A Migrant’s Son
MICHAELA BURGER
WINNER – Frank Ford Award and Best Cabaret Award at Adelaide Fringe
A true-life, original musical tribute to the heart, hilarity and sheer hard work of the migrant experience. This multi award-winning, critically acclaimed show explores one of the most colourful times in Australian history: the arrival of the Greeks!
Igniting memories of a story that millions of migrants can relate to, Michaela Burger pays tribute to her Greek migrant family and hard-working, fun loving larrikin father Luke who defied all odds.
From early morning deliveries for the family bakery at age seven, down opal mines in Coober Pedy at age sixteen and opening a chain of discount supermarkets in Adelaide, Luke’s road was not one for the faint-hearted.
Premiering to a sell-out Adelaide Cabaret Festival season, this critically acclaimed work conveys an incredible true story, brought to life through original music written and performed by Burger alongside local community choirs.
Featuring a live band, including piano and bouzouki, Michaela tells her family story with poignancy and comical aplomb. The show is both hard-hitting and hilarious, traversing 100 years from Russia to the Australian outback – following the hardship, ingenuity, tragedy and triumph in all migrants’ stories.
Credits
Created & Performed by Michaela Burger
Director Jane Packham
Music Director Carol Young
Choir Arrangements/Coordination Carol Young
Recorded Tracks Dave Higgins
Bouzouki/Guitar George Grifsas
Dramaturg Sally Hardy/Elena Carapetis
Costumes Artemis Sidiropoulou
Lighting Tom Bayford
About the Artist
Described by Kate Ceberano as “an asset to the cabaret community”, Burger is the recipient of the Frank Ford award, Best Cabaret Adelaide Fringe weekly, Best Cabaret Adelaide Fringe and has been nominated for two Helpmann Academy Awards for Best Cabaret Performer.
Her recent credits include Aftertaste (ABC TV & Closer Productions), Twelfth Night (Adelaide Botanic Gardens/Shakespeare South Australia), Apocalypse Meow (Brooklyn Academy Of Music, New York & Malthouse Theatre), Rumpelstiltskin (Southbank Theatre London/Windmill & State Theatre of South Australia), Simply Brill (Adelaide Cabaret Festival/Amplified Assembly), Driftwood (Umbrella Productions/Chapel off Chapel/Glen Street/Riverside/Darlinghurst), Can You Hear Colour? (Adelaide Festival & Patch Theatre), Cranky Bear (Patch Theatre) and Passion (State Opera Studios).
In addition to winning the 2015 International Cabaret Contest, Burger is the co-writer and star of the world-renowned stage show Exposing Edith, about the life and songs of Edith Piaf and more recently a creative and lead performer on the team of Simply Brill – premiered for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2022 and Weekly Winner Best Cabaret Adelaide Fringe. Her award-winning show, A Migrant’s Son – which explores Greek migration to Australia - has received critical acclaim and features original music written by Burger.
Burger trained in classical opera at the Conservatorium of Music (Adelaide) and went on to obtain a Masters in Musical Theatre at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (London).
“★★★★★
Burger is extraordinary. A singer who can act and an actor who can elevate an audience out of itself into the middle of the story she is conveying.”
“★★★★★
Achingly beautiful”
“A far-reaching generational story that crosses divides, ignites memories and pulls at your heart-strings…”
“A perfect cabaret show – fun and laughter, tragedy and triumph along with sadness and passion… told by the perfect cabaret performer.”
“Enchanting the crowd with incredible vocal versatility”
