Kōtuku and the Moon Child

Nominated for ‘BEST THEATRE’ and ‘BEST DESIGN’ at Dunedin Fringe, 2017 and Finalist for ‘BEST VISITING THEATRE’ at Dunedin Theatre Awards 2017, Birdlife Productions are returning to Dunedin again with a new story about loss, longing and finding the way back home!

This is a show that uses puppetry, masks, breath-taking original Music and absolutely NO spoken word.

It is thoroughly enchanting for everyone aged 5 years to 95 years! Maori believe that seeing just one Kōtuku/White Heron in your life will bring you good fortune – but what if you come down to Earth from the Moon and get yourself captured by a cantankerous and old Kōtuku who keeps you as her prisoner and makes you clean up her nest? How can this possibly be seen as ‘good fortune’ – unless of course your adventure turns out better than expected and some really cool stuff happens on the way!

Written, created and performed by Bridget and Roger Sanders of Nelson, this story has grown out of their love of myths and fairy tales and was shaped and inspired by the New Zealand landscape, particularly the Tasman Bay environment - its light and colours and bird life. Using Basal masks and many different forms of puppetry alongside their hallmark low-tech/handmade aesthetic, this work crosses boundaries of language and culture, where stories and ideas are communicated without spoken word, but instead through visual imagery and the power of music.

“This is an absolutely brilliant production. The wonderful storytelling abilities of Roger and Bridget [Birdlife Productions] will take you on a journey of exquisite artistry and simplicity that will leave you wanting more. True story telling at its finest.” - Joel Bolton QSO, Conductor.

“I have never seen a group of children sit so still for so long. Their parents behaved really well too. We have all been entranced!” - Theatreview Sep 2019.

Ideal for Families and school children both primary and secondary, Drama students, the Deaf community - and anyone with a love of stories and puppetry and especially, anyone searching for a sense of other-worldliness!

Not suitable for under 5 year olds

Fringe Tags; Theatre, Whanau/Family