Bush Chook
OPEN STUDIO

Bush Chook – presented for Gasworks’ OPEN STUDIO by The Šimić Theatre Co. 

On the last Monday of each month, Gasworks is giving our Studio Theatre over to the independent artists of Melbourne. Come and see the next generation of artists and works – first – at Gasworks. You never know where they will end up. 

It’s a hot summer’s night, and the jingle bells are still days away from ringing. Step into the relentless sun on the edge of the Nullarbor Plain as two young strangers cross paths on a December night. Watch them as they talk, flirt, drink Emu Exports and share stories. But be careful. You’re a long way from home. Influenced by Wake in Fright and How to Make Gravy, this new play by Hayley Perrin and performed by Lea Šimić and Matthew J. Young explores the dark truths beneath Australian festivity, culture and isolation. Bush Chook is a time-jumping thriller that invites audiences to question what danger looks like and why women are so often expected to carry the burden of silence. 

About The Šimić Theatre Co

Lea Šimić is a first-generation Australian theatre-maker and founder of The Šimić Theatre Co. With international residencies and training across Australia, her work is loud, playful, and rooted in stories that live in the “in-between.” The company grew from her desire to give other artists in the in-between a space to experiment and connect. Drawing on her marketing background with UNICEF Australia and BASE MGMT, Lea brings a sharp eye to amplifying each show. The works you’ll find with The Šimić Theatre Co are bold, funny, and unafraid to push boundaries—made by artists who crave connection and by audiences who exist between cultures, generations, or even genres. For Lea, theatre is always an event: something you experience, take part in, and carry with you.

Companion Card Holder tickets are available. To book, please contact the Gasworks Front Desk on (03) 8606 4200 during office hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm.