‘Aya and the Butterfly’ by Birdlife Production

With the help of creative New Zealand funding, award-winning children’s theatre company Birdlife Productions are creating a new puppet and music show for children, using exquisite puppetry, live music, lots of joining in, and giant caterpillar fun, promising a poignant experience for children and their whanau.

‘Aya and the Butterfly’ is based on a children’s book by Ōtautahi/Christchurch based author Dr Maysoon Salama, who wrote the story for her young granddaughter Aya, after Aya lost her father in the Christchurch Mosque attacks in 2019. Dr Salama has been working closely with Birdlife Productions as a cultural advisor, to help bring her story to the stage.

Although it touches on feelings of sadness and grief, it also encourages ‘letting go’ and laughter, resilience building and dealing with change, all metaphorically reflected by the life-cycle and metamorphosis of the Monarch Butterfly. Designed for families and ideal for children aged 3 to 9…