Children’s show about migration wows audiences

23 March 2009
Kia Ora Khalid, produced by Capital E National Theatre for Children and described as “a knock-out”, “a triumph” and “a masterpiece” by theatre critics in Wellington, heads to Auckland from 31 March to 2 April.

Exploring migration stories and looking at what it means to be called a Kiwi through the eyes of children, Kia Ora Khalid was written Dave Armstrong with music by composer Gareth Farr. Sara Brodie is the director. It has been two years in the making and judging by the response to it so far, this operetta has a long life ahead of it.

The show takes place over a lunch hour in a New Zealand school, where we meet Tom, a Pakeha, who has a mouth he can't control; Trang, a first-generation Cambodian New Zealander; Serena, a Samoan migrant and ever the diplomat; and Khalid, an Afghani who arrived in New Zealand via the Nauru island detention camp.

The work explores these children’s family stories, revealing that you don’t have to go far back in any New Zealand family tree to find the refugee story in all of us. As part of the development process, workshops were held with students in Wellington and Auckland. These have helped to inform the storylines.

Apart from the four lead roles, the large cast is made up of school children. Students from Viscount School in Mangere and Pakuranga Intermediate will take to the stage at TelstraClear Pacific in Manukau. They form a chorus of typical Kiwi school kids, as well as Cambodian victims of the Khymer Rouge, Afghani refugees, Samoan villagers and Polish orphans.

Writing in The Dominion Post, Laura Atkinson says Kia Ora Khalid is “a knock-out, not just because it's topical, energetic, musical and a whole lot of other things too but because high-quality professional talent has been lavished on a full-scale production for children (eight years and up) at The Opera House.”

Marianne Taylor, Executive Director of Arts Access Aotearoa, applauds Capital E National Theatre for Children’s commitment to providing high-quality and relevant theatre to young people in New Zealand.
“What a wonderful opportunity for the children taking part in the play,” she says. “Theatre presents us with different perspectives on the world, and Kia Ora Khalid is a perfect vehicle to encourage understanding and tolerance.”

Kia Ora Khalid has five school matinee shows. The evening shows (7pm on 1 and 2 April) are open to the public. Tickets are available from Ticketek  or by calling 0800 224 224.