Renee Maurice has been fascinated, some might say obsessed since she was 15, by the tragic fire at Seacliff Mental Hospital that killed 37 women.
Eight years later, her dream to put on a musical to honour the lives of the women killed has become a reality, with the show opening this weekend at the Mayfair Theatre.
''It's become a bit of a crusade. It's very gratifying to be here. It's been a lot of hard work but I'm really excited,'' the Wellington woman said.
Seacliff's ward 5 held 39 female patients who had been locked into rooms or the dormitory, so only two women in rooms without locked shutters were able to escape.
The fierce fire reduced the building to ashes within an hour it has been reported; the cause of the fire was never determined.
While putting on the play in Dunedin seemed like a mammoth task, she was glad she followed the suggestion of her mentor.
''It's the right thing to do. It needed to come here first.''
She first began writing the show when she was still at school in Picton after coming across a small story about the fire on a disaster website one day.
Visiting Dunedin a year later, she visited the Hocken Library to find out what she could, discovering there were conflicting reports and little personal information about the victims available.
''It's so unjust that this story hasn't been told properly. My history teacher at school had not even heard about it.''
At the heart was her work with those with physical and mental disabilities and her involvement in Star Jam, a group helping young people with disabilities on to the stage.
It helped her overcome her shyness and gain confidence.
''Any kind of struggle I have empathy with. I didn't like the fact they had not been given the credence they should have been.''
Over the years she had plugged away at the musical, writing not only the script but composing the score as well.
It had been through several re-writes as she had got ''older and wiser''.
''It's been really rewarding and I've had a lots of great feedback.''
She chose to write the show as a musical because it was her favourite type of performance and also because she found music to be the best way to express herself.
''It's the easiest way I know to convey what I'm feeling, to tell a story. I love musicals.''
While most musicals are lighthearted and heartwarming, Seacliff: Demise of Ward 5, while lighthearted in parts would have a tragic ending.
''It's like the Titanic film: it's a fictional story with fictional characters set against a true event.''
It would cover some of the treatment those in Seacliff received and some of the history of the time and place, she said.
''I hope while it won't have all the answers it will give people things to think about.''
The most frustrating thing about the process was the lack of information available.
''I'd like to know personally more about the ladies. I feel like I've lived with them for a very long time. I know the names of those that died but apart from that ...
''Wanting to respect the story and not tarnish anyone's memory, it was important to have the approval of the victims' families.
So far three had been in contact and were supportive, she said.
''I'd like to meet more of them (victims' families).''
A cast of 13, including Ms Maurice, would portray the story, backed by a soundtrack of 20 songs she had composed and recorded herself.
The group had visited Seacliff and what remained of the mental hospital, which helped inspire the cast and enabled them to envision the setting and feeling of the place better, she said.
She was spending five days a week in Dunedin and two back home in Wellington as they rehearsed the show.
Her win in New Zealand's Got Talent in 2013 had helped her fund the musical along with a boosted campaign and her savings, helped by contributions from her family.
''It was a wonderful experience and great things have come out of it. It is helping me fulfil a long-time dream.''
