Samson said she sought permission from Tui\u2019s manager and publisher. She received \u201cRuby\u2019s blessing\u201d in June.<\/p>\n
She and \u201ca couple of other ballet mums\u201d brainstormed the story. They came up with \u201ca really creative story about a little bird called Ruby\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s kind of her story, but in New Zealand native birds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Samson said 111 Rotorua students were performing, aged between 5 and 17.<\/p>\n
She spent thousands of hours on the production, including remodelling costumes from her \u201ccostume bank\u201d.<\/p>\n
She was proud of her creations, which were \u201cvery colourful\u201d and \u201cquite vibrant\u201d.<\/p>\n
Samson said Tui was overseas but understood some of her family members would attend the production, \u201cwhich is pretty special\u201d.<\/p>\n
Samson said \u201cthe whole wh\u0101nau\u201d would enjoy it, from children to grandparents.<\/p>\n
Thayo-Matisse Gapes, 17, plays a kiwi in the production.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kiwi is the god of the forest and is one of Ruby Tui\u2019s protectors … telling her that following the magpies and the bad people is the wrong path to go and that she should make better choices and follow the right path,\u201d said Thayo-Matisse.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very grateful to be the kiwi \u2013 it\u2019s a very cool costume, and it\u2019s a very fun role to be getting to dance with her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thayo-Matisse said she had been rehearsing for about six months, which had been \u201ca lot of work\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been absolute chaos, but it\u2019s been so much fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thayo-Matisse said she planned to read Tui\u2019s book after the show.<\/p>\n
Ruby Tui pictured in 2022 when she released her autobiography. Photo \/ Michael Craig<\/p>\n
Tui\u2019s manager, Dan Sing, said Tui would have loved to be there for the production\u2019s opening night, but she was in Britain. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe were extremely touched that Anne drew inspiration from the book to create the performing arts piece Ruby the Tui.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sing said Tui sent her best wishes to the performers and everyone involved who had worked \u201cso hard to bring this to life\u201d.<\/p>\n