Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
To The Stars | Ki Ngā Whetū is an original multimedia theatre production commissioned specifically for the opening of the Waikato Regional Theatre/BNZ Theatre in January 2026. The show was staged over three nights for the civic opening from 19 - 21 January. This performance was on the 20th. It is a celebration built through the hands, voices, and imaginations of the Waikato community, bringing together whānau, neighbours, schools, kapa haka groups, choirs, musicians, dancers, and makers of every kind in a shared act of creation.
The story focuses on a family, their relationship and the creativity that binds them. ‘There’s Work to be Done’ finishes the first act of the show. While the Child is at the park, we leap in time and space to discover Mother trying to get through some work on laptop. She is being tempted to find her path to the creative realm by two dancing spirits utilising light, movement and interaction. Mother finds herself torn between worlds and the words “There is work to be done here” rings true in both realms: the work of maintaining a household, and the work of being true to embrace one's whole self as a creative being. Courteney Mayall sings the inner world of Mother as she remembers her power in moving between worlds. The sense of control and purpose take place as expressed through the use of red ribbons, just like the ones she used to wear in her hair as a playful child.
Music by Jeremy Mayall, Lyrics by Aimee Anderson-O’Connor. The full performance of To the Stars | Ki Ngā Whetū can be found here: youtu.be/q5fxNNDULyI
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Learn more about the composers and performers of music from Aotearoa New Zealand on our website (sounz.org.nz), or by following us on Facebook (@SOUNZnz), Instagram (@sounz_nz), or TikTok (@sounz_nz).
#nzmusic
To The Stars | Ki Ngā Whetū is an original multimedia theatre production commissioned specifically for the opening of the Waikato Regional Theatre/BNZ Theatre in January 2026. The show was staged over three nights for the civic opening from 19 - 21 January. This performance was on the 20th. It is a celebration built through the hands, voices, and imaginations of the Waikato community, bringing together whānau, neighbours, schools, kapa haka groups, choirs, musicians, dancers, and makers of every kind in a shared act of creation.
The story focuses on a family, their relationship and the creativity that binds them. ‘There’s Work to be Done’ finishes the first act of the show. While the Child is at the park, we leap in time and space to discover Mother trying to get through some work on laptop. She is being tempted to find her path to the creative realm by two dancing spirits utilising light, movement and interaction. Mother finds herself torn between worlds and the words “There is work to be done here” rings true in both realms: the work of maintaining a household, and the work of being true to embrace one's whole self as a creative being. Courteney Mayall sings the inner world of Mother as she remembers her power in moving between worlds. The sense of control and purpose take place as expressed through the use of red ribbons, just like the ones she used to wear in her hair as a playful child.
Music by Jeremy Mayall, Lyrics by Aimee Anderson-O’Connor. The full performance of To the Stars | Ki Ngā Whetū can be found here: youtu.be/q5fxNNDULyI
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Learn more about the composers and performers of music from Aotearoa New Zealand on our website (sounz.org.nz), or by following us on Facebook (@SOUNZnz), Instagram (@sounz_nz), or TikTok (@sounz_nz).
#nzmusic
