Family Magic continues with The Arrival
Friday, May 23, 2008
A tale of fitting in, finding yourself and the importance of family, The Arrival is the story of Aki, a man who leaves his wife and child in order to make a new life in a city far across the sea.
With little more than the clothes on his back, the hat on his head and a notebook full of strange symbols, Aki must plot a course through this strange metropolis in order find a place to sleep and a place to work. This is no easy task, as most things, including food, animals and language, are incomprehensible to him, and all the while he misses the family he has left behind.
Based on the stunningly imaginative book by award-winning illustrator Shaun Tan, The Arrival uses a magical blend of digital animation, puppetry and human actors to tell its story of the immigrant experience and multiculturalism. None of the actors speak during the play; instead, they communicate through expressions and gestures. For Aki, even gestures take some interpreting at first, and to help guide him he keeps a rough book of drawn images (pictures of food, a bed, people working) hung around his neck.
The Spare Parts Puppet Theatre brings this wondrous world to life in breathtaking fashion. Aki’s new pet, a creature somewhere between a big blue tadpole and a small shark, is a brilliantly performed puppet that keeps him company. Animation is used incredibly effectively as moving backdrops to indicate movement and changes of scene and to give the audience a feel of the bizarre city. Projections of images adapted from Tan’s photo-realistic illustrations enable a simple stage to represent a boat, a balloon, city streets, even a forest.
The Arrival presents themes of alienation, acceptance and the values of multicultural Australia in a vivid and vibrant experience accessible for audiences of all ages.
Part of the 2008 Bendigo Bank Family Magic program, catch The Arrival in the Blakiston Theatre on Saturday 31 May at 10.30am and 1pm. Tickets are just $16.80 - book now on 5225 1200 or online at www.gpac.org.au