Creative Queenstown’s supporting Birdlife Productions to bring Aya and the Butterfly, directed by Bridget Sanders, to the Athenaeum Hall on Sunday.
The show’s based on a kids’ book of the same name, written by Dr Maysoon Salama for her granddaughter, Aya, who lost her father — Salama’s eldest son — Ata Mohammad Ata Elayyan, in the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019.
Following his death, Aya and her mum moved to Jordan.
Aimed at children aged from 3 to 9, the show includes themes of grief and compassion from other cultures, using puppetry, songs and laughter.
Sanders says after she read Salama’s book, published in 2021, "it immediately struck me as a perfect work to base a puppet show on, with its simple but important themes".
The story explores grief through the life cycle of a monarch butterfly, which allows kids to explore the heavy topic of loss in a light-hearted way.
It also helps them learn how to build resilience and deal with change, while encouraging compassion and empathy for different cultures, through the inclusion of traditional Arabic music and themes.
"Our touches of Aya’s Middle Eastern culture show children that other people from different places, who dress differently and eat different foods, are as normal and wonderful as ourselves," Sanders says.
Salama — who was made an Honorary Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Muslim community and education, in last year’s King’s Birthday Honours — says after watching her story come to life, "it left a lasting impression on all who witnessed it, sparking conversations about love, loss and the power of healing".
"The cultural aspect of the puppet show added a layer of richness and inclusivity that enhanced the overall experience."
Aya and the Butterfly will be performed this Sunday at Arrowtown’s Athenaeum Hall at 11am and 2pm — shows last 45 minutes each.
Tickets cost $10, under-3s are free, via Humanitix
