Loud chanting and shrieks of laughter echo the nearby school playground, where tiny feet thud in rhythm on the concrete hopscotch floor.

The clanging of a netball hoop rings in our ears, announcing our opening night performance of Kia Ora Khalid has begun.

We are now immersed in the Six Degrees Festival by Victoria University of Wellington. But really we are on a journey around the world faced by many migrants and refugees, that will make our own home look different upon our return.

Comprised of 16 student actors aged 10-19 and a live band, Kia Ora Khalid is also a celebration of the incredible energy and heart that children bring to the world, and to the theatre. Their tireless hard work and determination proves to us that, like migrants and refugees, they deserve to be here.

The ability to bring out their overwhelming talent in this dynamic children’s opera is a honed skill of experienced stage director and creative lead Ditas Yap.

Ditas has 20 years’ experience directing children’s musicals in the Philippines, prior to her taking on a Masters of Fine Art in theatre here in Wellington. The Masters is the catalyst of this fine-tuned opera, reprised from a commissioned work by Capital E National Theatre for Children which premiered in 2009.

We are introduced to Ditas by her supervisor and youth theatre champion Kerryn Palmer, a mentor for so many of Wellington’s growing theatre professionals. I can’t wait to see the careers of these bright performers continue to grow on stage, aided by this experience of working with Wellington’s best and beyond.

Our esteemed creators are composer Gareth Farr and playwright Dave Armstrong, whose collaboration of complicated themes blend effortlessly, helped by their long-standing friendship and talent, grown themselves over record-spanning careers.

There’s no doubt our young cast are the real royalty here tonight, each singing, acting, and navigating complicated costume changes and choreography as they convey the stories of four students, four countries irreparably changed during their journey as refugees to a new life in New Zealand.

Spanning across Afghanistan, Cambodia, Samoa and Poland, their fight against discrimination and hate is more relevant now than ever, says playwright Dave Armstrong.

This compilation of stories would unlikely be written about now though, he says, in the aftermath of the 2019 Christchurch Mosque shootings at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre that have changed forever the beautiful country we call home.

I am in awe at the detail and commitment that has brought this show to life. Crucial is the masterful work of Dave and Gareth, to not only create these worlds with darkness and light, but in bringing these stories into our hearts and demanding we see the beauty, imperfections and inequalities that surround us, prodding us to demand more of ourselves and our country.

The original production relied on adult actors to play the leads, but it was Ditas’ idea for the young cast to take on these roles, each owning their characters, intertwined stories and four-part harmonies, even adding their own choreography and shadow dancing in parts.

The cast includes musician and actor Felix McDougall, with accompanying musicians Laura Stone and Nathan Parker led by musical director Jo Hodgson, who are so brilliant the music draws us into the characters’ world and you forget there’s a band at all.

No matter how many dark paths we ride or haunting melodies accompany us, the opera keeps an upbeat, energetic and uplifting safe space for the audience, thanks to its captivating performers. Each skilfully manoeuvres the high notes, dark themes and heartbreaking lyrics about family, war and discrimination faced everyday.

The technically demanding parts receive more than a believable and skilful performance from every young cast member. They also bring spirit. The characters are united by their shared experiences and unite the audience in the process. They remind us that every person, word and action can make a difference, for better or worse.

Kia ora Khalid sold out prior to opening but I already look forward to its return, and any future works by Gareth, Dave, Ditas and music director Jo Hodgson.

I am thankful to set creator Alistair Porter for ensuring every story is conveyed to the fullest ability, with impressive AV and shadow art by Isobel Beckit-Goodyear, stunning costumes by designer Emory Otto, and star-worthy lighting and sound designed by Senuka Sudusinghe – operated by Rita Anderson and Caleb O’Halloran respectively.

The audience takes every hit in the heart during this incredible opera, asking us to rethink what our home should be. I hope the stories within Kia Ora Khalid are retold and restaged often, and inspire our own stories to stay with us and be shared, just as proudly.

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