Dance costume, Ballyhoo bird

This flamboyant dance costume was designed to look like a Ballyhoo bird, a story book character in The Nickle Nackle Tree by Lynley Dodd. It was worn when the story was made into a musical production in 1996.

It is part of a collection of costumes and puppets acquired in 2012 which together represent an important musical event for New Zealand children. The show not only brings to the stage a historically significant story by an iconic New Zealand author but it showcases New Zealand costume design, choreography, music, dance and puppetry. The show was put on in Wellington and Auckland where there were sell-out shows.