Fleeing home for a fantasy

Jarod Rawiri looks a little out of time as he strolls New North Rd in his three-piece tweed suit, felt hat on head, battered cardboard suitcase in hand.

He looks more like someone from the 1930s, when trams rumbled through Kingsland to fast-growing suburbs such as Mt Albert. Rather like his character inThe Arrival.

Based on a graphic novel by Shaun Tan, a Chinese immigrant to Australia, the show tells of fleeing one's homeland for a fantastical utopia of anarchistic architecture, peculiar creatures and indecipherable languages.

The stage version in which Rawiri will star is a tribute to migrants, refugees and displaced people. Part of Rawiri's training for the role was to meet people who had lived through those experiences.

"We met a refugee from Rwanda who had to leave his family. He'd been at a refugee camp and he'd got out because he could speak another language. He explained how difficult and how dangerous it was to come to New Zealand.

"I was really impressed with how he'd been through so much in life but he didn't wear it. He was a really lovely human being."

Rawiri's appreciation for his life in New Zealand was enriched by that meeting. "It's hard to imagine what it would be like to have to leave this place. It's a paradise in a lot of ways," says the Morningside resident, whose character is forced to leave his wife and children in search of a safe place.

"I have two boys and two girls. It really got me thinking about how important it is for my little people to have a safe future."

He's the only character of the 12-member cast to speak English during the performance: most of the story is told through movement and puppetry. "We had Michael Parmenter [New Zealand choreographer and dancer] work with us. We had to come up with ways to make things - like a car out of people."

Had he done much dancing before the show? "Yes. In my lounge."

Debuting at the 2009 Auckland Arts Festival, The Arrival has since made its way round festivals in Hong Kong, Seoul and Busan (South Korea) and Sydney. It returns to Auckland for just three nights.

The set has been modified from the original and uses concertinaed cardboard of old fridge packaging. Coupled with puppets and shadow play, it makes for a visual spectacular.

"It's definitely a family outing. I think there is a strong message in there about people being able to live in a society where differences are celebrated, but it's not overtly heavy," Rawiri says. "There is that underlying message, then layered on top of it is this delightful, magical feel."

Although the actor has just returned from South Korea, he is pleased to have a full schedule ahead of him, with roles in new TV series Harry, with Oscar Kightley, Korero Mai and New Zealand film Fantail.

"I'm juggling personalities. I have to have a notebook to remind me who I am each day."

SHOW TIME

WHAT The Arrival, by Red Leap Theatre

WHEN Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14, 7.30pm; Sunday,  July 15, 4pm

WHERE ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

HOW MUCH $25-$65. Group prices available

BOOK www.buytickets.co.nz or 0800 BUY TICKETS

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