A cultural stage show based on Māori legend is proving popular with Kiwi audiences around the country.
Hatupatu | Kurungaituku: A forbidden love hit the stage at the Christchurch Air Force Museum's exhibition hall on Thursday night, following performances in Auckland and Wellington.
Artistic director Tānemahuta Gray said it was great to be given the opportunity to bring to life legendary Māori narratives.
"This is our first time in the Wigram Air Force Museum, mainly because we want an immersive aerial experience that we need to do in a place like this."
The $2.5 million multi-media production tells the story of a young Māori warrior who is killed but bought back to life and captured by Kurungaituku... a mythological part-woman, part-bird forest guardian. She then takes the future leader of his people back to her cave where they find forbidden love.
But it's a show with a difference.
He said a limited number of chairs would be available to those that needed them when booking tickets.
Gray designed the 70-minute aerial spectacular to be an interactive, immersive experience for the whole audience.
"Mainly because of the Birdwoman, the hybridity, the forest realm. So we've got lots of birds in this place, so it's an opportunity for us to play in that realm. And so it's kind of the perfect story for us to go three dimensional with."
But he's worried this show could be the last large-scale production of its kind in New Zealand, for a while.
"This could be the last contemporary Māori work for a long time because they're very expensive to put together. And with the Covid recovery funds all finished up now."
The Christchurch season of the aerial spectacular runs through to Sunday, before the touring production finishes up in Rotorua next week.
- By Geoff Sloan, made with the support of NZ On Air
