1 Mar 2010

Cook Islands musical debuts after 12 years development

4:21 pm on 1 March 2010

There are plans to tour a new Cook Islands musical telling an ancient Polynesian legend.

Once Upon a Reef opened in South Auckland at the weekend.

It's based based on the Polynesian legend of Piripiri-ma, or the inseparable twins, set on the island of Ivanui.

The musical reflects on the loyalty of a young warrior whose responsibility is to protect the reef from outsiders and the neglect faced by his family and children as a result.

Producer Thomas Peroux says the show has been 12 years in the making.

"It went really well. It was awesome. But I think sponsorship and funding was most challenging for us. And at times we thought it might never come true. And we were doing stuff right up to the very end, even to nailing a few more nails into the props before the show."

Mr Peroux says he's hoping to present Once upon a Reef in Wellington and Christchurch before taking it to Australia, the U.S, and the Cook Islands.