Matariki Glow Show

“Only 30 seconds gone and all of us are captivated, spellbound and lapping it up.” - Alan Scott-Theatre Review

15,000+ children saw this extraordinary show in 2017/18.
700 schools will hear about it in 2019.
20,000+ children will see it in 2019.

What Is the Matariki Glow Show? 
It’s literally legendary! A giant scale puppet show for 5 - 9 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.

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