WHAT IS THE MATARIKI GLOW SHOW?  
It’s literally legendary! A giant scale puppet show suitable for 2 - 10 year olds with magical glow-in-the-dark characters from Māori myth and legend.  This innovative, cutting edge new concept features over 45 glow-in-the-dark puppets under ultraviolet light in a black box theatre environment.  

Rich in Te Reo Māori and Māori culture it’s an upbeat show that has the audience buzzing from the onset.  This masterful 40-minute show is underpinned by catchy music that engages the audience immediately, followed by a Q&A session afterwards for our tamariki. There’s an abundance of educational content to take back to the classroom as well as a free storybook handed out to every child.

The show is a delightful story of te kāhui whetu õ Matariki (the star cluster/ sisters of Matariki) as they prepare for Te Tau Hou (Māori New Year) and the journey of the smallest star, Waipuna-a-Rangi. The show has been an absolute hit - the 2018 Matariki Glow Show toured from the Far North to South Auckland and attracted 12,000+ school children to 60 shows at 10 venues with many shows sold out. 

WHO CREATED THE MATARIKI GLOW SHOW? 
The production is the concept of Sarah Burren. Sarah collaborated with Midge Perez, who together have an impressive history of having worked on over twenty children’s shows together. Composer/musical director, Midge Perez (Tokelauan, Spanish and Maori) was a performing arts lecturer at Manukau Institute of Technology. Puppet designer and creator, Sarah Burren has been involved in the concept, and production design of over a hundred stage shows and live events both in New Zealand and internationally.

Recognising the significance of Matariki to many New Zealanders, they sought the guidance and approval of kaumatua Haare Williams (Amorangi in arts, culture and education) to create an authentic Matariki story that would, embrace the art of Māori indigenous storytelling and ignite the spirit and pride of our tamariki.   He said of the show:

“Teachers teach.  But good teachers lead us into the inner, wilder places of the mind. Give our kids the Maui spark that will lift them and, once in flight, let them soar.  Matariki does that by giving our tamariki a fresh beginning by tracking to where they’ve come from - by remembering their ancestors. I am delighted to support this programme which allows us to celebrate our own corner of Earth here in Aotearoa New Zealand with our own iconic narratives, heroes and deities.” - Haare Williams MNZM QCM JP

Script and musical score were then taken to the next level by the choreographer and performers from cultural and ancestral backgrounds that span Ngati Awa, Tuhoe, Nga Puhi, Tainui, and Maniapoto iwi and the islands of Samoa. They are graduate students and tutors from South Auckland’s MIT, and Otara Music Arts Centre whose combined storytelling, voice, instrumental, dance and puppetry skills bring this Matariki show to life and make it soar.

WHAT IS THE 2019 MATARIKI GLOW SHOW TOUR? 
In 2019 64 shows will be staged in 15 venues during May 27th to July 13th:

HAMILTON	WHAKATANE	GISBORNE	NAPIER
ROTORUA	TAUPO	NEW PLYMOUTH
TAURANGA	WHANGANUI	WELLINGTON	AUCKLAND CENTRAL/NORTH/WEST/SOUTH
PALMERSTON NORTH	WESTPORT	NELSON

 

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BUS STOP for dropping off and collection of school children – must be on OWENS ROAD, next street along from RAYE FREEDMAN ARTS CENTRE on Gillies Ave, Epsom

Please make sure you have had a moment to observe these instructions as there is very limited parking at the Centre and we must adhere to the venue conditions that there is no room for buses to turn around at the centre.

Raye Freedman Arts Centre is located on the corner of Silver Rd and Gillies Ave, HOWEVER, we ask that buses go to Owens Rd to drop off and collect children.  Please guide/walk children one block to the theatre, and the same for picking them up.

Non School bookings for the best parking for the 10am shows will be in Owens or Mountain Rd – which is also a short walk. Albury Ave parking is available only after 10am.

Strictly NO filming or photography allowed

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