Kia Ora Khalid

Synopsis & Overview of the Play

Kia Ora Khalid is a children’s opera by NZ acclaimed composer Gareth Farr and NZ award-winning writer Dave Armstrong, under the licensing arrangement with Playmarket. The musical play tells fascinating stories about how four migrant children came to Aotearoa New Zealand. Tom, a Polish New Zealander; Serena, a Samoan; Trang, a first generation Cambodian; and Khalid, a Tampa refugee from Afghanistan. The four children come together to play during lunch hour and share how they have come to Aotearoa New Zealand. Their stories reveal the touching story of 700 Polish refugees landing in the country in the 1940s, the troubled world of Cambodia in the 1970s, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The first few productions of Kia Ora Khalid premiered at the Opera House, staged at the Taranaki Arts Festival in New Plymouth, New Zealand in August 2011, and later made its Australian debut at the Victoria Arts Centre, Melbourne, Australia in October 2011. This time around, the children’s opera will be recreated for Victoria University of Wellington’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Programme, directed by Filipino director and postgraduate student Ditas Yap, under the supervision of MFA Programme Coordinator Kerryn Palmer, with Jo Hodgson as musical director. The play will be shown at BATS Theatre on January 31st, February 1st, 2nd and 3rd 2024.  

Kia Ora Khalid is performed by a young cast of Intermediate and Secondary school children from various schools in Wellington. The storytelling performance is a celebration of authentic artistry of mixed theatre genres and authentic New Zealand music-and-prose that will most certainly steal a heart or two.

The value of this show.

Wellington is home to the Arts, and home to Artists. Our work is appreciated, and our artistry is embraced by the community. The play is essentially about refugees and migrants. New Zealand, being a diverse and multicultural country, the themes presented in Kia Ora Khalid cross continents and world history. The piece displays valuable life lessons, creates socio-political awareness, and increases New Zealanders’ sense of understanding and acceptance of migrants finding refuge in New Zealand.

What is expected from the show?

A feast for the senses! The audience will enjoy watching various performance styles and elements, such as puppetry, shadow play, animation, lighting tricks, and multimedia imagery, while also enjoying creative movement and choreography. Music is the highlight of the performance - the script is sung throughout, with live piano accompaniment, percussion and other instruments. The show is a treat to every watchful eye, listening ear, and feeling heart. Various themes cross throughout the play and it is expected to tickle the audience feelings of gladness, fear, joy, worry, sadness, love, and everything else human.

What is the funding for?

Funds raised will be used to cover production costs that cannot be covered by ticket sales alone. This include, but is not limited to, set building, multimedia materials, rehearsal expenses (snacks and off-site venue hire), fees for hired professional creatives, and gifts for the children cast and volunteer crew.

Why fund the project?

Any amount given out of the heart is much appreciated and will certainly go a long way. By helping fund our project, you are supporting the arts, artists and young performers in their creative aspirations, while teaching valuable life lessons through performance. Our bequest is to empower young individuals through theatre, increase their understanding of the world, so that they may lead better lives and create ripples of good change wherever they may journey on in life.

Note: Donations entered are in New Zealand Dollar (NZD)

The Creative Team

Stage Director & Creative Lead: DITAS YAP
MFA Theatre Coordinator: KERRYN  PALMER
Music Director: JO HODGSON
Production Managers: DYLAN MATTHEW & ALEX DIXON 
Stage Manager  -  EMORY OTTO 

Marketing & Publicity - DENNIS EIR LIM 
Marketing Assistant - WHEY GUECO 

Lighting Design - SENUKA SUDUSINGHE & RITA ANDERSON (child)
Sound Design - AKSHAT SONDHI 
AV Design - ISOBEL BECKIT-GOODYEAR 
Set Creator - ALISTAIR PORTER 
Pianist - LAURA STONE 
Cellist - NATHAN PARKER 

MAIN CAST:

Children & Young People

OFRI EARON as Khalid
JACK SULLIVAN as Tom
AMEIRA ARROYO as Trang
JUSTINA-ROSE as Serena
AIDAN SOPER (male swing / understudy)

ENSEMBLE:

Children & Young People

FELIX MCDOUGALL
PHOEBE LOWE
JET WILTON
EVA WILTON
ISABELLA FOUHY
WILL ANDERSON
OLIVIA CHEVALLIER-BOUTELL
MADDY BOND
SOPHIE BOND
SCOUT BALLANTYNE
ARI CRADWICK