When there is an interesting story to be told, why deliver it only in words when you can rock sing it out? The Hen House, directed by Sydney Theatre Award- winner Anthea Williams and presented by PYT Fairfield and Wild Company, had their world premiere performance on Thursday, 7 September 2023, at the Riverside Theatre. This is a story of friendship between migrant women working in a chicken processing factory. It is not presented as a traditional stage play or a theatre musical but more as a storytelling comedic rock concert – and it works!
Four musicians kept the audience company as we were seated, and the upcoming play’s era is clearly communicated through their music. 1970s music has a distinct funky sound and was created by a lead guitar (Gwyneth Jansen), an electric base (Sarah Homeh), a keyboard (Sil Jin) and drums (Hayley Chan) that made my feet tap! Along with the smoky atmosphere and the audience preshow chatter, you could think you’re in a club!
However, when we are introduced to the characters Mila and Pavica, recent migrants from a village in Croatia, all thoughts of a nightclub are gone, and we are immediately placed in the moments travelling alongside these women for the rest of the play. The story they tell paints a picture of two very different women facing the same terrible conditions at the chicken processing factory and how they deal with issues in their own way. They simply draw strength from different places.
Mila (co-creator Mara Knezevic) is a feisty firecracker of a woman who hates her job. In stark contrast, her friend Pavica (co-creator Josipa Draisma) adores her job at the factory as a forewoman, proud to be a working Mum, and both are endearing in their own way.
Being a two-woman play (with some interaction with the musicians onstage behind them), the actresses portray their characters with comedic flair, changing their body language and accents to share other character’s dialogues. Their mannerism, facial expression and Aussie accent captured their sexist and arrogant manager well, whom they refer to as “Mr Getty Boss Man” – the quick change into this character had the audience in laughter, as did the portrayal of fellow factory worker Joy, who used to work in a jam factory and liked to let people know.
The Hen House was performed on a small stage, with no costume changes and very few props, but the audience were able to use their imaginations as Mila and Pavica told their story through powerful songs and physical comedy.
Sime Knezevic co-wrote The Hen House alongside his sisters Josipa Draisma and Mara Knezevic, and was almost three years in the making. The songs were composed by musical director Zeljko Papic and were full of life and fun.
The Hen House is a powerful story, a retelling of the way how women were unfairly treated in the workplace and a time capsule showing Australia’s social and economic history during the 1970’s. It is an ode to migrant women and their working contribution to Australia, giving them a sense of self-respect and pride. It runs for 90 minutes with no interval.
World Premiere – Riverside Theatre 7-9 September 2023
Camden Civic Centre 13-14 September 2023
Orange Civic Centre – 16 September 2023
The Art House Wyong – 20 September 2023
The Concourse Pavilion Chatswood – 22 September 2023
This review also appears on It’s On The House.
