Flutter
Performed by Anna Bailey - TAHI 2026 Creative Resident
Redeveloped for TAHI in partnership with Creative NZ, Taki Rua Productions, and PAYPA
Flutter is a magical story of a glow worm who fell from the stars and a bat who is afraid of the dark. Premiering at TAHI 2023, this new 2026 version weaves together live music and puppetry in an adventure about friendship, bravery, and the very real threat of introduced predators in the New Zealand bush. Interactive, whimsical and heartwarming, Flutter is perfect for children aged 3-7, and is sure to delight audiences young and old.
CREATIVE TEAM
Co-creator & Puppeteer: Anna Bailey
Co-creator & Director: Bridget Saunders
Co-creator & Musician/Composer: Stephanie Cairns
Co-creator: Jen McArthur
Set design & build: Struan Ashby and Roger Sanders
Puppet painter/surfaces: Erica Duthie
Costume: Sarah Bell
Electrician and light construction: Jospeh Bailey
Mentor: Kerryn Palmer
About Anna
Anna Bailey is a puppeteer, theatre-maker and founder of String Bean Puppets, creating original works inspired by the unique flora and fauna of Aotearoa. Passionate about the art of marionettes, Anna uses puppetry to entertain, educate and spark conversations about our natural world, encouraging empathy for endangered species through playful storytelling.
Her puppetry journey began while working as an au pair for a puppeteering family in Italy, where she was inspired by the street marionettists she encountered across Europe and their remarkable ability to connect with audiences. Since then, she has performed in schools, museums, libraries and festivals throughout New Zealand and internationally.
For Flutter, Anna's bat marionette, Pepe, was hand-carved following a woodcarving puppetry course with acclaimed Icelandic puppeteer Bernd Ogrodnik.
Presented in partnership with Creative NZ, Taki Rua Productions, and PAYPA
