Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui star power behind the scenes in Matariki Glow Show

Liz Wylie
By Liz Wylie
Multimedia Journalist, Whanganui Chronicle·Whanganui Chronicle·
17 May, 2022 05:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
The Matariki Glow Show cast is rehearsing for two shows at the Royal Whanganui Opera House in July. Photo / Supplied

The Matariki Glow Show cast is rehearsing for two shows at the Royal Whanganui Opera House in July. Photo / Supplied

The Matariki Glow Show returns to the Royal Whanganui Opera House stage in winter, promising an all-new show to celebrate the first nationwide Māori New Year public holiday.

The glow-in-the-dark puppet show tells the story of te kāhui whetū o Matariki (the star cluster/whānau of Matariki) as they gather to light up the skies for te tau hou Māori (Māori New Year).

Producer Irene Chappleback said audiences could expect to see an "all-new, giant-scale puppet show for tamariki, educators and whānau".

The show also has a special local connection as the soundtrack for the show was written by Whanganui-born composer Midge Perez.

Perez was drawn to making music early in his life and credits teachers at Castlecliff, Rutherford and Whanganui High School for encouraging his talent, which earned him a scholarship to study at Brigham Young University in Hawaii.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

When he returned to Whanganui in 2000, Perez joined the crew at Awa FM hosting the rangatahi (youth) programme Ka Mau Te Wehi with Hoani Maniapoto.

Now the principal lecturer in singing and music at Manukau Institute of Technology in Auckland, Perez has been an actor, writer and youth worker, and even spent 18 months as a cocktail pianist working on cruise ships.

Midge Perez from Whanganui creates the musical magic for the Matariki Glow Show.

Photo / Supplied
Midge Perez from Whanganui creates the musical magic for the Matariki Glow Show. Photo / Supplied

He began working with the glow show's creator, Sarah Burren, in 2017 and continues to compose and direct the musical parts.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Midge brings years of experience as a performer, producer, writer and director for stage, film and television," Chappleback said.

"And director Rokalani Lavea is a performer across dance, music, screen and theatre, and most recently starred in the TVNZ series The Panthers."

The show brings the mythical tale to life with its unique puppets, which glow under UV lights in a black-box theatre. Told in te reo Māori and English, the show is designed to educate as it entertains, with its cutting-edge concept, upbeat original soundtrack, and themes of whakawhanaungatanga, friendship and togetherness.

Chappleback said more than 61,000 tamariki, educators and whānau have seen the show since its launch in 2017, and reviewers have described the experience as "spellbinding" and "captivating".

Discover more

Sarjeant happenings: Ian McGowan - a dedicated community man

16 May 05:00 PM

Bret McKenzie leaving jokes at home for Whanganui show

16 May 05:00 PM

Diverse events to attend during Techweek Whanganui

09 May 05:00 PM

Whanganui violinist attains highest achievement for young players

08 May 05:00 PM

There will be two shows for age groups at the Royal Whanganui Opera House: An 11am show suitable for 0-5 (ECE/Year 1) for 30 minutes and a 1pm show suitable for 6-12 (Years 2-8) for 50 minutes with patai (Q&A) afterwards.

The Matariki Glow Show: Royal Whanganui Opera House, Tuesday, July 12, at 11am and 1pm. Doors open 20 minutes before the start. Tickets are $13.50 for the 11am show and $15.50 for the 1pm show. It is free for children under 18 months sitting on an adult's lap. Book at the Opera House, phone (06) 349 0511.

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui Chronicle

'Just about perfection': Top dog scores 99.5 at Tux Yarding Challenge

Whanganui Chronicle

'Let's be brave': Rangitīkei to apply for plan stop exemption

Whanganui Chronicle

Council candidate wants to be 'leader in the community'


Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

'Just about perfection': Top dog scores 99.5 at Tux Yarding Challenge
Whanganui Chronicle

'Just about perfection': Top dog scores 99.5 at Tux Yarding Challenge

Waikato's Leo Jacentho and Zap scored top marks in the Tux Yarding Challenge at Ōhingaiti.

02 Sep 11:44 PM
'Let's be brave': Rangitīkei to apply for plan stop exemption
Whanganui Chronicle

'Let's be brave': Rangitīkei to apply for plan stop exemption

02 Sep 06:30 PM
Council candidate wants to be 'leader in the community'
Whanganui Chronicle

Council candidate wants to be 'leader in the community'

02 Sep 05:00 PM


NZ’s convenience icon turns 35
Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

02 Sep 09:23 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP