Info
The Art House Presents
A PYT Fairfield and In Wild Company production
The Hen House
By Mara Knezevic, Josipa Draisma and Sime Knežević
Directed by Anthea Williams
Musical Direction by Zeljko Papic
It’s 1976. Sherbet’s Howzat is No.1 on the Charts. Industries are booming, and it’s migrant women who are cashing in. Pavica, a young Croatian mother is dressed in her crisp white uniform, smiling proudly on the production line, elbows deep in chicken carcasses, loving her job and her new Australian life.
Mila, however, does NOT love her job. In fact, she despises it. The screaming chooks, screeching machines, not to mention the tenosynovitis that plagues the production line. For her, this factory is a hell house. Mila is hellbent on taking this chicken business, and ripping it to bits.
Pavica and Mila are best friends. They need each other to survive this strange feathery world of work. But it might also be the very thing that completely drives them apart.
Weaving together extraordinary, humorous, and tragic multi-lingual stories of female migrant factory workers from Western Sydney with distinctly live and loud original music played by an electrifying all-female rock band, The Hen House elevates diverse women’s voices as powerful and hugely significant to Australia’s social and economic history.
Created and performed by dynamic sister-duo Josipa Draisma (Founder/Creative Director, In Wild Company) and Mara Knezevic (Playlist, PYT Fairfield), with director Anthea Williams (Hir, Sydney Theatre Awards Best Director), The Hen House is a fierce and funny migrant story that pays homage to the stories of European migration in the 60s and 70s and explores the dignity and comedy of the female working-class experience.
Encore Members and a guest are invited to an exclusive pre-show function with nibbles and drinks*. Encore Member must show their Member card* for entry.
Cast & Creatives
CREATIVE TEAM
Co-Creators/ Performers - Josipa Draisma, Mara Knežević
Director - Anthea Williams
Musical Director - Zeljko Papic
Co-Writer & Dramaturg - Sime Knežević
Choreographer - Emma Saunders
Producer - PYT Fairfield
Designer - Isabel Hudson
Photo Credit - Anna Kucera
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
Josipa Draisma – Co-Creator/Performer
Josipa is an award-winning interdisciplinary performing artist and cultural leader working across theatre, music, cabaret, and comedy. Her original work has been programmed across national comedy and arts festivals in Australia including Sydney Comedy Festival, Melbourne Comedy Festival, Melbourne Cabaret Festival and Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Mara Knežević – Co-Creator/Performer
Mara Knežević is a theatre-maker, performer, and singer-songwriter. She co-creates music under MARA DUKE and has released music on major platforms since 2015. She is an ongoing member of the female/non-binary collective All Girl Electronic based in Parramatta. Her credits include the Helpmann Award nominated dance-theatre work PLAYLIST (dir. Karen Therese, PYT Fairfield, 2017).
Anthea Williams – Director
Anthea Williams is an award-winning theatre and film director and a Churchill Fellow. Anthea develops both theatre and screenplays and has worked in development at Causeway Films, Screen Australia, Belvoir, and London’s Bush Theatre. Anthea was awarded Best Director of a Mainstage Production at the Sydney theatre Awards 2017 for Hir. This production won several other awards including Best Mainstage Production.
Reviews
Previous Works
On PLAYLIST
“Electrifying and every synonym thereof.” - Sydney Arts Guide
“It is about creating a new vision of a future … an entirely unpretentious theatrical exploration of a modern feminism… humourous… essential… true.” - Suzy Goes See
On LJUBICA:WILD VIOLET
"Draisma’s performance is a passionate one, and we are swept away by the many beautiful Croatian songs she presents with gusto." - Suzy Go See
On SINCE ALI DIED
"…focused and poignant... Williams excelled…(allowing) Musa’s presence and natural storytelling ability to shine.” Theatre Haus
