Dunedin's professional fairy Rainbow Rosalind is directing a young cast of school pupils in a musical about mindfulness.
Singer songwriter Rosalind Manowitz and 260 year zero and year one pupils from Maori Hill School are putting on a musical, Pause, Beathe, Smile, for one night only at the Regent Theatre today.
Ms Manowitz said she was inspired to write the musical when she met school principal Verity Harlick, who told her about a pause breathe smile workshop teachers from the school had been a part of.
Ms Harlick told her the workshop had been a really good tool to teach children about mindfulness and help them with their emotional regulation.
Ms Manowitz and co-writer Susan Frame put their heads together and came up with a story that followed a family from Dunedin on their road trip to Cape Reinga.
"Throughout the show there is a lot of character development, and by the end each member of the family is more in harmony with themselves and with the family and with everybody."
As well as a physical journey, the family went on an emotional journey, she said.
Ms Manowitz chose a musical because music could translate important themes and messages to an audience.
"Often you can get across messages and themes even subconsciously through music and I think that having the impact of these messages and songs is something that’s really powerful."
The school pupils had been amazing to work with, she said.
"We have seen them blossom from the start of this year when we first auditioned them to now.
"They’ve just grown massively in confidence and their singing and everything has been amazing to watch."
