Black Swan State Theatre Company of Western Australia acknowledges the Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live.

First Nations People have been telling stories on this country for many thousands of years, and we acknowledge their incredible contribution to the cultural and environmental landscape we reside in.

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Season 2023

Dirty Birds

Past Show

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.

Joyful, hopeful and undeniably entertaining theatre.

The West Australian

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.