Balloon Dog is the latest play from the Indian Ink Theatre Company and, after playing in Auckland, has come to the Sydney Opera House following the company’s long history of successful productions in New Zealand. Adapted from a short story by Rabindranath Tagore, it follows five-year-old Mini, who becomes friends with Kabir, a man who has just arrived in Australia after being introduced to her by her father, an eccentric painter. While her mother is initially wary of this stranger, she eventually comes to love him in the same way before the story takes a devastating turn when Kabir is arrested for manslaughter and imprisoned for seven years. On his release, Kabir returns to find that Mini, now a teenager, no longer remembers him, leaving him to wonder whether his own daughter, whom he has not seen in nearly a decade, will remember him either.

With a great crowd in for opening night, anticipation was high for this production. The three performers, Jacob Rajan, Alisha Jacob and Jehangir Homavazir, quickly bring the audience into their world, with a series of scene changes, dance breaks and shifting timeframes. Even in an 80-minute production, it does feel like a slow start, with a lot of world-building before the story finds its rhythm, however, once the action begins to unfold, the play becomes genuinely moving and the emotional weight of the story comes to the fore.

The themes of loss and belonging are explored particularly well as Kabir’s hurt at being excluded sets the scene before his heartache at not being able to speak to his family gives way to the desperation that ultimately leads to his manslaughter conviction. The production also directly explores the exploitation many migrants experience and the enormous emotional and financial sacrifices Kabir’s family makes as he attempts to build a better future for his children. Interestingly, the play does not focus heavily on prejudice or discrimination, despite how relevant those issues feel today, especially towards the South Asian community in Australia and New Zealand, instead, placing its emphasis on compassion and the simple human connections that develop between these characters, making the story all the more poignant and focussed.

While the subject matter is often heartbreaking, there are lighter moments throughout as audience interaction involving the on-stage musician adds warmth and humour, helping balance the heavier themes and creating an engaging atmosphere that draws the audience into the performance. Additionally, hand puppetry features throughout the production and is an effective theatrical device that brings an extra layer of charm to the storytelling, particularly during the slower opening passages. 

However, the production really comes into its own at the end as Kabir returns from jail to the family while they prepare for Mini’s departure to Sydney and he shares a warm moment with her parents before a puppet version of Mini emerges to meet him. When the balloon dog that Mini loved as a child appears from the suitcase, it is an incredibly powerful and beautiful moment that feels very special, tying together the play’s exploration of memory, family and belonging with remarkable tenderness and really elevating this production in its last moments with something very unique. All three performers deliver strong performances, bringing warmth and authenticity throughout the production and while some of the choreography feels a little overblown at times, the characterisation remains convincing and the costuming and set design also do an excellent job supporting the intimate nature of the story. 

Overall, this is a moving production with genuine beauty and heart which is defined by the strength of its storytelling and the masterful use of puppetry. Although the first half drags slightly, the emotional payoff in the second half makes this production feel very special and reflects that this is a story that deserves to be told, exploring themes that are too rarely seen on Australian stages with warmth and humanity. Don’t miss it before it leaves Sydney. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Balloon Dog plays at the Sydney Opera House until 28 June. For more information, click here. 

All photo credits: Daniel Boud