09.07.25
Dear Grif-friend,
Julia here, a 2025 Griffin Ambassador! Koreaboo by Michelle Lim Davidson (now sold out!) is a heartfelt and humorous play that follows Hannah, a Korean-Australian woman’s journey to reconnect with her birth mother Umma, in Seoul. The story explores themes of transnational identity, cultural disconnect and belonging—all through a playful yet emotionally rich lens.
The performance stood out for its intimacy—a hallmark of the Griffin Theatre Company experience—with the small Belvoir Downstairs Theatre fostering a close-up connection to the story even while the SBW Stables Theatre is in redevelopment. I particularly loved the funky music designed by Brendon Boney between scenes, which combined with K-pop references, Aussie clichés and tap-dance moments gave the show a grounded yet vibrant energy.
As a company, Griffin is the only professional theatre in Australia dedicated exclusively to staging new Australian plays. Their mission to champion bold and original voices is clear in their programming and their strong commitment to diversity and fresh perspectives—Koreaboo is a perfect example.
I honestly can’t remember exactly how I came across the Griffin Ambassador Program (I think someone recommended it!), but it’s been an extremely rewarding experience. My favourite part has definitely been the community—theatre lovers are some of the coolest people. That deep appreciation for live performance isn’t always there in many of my other circles, hahaha.
Griffin’s culture is also something I really admire. They place a strong focus on supporting young people. After the performance, there was even a Q&A with cast and creative team, Michelle Lim Davidson, Heather Jeong and Dramaturg, Julian Larnach, hosted by Griffin Associate Artistic Director, Andrea James, giving the audience a chance to ask questions directly. That kind of openness is rare in an industry well-known for being exclusive and hard to break into, so I really respect how the program coordinators make such an effort to be so inclusive.
To any students reading this:
Definitely keep an eye out for when the next Ambassador event is—applications are open throughout the year. Feel free to reach out to Griffin directly if you have questions!
Catch you at the next Ambies event,
Julia
Griffin Ambassador, 2025
