Red Heavens

It’s not very often that an author gets their book adapted into a stage play, but I’ve been lucky for it to happen to me and a surprising journey it has turned out to be. Red Heavens is the initiative of Golden Bay-based dramatist Martine Baanvinger, well established on the scene with her DramaLab production company, and in particular now, three one-woman shows she took all over the country thanks to the Arts on Tour Trust.

It is nearly three years since Martine approached me to check out the possibility of turning my book Angelina into her third major solo stage play which she ended up calling Red Heavens. The plot of my book, first published in 2004, is a ‘factionalised’ take on my Italian grandmother’s life on D’Urville Island over the first part of the 20th century and how her fate intertwined with her deep connection to high-born Māori woman, Wetekia Ruruku Elkington.

Despite multiple meetings with Martine as she honed her idea, I still had no idea what she was coming up with until I turned up on opening night at the Mussel Inn on 19 June. As her 1.5hr performance unfolded, I felt that Martine had given my book wings, indeed I wondered if the very spirit of my grandmother had flown into her as she performed the show.

With the help of Arts on Tour funding Martine took the play as far south as  the Mason Hall at Waikaia Lodge in Southland and as far north as Whangarei.

With the play dealing with the close relationship between Angelina and high-born Maori woman, Wetekia Ruruku Elkington, it’s been no surprise descendants and relations of both families have turned up in droves to fill audiences, which was very moving for me. At the Playhouse in Māpua, descendants of Wetekia stood up to deliver a moving karanga to welcome in the show.

Earlier this year I returned the piupiu, central to the story, to the Elkington whānau at French Pass.This skilled piece of weaving by Wetekia was given to my grandmother a century ago as a thank you for helping deliver one of her children.

When I wrote the book, it became apparent to me what a taonga we had in our possession, one that took on the full mana of its maker. And this year felt right it should go back. That handover became part of my journey also.

Martine has lifted the bar on acting in this country, and I am absolutely chuffed she chose my book for her must-see stage show. How lucky am I.