is currently holding centre stage in Nightsong’s debut collaboration with Auckland Theatre Company (ATC) - an Aotearoa re-telling of Peter Pan (running until 3 November at ASB Waterfront Theatre).

But Moala-Knox reveals to The Big Idea that it’s a far cry from how 2024 started for her.

“The first half of the year - I did practically nothing. I woke up, played bass guitar in the garage, did a night job cleaning a cinema then went to bed at 4am. That was how a usual day looked.” 

It’s a tale too often told - spending years honing your skills in your chosen creative trade, only to find it hard to land work right off the bat. “It’s really strange when you’re training everyday for three years and then suddenly no one’s telling you what to do anymore and you’re completely on your own. 

“There’s a feeling that you're just supposed to start hustling and auditioning and do workshops all the time. But it can be hard to motivate yourself to do that when you don’t even know if that hustling is going to pay off. 

“I realised that taking a break wasn’t going to end my career, so I let myself do that. 

“But then one day my friend asked me to direct his solo show and soon after, I got the role of Wendy, and I rose from the ashes.  As much as I needed that break - I hated it and it was so good to be busy again.” 

Wendy - reimagined

In this modern-day adaption, Moala-Knox plays Wendy…but not as you remember her from your childhood. To help her connect with Wendy’s new anti-hero status, Moala-Knox has made Wendy a playlist - a tool she uses frequently with her characters.

“I love the re-envisioned Wendy in this show. One thing I really like about her is that she’s so young - only about 14 - but she’s dealing with a lot and rising to the occasion every time. 

“She’s clear-headed and emotionally intelligent, and I love that she’s caring and stroppy at the same time, as well as really determined. She takes action - she doesn’t just react - which is different from the Wendy people might be used to.

“Traditionally, Peter Pan is a really Euro-centric and sexist story and to be honest I don’t think that’s what a lot of people in Aotearoa would want this to be anymore. At the end of the day, though, it’s still Peter Pan, with the same story structure, and themes of loss and family and growing up, and it still resonates in the same ways.

Eye-opening experience

Moala-Knox feels “Incredibly lucky” to be embracing this career opportunity with ATC, noting she’s learning so much from working with experienced actors like Jennifer Ludlam and Andrew Grainger. “Just watching them, and really noticing how skilled they are, and how they put their craft into action has been amazing and a privilege.”

She adds “From my perspective it’s such a great cast, I’m loving working with everyone and they’re all such exciting and funny and likeable actors. I think this cast is going to win people over, even if some preconceptions are tested. 

“It’s been amazing being part of such a big spectacular show with special effects like flying and trapdoors, and with such an established, successful theatre company.”

It’s also been an eye-opener experiencing the extraordinary creative minds of Nightsong duo Ben Crowder and Carl Bland, both known for adding unbridled imagination to their projects.

“Ben and Carl are so fun to work with. They’re very visual storytellers and they come up with the weirdest ideas - for example for puppets and props - where you can’t understand how it could work and then they somehow always pull it off. 

“Also, in a show of this scale I think it would be easy to feel overwhelmed, so it’s nice to have directors who always have a sense of humour and don’t take things too seriously.”

Bright future

Even at a such a young age - she’s proven herself to be a talented allrounder. Moala-Knox been acting in small screen productions since she was 14, with her feature role in Mia Blake’s 2024 NZ International Film Festival short Payback adding another feather in her already well-garnished cap.

She’s also shown off her skills in writing, as shown in her solo show The Ghost of Tongan Language Week, at the Bats Theatre’s Tahi Festival last year. She has also written, directed and starred in her own short film, Te Whare Pōuri, currently in post-production.

As far as what lies ahead in her career, Moala-Knox is keeping her options open. 

“Definitely both screen and stage but writing and directing my own stuff is what I mostly see in my future because I have more control over that happening. If I got an opportunity overseas I would take it, but I’m much more interested in doing and making work here. This is home. I’d rather work on stories close to me and the people around me.”