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by Michaela Burger
A Migrant's Son
Igniting memories of a story that millions of Australians can relate to, Michaela Burger pays tribute to her Greek migrant family and hard-working, fun loving larrikin father Luke.
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A Migrant's Son is a true story exploring migration from Greece to Australia during the 1930’s. This extraordinary work conveys incredible historical events that are brought to life through original songs accompanied by a live band and community chorus, creating a beautifully presented and touching account that is melodious, hilarious and heart-warming.
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Traversing 100 years, from Russia to the Australian outback, Burger theatrically portrays tales of early morning deliveries for the family bakery at age seven, exploring opal mines in Coober Pedy as a teenager and opening a chain of discount supermarkets in Adelaide as a young man.
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Written and performed by award winning cabaret star Michaela Burger (Exposing Edith, Simply Brill). This is a tale about the son of a poor migrant, who defied all odds to rise above adversity. His unrelenting determination to build a successful life is comical, dramatic and relatable.
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Spanning nearly 90 years and featuring traditional Greek instruments and costumes, audiences are presented with nostalgic anecdotes and a cheeky recount of one family’s experience. This musical rouses tremendous community spirit with its foot-tapping melodies and electrifying vocals.
Credits
Creator Michaela Burger
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Music Arranger and Producer Dave Higgins
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Music and Choir Director Carol Young
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Director Jane Packham
​​Performers
Vocals Michaela Burger
Piano and Choir Master Carol Young
Percussion Steve Todd
Bouzouki George Grifsas
Song Development Mentor Jethro Woodward
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Dramaturgy Sally Hardy and Elena Carapedis
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Costumes Artemis Sidiropoulou
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Lighting Designer Tom Bayford
Presentation History
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2025 Adelaide Fringe Desert Tour:
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Port Pirie
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Beltana
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Coober Pedy
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2018 Adelaide Cabaret Festival (Premiere)
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2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival (UK)
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2023 Riverside Theatres, Parramatta (NSW)
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2023 Riverlinks Cabaret Series, Shepparton (VIC)
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Imagination Workshop, Edinburgh Fringe Festival (UK)
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Festival of Voices (TAS)
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2019 Noosa Alive (QLD)
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Dubbo (NSW)
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Goolwa (SA)
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Perth Fringe (WA)
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2022 Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Tuggeranong (ACT)
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Ceduna (SA)
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The Great Club, Sydney (NSW)
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Hopgood Theatre, Noarlunga (SA)
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Brunswick Heads Picture House (NSW)
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Country Arts Tour (South Australia):
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​Angaston
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Tailem Bend
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Auburn
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Port Augusta
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A Note From Me
A Migrant’s Son is on the move!
Michaela Burger and I are thrilled to be bringing this powerful and personal show to new audiences in 2025. We recently presented excerpts and spoke about the work at SAPA 2025 and SALON 2025, where we had some beautiful and encouraging conversations about the show’s impact and sellable presentability.
Now, we’re building a NSW tour for A Migrant’s Son and are currently in the planning stages. Our goal is to connect with venues and presenters who are passionate about Australian stories, multigenerational narratives, and authentic, music-driven theatre. This show has a strong track record of audience engagement, community connection, and educational potential. It’s a celebration of family, migration, resilience, and identity - told through Michaela’s signature storytelling and original compositions.
We’re actively seeking partnerships, bookings, and presentation opportunities for 2026 and beyond. If you’re a presenter, producer, or programmer interested in bringing A Migrant’s Son to your stage, we’d love to hear from you.
Let’s connect and chat about how we can work together
to share this beautiful work with your audiences.​
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Gracie x
