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Dirty Birds
18 Nov - 10 Dec
Heath Ledger Theatre
Blurring the lines between truth and fiction, journey through the past, present, real and absurd, as two big-hearted ‘losers’ carve out a place for themselves in a new world.
Dirty Birds
Australia’s beloved McElhinney sisters share the stage for the very first time, taking on starring roles in their debut play, Dirty Birds, that blurs the line between truth and fiction, journeying through the past, present, real and absurd.
This brand-new Australian work brims with humour, beauty and sadness. Intensely relatable, Dirty Birds explores the journey of characters who have been disappointed by life itself, constantly living in effort to be anyone but themselves, to satisfy everyone but themselves. Forced to leave their humble abode they are faced with an ultimatum from nature. But there’s a problem - they can’t seem to get it together to do what needs to be done. What ensues is an elaborate search through memories, familiar rituals and endless cups of tea, to find something that will shake them from their predicament before it’s too late.
From the brilliant creative minds of Mandy McElhinney (Wakefield, The Glass Menagerie) and Hayley McElhinney (Mystery Road: Origins, Oil), Dirty Birds is the extraordinary culmination of twenty years of dreaming and introspection. Deeply rooted in the sisters' own Irish heritage, this remarkable production delves into the human struggle to survive in a society that’s constantly changing the goal posts on how to live.
SAVER PERFORMANCES (Tue/Wed evenings & Wed/Sat Matinees)
- Premium
- $95.00 Adult
- A Reserve
- $85.00 Adult
- $80.00 Concession
- $40.00 Student
- B Reserve
- $69.00 Adult
- $62.00 Concession
- $40.00 Student
- $30.00 30 under 30
STANDARD PERFORMANCES (Thu/Fri/Sat evenings & Sundays)
- Premium
- $110.00 Adult
- A Reserve
- $95.00 Adult
- $87.00 Concession
- $45.00 Student
- B Reserve
- $79.00 Adult
- $72.00 Concession
- $45.00 Student
- $30.00 30 under 30
PREVIEW PERFORMANCES
- A Reserve
- $75.00 Adult
- $75.00 Concession
- $40.00 Student
- $30.00 30 under 30
- B Reserve
- $65.00 Adult
- $65.00 Concession
- $40.00 Student
- $30.00 30 under 30
GROUPS
- $87.00 (8+) A-Reserve
- $77.50 (8+) Preview/Discount Performances
- $45.00 Schools (10+) Receive 1 complimentary ticket for every 10 tickets purchased
- $40.00 Preview/Discount Performances Schools (10+) Receive 1 complimentary ticket for every 10 tickets purchased
PRICING & FEE INFORMATION
- For group bookings phone (08) 6212 9300 or email learn@blackswantheatre.com.au - special discount pricing for schools with an ICSEA ranking of < 1000 and /or < 300 students.
- Demand-based pricing may see prices increase or decrease at any time and occur without notice. Such alterations do not entitle you to a refund or adjustment for ticket purchases prior to the revised pricing.
Dates
18 Nov - 10 Dec
Venue
Heath Ledger Theatre
Pricing
Tickets between $30.00 - $110.00
Duration
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Content Warning
Mature themes and coarse language, use of strobe and haze effects.
For additional content warnings, please click here.
Wheelchair accessible venue
Use the calendar below to view the dates of accessibility services available for this production. Further access information and seat guides can be found via the Accessibility Page.
Schedule
December
6:30PM
Dirty Birds
Wednesday
6 December 2023
6:30PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Saver Show
7:30PM
Dirty Birds
Thursday
7 December 2023
7:30PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Standard
7:30PM
Dirty Birds
Friday
8 December 2023
7:30PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Standard
2:00PM
Dirty Birds
Saturday
9 December 2023
2:00PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Saver Show
7:30PM
Dirty Birds
Saturday
9 December 2023
7:30PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Standard
5:00PM
Dirty Birds
Sunday
10 December 2023
5:00PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Standard
Key
Selling Fast
Sold Out
Performance Type
Accessible Show
Opening Night
Post Show Q&A
Preview Show
Saver Show
Accessible Shows
Audio description and tactile tour
2:00PM
Dirty Birds
Saturday
2 December 2023
2:00PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Saver Show
Audio Description & Tactile Tour
Captioned Show (Open)
Captioned Show (Closed)
Auslan signed performance
6:30PM
Dirty Birds
Tuesday
5 December 2023
6:30PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Post Show Q&A, Saver Show
Auslan Signed Performance
Captioned
2:00PM
Dirty Birds
Saturday
2 December 2023
2:00PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Saver Show
Audio Description & Tactile Tour
Captioned Show (Open)
Captioned Show (Closed)
2:00PM
Dirty Birds
Saturday
2 December 2023
2:00PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Saver Show
Audio Description & Tactile Tour
Captioned Show (Open)
Captioned Show (Closed)
Accessible Show
Opening Night
Post Show Q&A
Preview Show
Saver Show
Accessible Shows
Audio description and tactile tour
2:00PM
Dirty Birds
Saturday
2 December 2023
2:00PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Saver Show
Audio Description & Tactile Tour
Captioned Show (Open)
Captioned Show (Closed)
Auslan signed performance
6:30PM
Dirty Birds
Tuesday
5 December 2023
6:30PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Post Show Q&A, Saver Show
Auslan Signed Performance
Captioned
2:00PM
Dirty Birds
Saturday
2 December 2023
2:00PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Saver Show
Audio Description & Tactile Tour
Captioned Show (Open)
Captioned Show (Closed)
2:00PM
Dirty Birds
Saturday
2 December 2023
2:00PM
Heath Ledger Theatre
1 hour 10 minutes (no interval)
Saver Show
Audio Description & Tactile Tour
Captioned Show (Open)
Captioned Show (Closed)
Key
Selling Fast
Sold Out
Media
Artists

Hayley McElhinney
Writer & Cast

Mandy McElhinney
Writer & Cast

Kate Champion
Director

Bruce McKinven
Set & Costume Designer

Paul Jackson
Lighting Designer

Matthew Erren
Assistant Lighting Designer

Rachael Dease
Composer & Sound Designer

Jean Goodwin
Voice & Dialect Coach

Liam Murray
Stage Manager

Sophia Morgan
Assistant Stage Manager
Program
Thank you for your submission!
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