It’s 1976. Howzat’s No.1 on the charts. Industries are booming and it’s the migrant women cashing in. Pavica, a young Croatian mother is dressed in her crisp white uniform, smiling proudly on the production line, elbows deep in chicken carcass, loving her new Australian life.
The Hen House is a new music theatre work weaving extraordinary, humorous, and tragic multi-lingual stories of female migrant factory workers from Western Sydney with distinctly live and loud original music nodding towards Australian pub-rock bands of the time.
A fierce, funny, and electrifying experience, The Hen House elevates diverse women’s voices as powerful and hugely significant to Australia’s social and economic history.
VIDEO
For a full copy of the archive, please contact Jacqueline Hornjik jacqueline@pyt.com.au
Interview with the artists: https://vimeo.com/423392777
MARKETING ASSETS
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/q2uq46g405tq5r4/AABcj_SfoIJoDQqpEjJhM1-Pa?dl=0
DEVELOPMENT HISTIORY
2023 – PYT Fairfield, 4 weeks (plus 3 weeks tour)
2021 – PYT Fairfield, 2 weeks
2020 – PYT Fairfield, 2 weeks
CREATIVE TEAM
Co-Creators/ Performers Josipa Draisma, Mara Knezevic,
Co-Creator Sime Knezevic
Director Anthea Williams
Musical Director Zeljko Papic
Designer Isabel Hudson
Lighting Designer Elyse Drenth
Producer PYT Fairfield, Gabriela Green Olea
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
Josipa Draisma – Co-Creator/PerformerJosipa 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) and The Hen House (dir. Anthea Williams, PYT Fairfield 2023)
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 (co-devised/performed by Mara Knežević)
“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… humorous… essential… true.” Suzy Goes See
On LJUBICICA: WILD VIOLET (created and performed by Josipa Draisma)
“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 (Directed by Anthea Williams)
‘…focused and poignant… Williams excelled…(allowing) Musa’s presence and natural storytelling ability to shine.” Theatre Haus
ABOUT PYT FAIRFIELD
PYT Fairfield envisions a world where anyone from anywhere can dare to make art and place it on stages worldwide.
We exist to offer young and emerging artists from Western Sydney a solid foundation with which to build on their creativity. We share our expertise and create an environment that enables artists to grow and flourish, so that our arts landscape showcases a more reflective Australia.
We champion the rich cultural diversity of Australia and provide young and emerging artists with the opportunity to learn, thrive, and develop their professional artistic credits and expertise. We see Fairfield as a global city and a door to the world. We believe in unlocking this potential.
As the only professional theatre company in Western Sydney dedicated to putting young and emerging artists at the core of our practice, we strive to create brave spaces where creativity thrives, and artistic boundaries are pushed, where young and emerging artists build worlds influenced by their cultures and communities. Our commitment lies in nurturing and empowering the next generation of artists from Australia’s most culturally diverse region, where barriers to access are non-existent, and our ground-breaking and aspirational work puts culturally diverse, bi-lingual, working-class Australians at the forefront of Australian stories.
PYT Fairfield is a brave and transformative company that makes urgent work that explores the critical issues of our times and challenges the conventions of traditional theatre. We respond to the needs and aspirations of the next generation of artists, the community in which we live and work, and the explosion of talent and creativity across our region. We do this by creating innovative performance, social, and artistic experiences in theatre spaces and across diverse urban sites of Fairfield, Western Sydney, and beyond, with a critical focus on cultural diversity – intrinsic to the region we call home.
Director Jacqueline Hornjik
Artistic Alliance
Creative Producer, Programing and New Work Gabriela Green Olea
Creative Producer, Youth and Emerging Bina Bhattacharya
Creative Producer, Community and Engagement Daisy Montalvo
Finance and Operations Manager Holly Morrison
Marketing and Development Manager Yvan Karezi
Technical and Production Manager Elyse Drenth
GENERAL
Duration: Approx. 90 minutes without interval
Latecomers: No Lock Outs. Front of House (FOH) to let the first round of latecomers in after the 2nd song ‘Station Sequence’ and thereafter at FOH sees fit with little distraction.
Warnings: Course language and brief discussion of adult themes
Ages: 14+ / Highschool students
TOURING AND TECHNICAL (subject to change)
Touring Party: 8
Touring Party details:
2 x performers
4 x musicians (however, the show can secure musicians locally to minimise costs)
1 x Stage Manage
The Director will travel to the initial performances
| Capacity: | Flexible |
| Scheduling: | Maximum 8-10 shows per week, depending on travel schedule Show call for cast will be 2 hours prior to the show’s starting time On days where 2 shows are scheduled there should be a minimum of 3 hours between the conclusion of the first show and the commencement of the second Media Calls to be scheduled with the Company. |
| Staging: | Drum riser set upstage center with PVC plastic curtain hung as back drop |
| Space: | Minimum performance space area of 4600 (w) x 5000 (d) |
| Provided by the Company. Drum kitGuitarKeyboardBass4 Music stands2 straight mic stands3 black chairs for musicians2 yellow stools for cast | |
| Provided by Venue 2 x wireless handheld SM58 Microphones4 x SM58 vocal Microphones4 x Microphone stands2 x Madonna Microphone body packsAssociated cables (DI for Guitar, Stereo DI Keyboard, DI Bass into Mixer)Full drum Microphone kit with stands6 x Foldback speakersAudio Mixer and qualified sound technicianHouse SpeakersHaze Machine | |
| Provided by Performers 2 x Headsets Mics (DPA 4466 Core Omni Headset) + Adapter for Sennheiser Evolution/ G2, G3, D1 | |
| Load in: | Full day required. If half day is needed more bump in staff is required |
| Show crew required: | Pre-Rig – 2-4 x LX (lighting) Technicians for approx. 4hr call. Bump-in – 2 x Mechanist, 1 x Sound Technician, 3 x Lighting Technicians Show Crew – Venue Manager and Ushers as per venue policy, 1x Venue Technician/Sound Operator, 1 Side of Stage Manager Bump Out – 2x Mechanist, 1x Sound Technician, 2x Lighting Technicians |
| Show crew call: | At least 90mins prior to the show, and at least 30mins post-show. Venue Manager and Usher as per venue policy. |
| Stage Access: | Flexible access |
| Rigging: | Required for all LX fixtures and any speakers required for a standard FOH setup. |
| Audio: | Provided by Performers 2 x Headsets Mics (DPA 4466 Core Omni Headset) + Adapter for Sennheiser Evolution/ G2, G3, D1 |
| Presenter to provide 1x standard FOH speaker setup for the space in the configuration described above. There is no need to rig to allow for surround sound or spot-speakers. 1x audio desk mixer that allows for L-R output. All associated cabling Headset communication between SM and Operators/Technicians All associated cabling | |
| Audio-Visual: | n/a |
| Lighting: | LX requirements are yet to be determined by the lighting designer and will be updated. As a basic outline, see below. Our PM and SM require full access to all dimmers, patching systems and control gear for the duration of the season. |
| Presenter to provide: Haze machine Lighting (Warm wash, Cold wash, Musician lights, six specials) All associated cabling. | |
| Back of house: | Secure, lockable dressing rooms for 6 people – with adequate temperature control, chairs, mirrors, tables and lighting sufficient to complete makeup.Sufficient wardrobe racks and coat hangers for costumes.Access to bathroom facilities in the Back of House areaSecure storage for props, costumes and personal items. If possible, a valu6ables safe. Greenroom facilities including fridge, microwave, kettle and sink with water, crockery and cutlery.Hand sanitizer, disposable antibacterial wipes, disposable facemasks, and a rubbish bin.Access to an ironing board, as well as a garment steamer, if possibleBack of house access for all cast, crew and company. |
| If a 3-show day has been negotiated the presenter must supply lunch or dinner | |
| Consumables: | Required batteries for wireless microphone packs Coffee, tea, drinking water, milk, biscuits and dishwashing detergent for greenroom |
| Stage Management: | SM needs to call the show from a location with a clear line of sight to the front of the stage. Ability to communicate with FOH either directly or via Venue Tech or FOH ManagerAccess to a fully equipped first aid kit.Adequate backstage lightingHand sanitizer, disinfectant cleaning sprays, antibacterial wipes, cloths and rubbish bins. |
| Freight and Vehicles: | The show has a small amount of freight, and tours in a 4.5 tonne truck. On the day of Bump In, this truck will require access to a loading dock / loading zone to park and unload the freight (approx. 30min) and will then require a parking space for the remainder of the day, if possible. The truck will require the same access on the day of Bump Out. If possible, parking for 2 additional small vehicles, would be appreciated. |
| Presenter to provide: | Performance space and audience seating. Production and technical as above (Producer to provide select elements as outlined below) In-house technical assistance. |
| Producer to provide: | All set elements including. All props, costumes and set dressings. |
Sample Outline of Possible Production Schedule:
Pre-Production
- 4hr Pre-Rig of LX
Production Day
- 0900-1030 Load in, Setup Band and Props, Bump in Touring Tech and Rig
- 1030-1300 Focus LX and Plot Sound Levels
- 1300-1400 Lunch, Cast Arrival
- 1400-1500 Mic-Up Cast, Tune Microphones
- 1500-1630 Dress/Tech
- 1630-1700 Notes, Fixes
- 1700-1800 Dinner
- 1800-1900 Call Time for Performance (incl. Mic-up, Mic Test and Cast Warmup)
- 1900-2030 Performance
- 2030-2130 Bump Out (if required)
