Hometown is a heartfelt new puppet musical about identity, family, and the search for belonging. Inspired by a not-yet-published story by internationally acclaimed author and artist Shaun Tan, the show follows a young girl raised on an alien planet as she faces a life-changing choice — to stay with the only family she’s ever known, or venture into the unknown in search of who she truly is.
This is Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s second-ever musical production, featuring original songs, rich visual storytelling, and the magic of black theatre, where puppets and objects appear to float while the puppeteers remain invisible. The result is an immersive, cinematic experience that draws audiences deep into the world of the story.
Hometown continues our long-running creative partnership with Shaun Tan, following acclaimed adaptations of The Arrival, Tales from Outer Suburbia, and Rules of Summer. Suitable for audiences aged 5 and up, it’s a powerful and moving theatrical experience exploring love, identity, and what it means to call a place home.
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre respectfully acknowledges the Whadjuk Noongar people as the traditional owners and custodians of the unceded land on which we work. As we tour our work across these vast lands, we pay our respect to all First Nations elders, past and present. We celebrate their continuing connection and contribution to culture, country and community, and thank all First Nations peoples for their wisdom in caring for the land, the sky, the rivers and the sea.