New Zealand’s Red Leap Theatre company is currently presenting its stage adaptation of ‘The Arrival’, the award winning graphic novel by Australian writer Shaun Tan, at CarriageWorks.

‘The Arrival’ tells the story of an anonymous young man, brought up in an oppressive country, who seeks a better life for his wife and his child. He leaves his home country and goes traveling with the aim of re-establishing himself in a new country and then bringing his family over.

His Odyssey is an eye-opening, painful and pleasurable one, as he tackles indecipherable languages, peculiar customs, bizarre foods, odd work practices, curious animals, and stunning architecture and landscapes.

The colour and breadth of the immigrant experience has inspired many a writer. What makes ‘The Arrival’ special, and gives it its eloquence and poignancy, is that the two artistic directors of Red Leap, Julie Nolan and Kate Parker, tell their story though the use of visual theatre.

Words do not get a say in this work, the story is told by an ensemble cast of nine performers who give their all to telling the story, helped by the rich use of music (Andrew McMillan), lighting (Jeremy Fern), set (John Verryt), costumes (Elizabeth Whiting), puppetry and animation.

A Sydney Festival event, Red Leap Theatre’s production of ‘The Arrival’ plays Bay 17 at CarriageWorks until January 17.