Small but perfectly formed, this tale of flight from war is a model of excellence

ImmIgRAtIon is one of the major themes of the festival, but few shows will match the technical brilliance of this miniature epic about two young brothers journeying from Afghanistan to London.

Based on the book by Caroline Brothers, you sit in a private booth and watch a succession of tiny stage sets inside a large carousel-like diorama. this diorama slowly revolves lighting scenes on the brothers’ journey for each spectator in turn, while dialogue and sound is relayed through headphones.

the effect is extraordinary, affording tremendous intimacy with the characters – Aryan, 15, and eight-year-old Kabir.

their journey starts in Kabul and takes them over grassy mountains to tehran and on to a turkish farm picking oranges where we learn Kabir is raped. they make it to the Jungle in Calais, where they get the chance to cross the Channel in freezer trucks. they maintain morale with the never say die spirit of Bruce Willis – but it’s not a Hollywood ending.

technically, this is an extraordinary feat accomplished by Candice Edmunds and her glasgow-based company Vox motus. the figures vary in size and the stages of their journey are set in handmade models, from cells to city streets. But the lighting and sound for each model has to be separately cued for some two dozen spectators sitting around the diorama. the fact you remain oblivious to this electronic feat allows you to focus on the boys’ harrowing journey and its tragic conclusion.