The Hen House, a story paying homage to the stories of European migration in the 1960s and ‘70s, will hit the stage at Camden Civic Centre next week.
Created and performed by Camden locals Josipa Draisma and Mara Knežević, The Hen House is a musical that features original music inspired by 1970s Australian pop rock.
The Hen House weaves together stories of female migrant factory workers from South Western Sydney – with live and loud music played by an all-female rock band.
This stage musical elevates diverse women’s voices as powerful and hugely significant to Australia’s social and economic history.
It’s 1976. Sherbet’s Howzat is number one 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.
“The Hen House is inspired by our grandmother who worked at the Inghams chicken factory in Casula,’’ says Josipa Draisma.
“It’s an amazing opportunity not only for Mara and me to work as sisters and artists, but it’s also to honour the stories that come from our family and community.”
SNAPSHOT – THE HEN HOUSE
When: Wednesday 13th September 7:30pm
Where: Camden Civic Centre
Tickets: School Booking $44.50 | Student (14+ years/High School student) $44.50 | Concession $48.50 | Adult $52.50 Bookings via https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1023269?eid=1023269 or phone 4653 3333
Performance warnings: Recommended 14+
Contains strobe lighting, smoke haze, coarse language
