"It is an inclusive statement that looks at connecting a large area of Northland and I guess that was driven by my desire to reconnect with the regions in terms of putting the Northland back in to Northland Youth Theatre."
With that in mind, young people were asked how they perceived living in Northland and what that meant to them.
"I guess it's a journey of awareness, and developing an idea about what home might be and what it might look like."
The cast and crew have been living at NorthTec's Te Puna o Te Matauranga Marae since January 9, going home for weekends.
The show combines the talent of the directors and the cast. The audience can expect a combination of dance, kapa haka, singing and acting, Mr Graham said.
"We've got some people who are keen to dance. We've got some people who want to focus on acting, We've got some amazing singers and song writers and we've given them the opportunity to write their own songs."
Forest Martin, 16, from Kaikohe heard about the show after Jess Collins, Northland Youth Theatre manager, booked the Kohewhata Marae.
"My nan wanted to know what the booking was about and it was for a drama production and my nan knew I liked drama and performing so I asked Jess if I could join," she said.
Forest loves anything to do with performing and this will be her first big drama performance.
"It's so fun. We have to go home during the weekend's and during the weekend's you just think about going back," she said.
Te Waiora - From the Mountains to the Sea started in Dargaville yesterday and will be performed from 5.30pm at Opononi Area School tonight; Kaikohe Memorial Hall
from 7pm tomorrow; 116 Bank Street from 7pm on Friday and at Whangarei's Capitaine Bougainville Theatre from 7pm on Saturday.
Visit www.nyt.org.nz for more information.
