Unruly tourists who raised hackles across New Zealand to be depicted in new opera

The antics of the so-called "unruly tourists" are set to grace the stage through the New Zealand Opera (NZO).

It is aiming to portray the group's infamous campaign, as it reportedly stole, littered, and verbally abused its way through the North Island in 2019.

NZO general director Thomas de Mallet Burgess said inspiration struck when the ordeal unfolded, shortly after he had moved to New Zealand.

"It struck me as extraordinary, the amount of interest that they garnered as they moved around the country."

The tourist family accused of bad behaviour leaving the Hamilton District Court in 2018. Photo / Christine Cornege

He said the show would primarily be a comedy, although more weighty aspects of the event would be examined.

"Aside from the essential comedic value of the unruly tourists being hunted by the media and people of New Zealand ... there was also possibly a more serious theme about people coming from abroad and rampaging across the country."

The enormous - sometimes violent - public reaction, spurred on by heavy press coverage, would play a large part in the performance, de Mallet Burgess said.

A journalist covering the events as they unfolded would be a central character.

It would also touch on the early misidentification of the tourists as Irish and later responses to the group being English travellers.

He said the NZO was trying to reach new audiences and telling home-grown, more accessible stories could help with that.

The "Irish tourists" accused of dumping rubbish on Takapuna Beach leave their accommodation on Wyndham Street. Photo / Jason Oxenham

The show would combine opera and other types of theatre, bringing writers on board with no experience working with traditional opera.

"I think this work is going to be completely unique on that front. At the moment, I think it's very likely that there will be both opera singers and musical theatre singers in the same production, which I think would be highly original.

"The people who know about this project have instantly found it fascinating."

De Mallet Burgess said the NZO aimed to have the show in theatres by February next year.