{"id":610457,"date":"2026-09-24T16:28:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T16:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/610457\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T16:28:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T16:28:22","slug":"auckland-scoop-major-new-zealand-childrens-musical-set-to-premiere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/610457\/","title":{"rendered":"Auckland.Scoop \u00bb Major New Zealand Children\u2019s Musical Set To Premiere"},"content":{"rendered":"

Press Release \u2013 Chris Sanders<\/p>\n

Hana the Glowworm \u2013 26 September to 3 October 2026<\/p>\n

A cast of 40 young performers is preparing to bring an ambitious original New Zealand children\u2019s musical to the stage when Hana the Glowworm premieres during the September school holidays at Centrestage Youth Theatre in \u014crewa.<\/p>\n


(Photo\/Supplied)<\/p>\n

Written by award-winning children\u2019s songwriter, performer and author Chris Sanders, featuring music from Auckland Philharmonia, Hana the Glowworm brings together music, storytelling and some of Aotearoa\u2019s unique native creatures \u2013 along with a few pesky invasive species.<\/p>\n

At its heart is the story of Hana (which means \u201cto shine\u201d in Te Reo M\u0101ori), a curious glowworm with big dreams and a fascination with the world beyond her cave. Despite warnings from her family, Hana longs to discover what lies outside. But after an encounter with a cave Weta leaves her in trouble, an unlikely friendship with an eel leads to an adventure filled with music, humour, danger and discovery.<\/p>\n

With its large youth cast, original score and full-length theatrical production, Hana the Glowworm is believed to be among the largest original children\u2019s musical productions developed in Aotearoa.<\/p>\n


(Photo\/Supplied)<\/p>\n

The musical first appeared in 2025 as an abridged 45-minute production featuring 13 young performers at the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre and Bruce Mason Centre as part of the Tunes 4 Tamariki series. Its original five songs and overture were recorded at the Auckland Town Hall, with the project subsequently nominated for a 2025 T\u016bi Award at the Aotearoa Children\u2019s Music Awards.<\/p>\n

For the new full-length production, a further five songs have been recorded with musicians from Auckland Philharmonia\u2019s aspiring musician programme, bringing the total to 10 original songs. The score ranges from uplifting numbers including \u201cWorld of Wonderful\u201d and \u201cShooting Star\u201d, to comical songs such as \u201cI Am the Stoat\u201d and \u201cIt\u2019s Our Turf,\u201d alongside the emotional father-daughter ballad \u201cPrecious.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the 2026 production, Bella Whitaker (10) takes on the title role of Hana, while Milla Rodrigues Birch (17) plays Eel. Milla recently featured as the lead vocalist in a viral video from Takapuna Grammar School\u2019s performance of \u201cTe Iwi E.\u201d<\/p>\n


(Photo\/Supplied)<\/p>\n

Joining them are four performers from the original Tunes 4 Tamariki production: Boston Davis (14) as The Stoat, Ethan Heke (13) as Lumi, Gabriella D\u2019Aguiar-Sanders (12) as Ruru and Elise Chapman (15) as The Possum.<\/p>\n

A cast album featuring all 10 songs will also be released alongside the premiere on 26 September. Samoan actor and singer Katie-Rose Pemberton, who originally performed the role of Eel, returns to the project to perform on the cast album. It also features cameos from Th\u2019 Dudes member (and music producer) Rikki Morris and writer Chris Sanders.<\/p>\n

For Sanders, the project is about more than simply creating another show.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are incredibly excited to be creating an original New Zealand children\u2019s musical of this scale and ambition,\u201d says Sanders. \u201cThere is a major shortage of New Zealand stories for our tamariki to perform. Schools and community theatres regularly license well-known international children\u2019s musicals, but there is virtually no New Zealand-produced content available. We have amazing stories, incredible young performers and world-class musicians in this country. Our children deserve the opportunity to perform in musicals that reflect their own environment, creatures, humour and stories.\u201d<\/p>\n


(Photo\/Supplied)<\/p>\n

Alongside the stage production and cast album, Hana the Glowworm is also a children\u2019s picture book, illustrated by Natalie Conaty.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is only the beginning for Hana,\u201d says Sanders. \u201cWe have created a world that can continue to grow through theatre, music and books. But for now, we are incredibly excited to invite audiences to experience the full story for the very first time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Show Dates:<\/p>\n

Centrestage Theatre. 60 Centreway Road, \u014crewa, Auckland<\/p>\n

26 September \u2013 3 October 2026<\/p>\n

Tickets: $25
Family Pass: $22.50 per person for groups of four<\/p>\n

AWARDS & NOMINATIONS<\/p>\n

2025 \u2013 FINALIST: Recorded Music NZ Best Children\u2019s Artist T\u016bi Award<\/p>\n

2023 \u2013 WINNER: Global FKR Audio Story of the Decade<\/p>\n

2022 \u2013 WINNER: Global FKR President\u2019s Award<\/p>\n

2021 \u2013 WINNER: 2020 International Songwriting Competition<\/p>\n

2020 \u2013 NZ Honour \u2018Order of St John Priory Vote of Thanks\u2019 \u2013 presented by NZ Governor General<\/p>\n

2020 \u2013 FINALIST: Recorded Music NZ Best Children\u2019s Artist T\u016bi Award<\/p>\n

2020 \u2013 FINALIST: NZ Children\u2019s Music Awards \u2013 Best Children\u2019s Music Video<\/p>\n

\nContent Sourced from scoop.co.nz<\/a>
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