About The Arrival:
The Arrival is adapted from the award winning graphic novel by Shaun Tan. This production is possible thanks to Shaun Tan and Lothian Children’s Books.
What drives so many to leave everything behind and journey alone to a mysterious country, a place without family or friends, where everything is nameless and the future unknown?
This question inspired Shaun Tan’s celebrated graphic novel, now lifted from the page in a wondrous, wordless stage production by visual theatre pioneers Kate Parker and Julie Nolan.
Fleeing an oppressive force, and leaving behind his wife and child, a man travels vast oceans, in search of a better life in a new land. There he encounters indecipherable languages, peculiar customs, bizarre foods, curious animals and dazzling architecture. Baffled and bewildered he sets out to find a home, a job and the security he needs to reunite his family.
While utterly fantastical, The Arrival is also familiar to us in many ways. It is a truly universal story of overcoming hardship, of humanity and of hope. Like Shaun Tan’s book the production is a tribute to migrants, refugees and displaced people everywhere. It is also a wonderful educational resource that helps young people explore ideas of identity and belonging.
The Arrival draws upon time honoured theatrical devices of light and shadow, scale and perspective, puppetry and animation, music and a highly physical ensemble cast of ten to tell the story. This production invites all to suspend disbelief and send hearts and imaginations on a journey of discovery.
Julie Nolan & Kate Parker
Artistic Directors of Red Leap
Julie is the director and Kate is the designer of imagery and a cast member in The Arrival
Artistic Directors Kate Parker and Julie Nolan met in 1995 while studying at the John Bolton Theatre School, Melbourne. Both returned to New Zealand shortly after and established themselves as entrepreneurial theatre artists creating, performing, producing and teaching their craft. After a series of successful independent productions they formally established Red Leap Theatre in 2008 to produce The Arrival and future projects.
Red Leap Theatre has a tradition of bringing timeless tales to life through an assortment of naïve theatrical devises such as puppetry and animation, light and shadow play, music and the physical ensemble.
In addition to their work together Kate Parker and Julie Nolan have many independent theatre credits to their name.
Kate is equally at home creating work as she is performing in it. She has many stage and screen credits but is best known in the international marketplace for her role in Indian Ink’s successful production The Candlestickmaker.
Kate is an experienced educator who spends much of her time teaching her craft in schools and the community. She is also a gifted designer and constructor of visual imagery. This rare combination of skills make her a sought after collaborator. She created and manipulated shadow puppet sequences for 500 Letters which has toured New Zealand. She is also Artistic Director of Waitakere City’s annual Trash To Fashion event
Julie Nolan was last seen performing in the role of Batista in Theatre Stampedes’ The Young Baron in 2003. She is more comfortable behind the scenes than treading the boards. From 2002 to 2006 Julie was producer for Massive Company, producing works such as The Sons of Charlie Paora which toured nationally in 2005. She also produced and tour managed its journey to the Royal Court Theatre in London and Contact Theatre in Manchester. Her producing for Massive concluded in 2006 with the premiere season of 100 Cousins at The Herald Theatre.
Julie’s first love is directing. She recently directed Vivienne Plumb’s Oyster for Auckland Theatre Company’s Young and Hungry Series and a sequence in the World Of Wearable Arts 2009.
