Acclaimed play The White Guitar, featuring hip hop star Scribe, comes to Rotorua for one night only in October as part of a six-centre regional tour.
The White Guitar will show at the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre on October 11.
Directed by Nina Nawalowalo and Jim Moriarty, The White Guitar features Scribe performing alongside his father John and brother Matthias telling the true story of their family - the Luafutus.
"We've had an incredible response to the play in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch with standing ovations at every show," said Ms Nawalowalo.
"In directing and producing The White Guitar we were drawn to the raw truth of the Luafutu's story. It is particularly unique to have a story performed by the family themselves. These are three extraordinary men who have the courage to tell a story of hope found under oppression, a journey from hurt to healing, but above all a belief that the truth will set us all free."
"We continue to be stunned by the reactions to this work and we're looking forward to bringing the story to more audiences."
Co-written by three members of the Luafutu family, The White Guitar traces the line of creative power at the heart of a family from its roots in the gifting of a white guitar to their grandmother in the Samoan village, to the collision of the migrants' dreams with the harsh realities of 1950's New Zealand.
It follows a harrowing path - a man's journey from boyhood innocence into the heart of darkness; through violence, drug addiction, prison and gangs, to the possibility of hope, healing and inspiration.
With the intensity of a live gig, music pumps through the story's veins, from the first songs of a grandmother sung to her white guitar to the power of rock 'n' roll, the beats of hip-hop and church hymns.
Scribe (real name Malo Luafutu) is one of New Zealand's best-known hip-hop artists with a platinum-selling album and APRA Silver Scroll Award to his name. He collaborated with his actor brother Matthias and his father, self-taught musician and writer John, to create the script for The White Guitar.
Scribe said creating the play had been an incredible journey for himself, his father and brother.
"We've become even closer as a family as we've been bringing our story to the stage. We haven't shied away from the truth of our lives," he said.
Matthias has been building a career in acting after attending a workshop while at Weymouth Residential Centre and has been part of Jim Moriarty's theatre group, Te Rakau and performed on stage, television and in films for the past 16 years.
Earlier this year he and John acted together in the film Ghost in the Shell which features Hollywood stars Juliette Binoche, Scarlett Johansen and Pilou Asbaek.
"This is a story about finding a voice in the midst of dark times, the triumph of survival and keeping the creative flame alight," said Ms Nawalowalo.
The White Guitar is at Civic Theatre, Rotorua on Tuesday October 11 at 8pm.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.co.nz or phone 0800 111 999 and for full details of the tour visit www.tourmakers.co.nz