In Australia, it is seldom that we hear stories about the experiences of Asian adoptees. This is a stark contrast to what is shown in the US, where there are films and streaming limited series which talk about the intricacies and the experiences of Asian adoptees – specifically Korean adoptees (KADs) which are a large organised group.

This also exists in Australia, but at a smaller volume, where KADs get together, organise and share their own experiences about identity and culture. This reflects the experiences of actress and playwright Michelle Lim Davidson – whose own experiences as a Korean adoptee inspired the play Koreaboo.

This heartfelt comedy is presented by the Griffin Theatre Company and is already playing at the Belvoir St Theatre with the play’s run starting on June 14 and ending on July 20.

As a Korean adoptee, Michelle was adopted by an Australian couple and arrived in the country when she was only 4.5 months old. As a professional actor, Michelle has quite a few credits to her name with Australian mainstream films and being a presenter of Play School.

Having reflected on her own experiences as an adoptee, Michelle shared the story of her finding herself and identity – which is a major premise in Koreaboo.

“I had the opportunity to reunite with some of my biological family in South Korea just before the pandemic back in 2019. It was an experience that has shaped who I am as a Korean Australian”, Michelle expressed in a recent interview with Being Asian Australian.

“During the pandemic years, I wanted to build this relationship over the internet and that was a major challenge. But being great people we were always able to exchange great conversations and gifts. Meeting the family was like a Hollywood story where a major part of who I am was solved and the experience really opened me up”.

Koreaboo tells the story of the character Hannah– an adoptee who is building a relationship with her birth mother. She embarks on a journey to reconnect with her Korean roots and find out what her identity means. A very deep premise.

Starring in the production are two-time Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards nominee, Michelle (A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Beach, TV’s The Newsreader, TV’s Play School) and leading Korean chef, food writer and performer Heather Jeong (Double Delicious). This looks like an awesome duo!

On the topic of narratives and storyline of Koreaboo, Michelle discussed that in creating and writing this play, she wanted to show that the Korean adoptee experience is more complex and layered than what most people think the experience is like.

The journeys of understanding and acceptance of one’s identity, the building of relationships between adoptee and biological mother/family and the attempts in finding out where they belong as Asians and as Koreans, is all out there for show in Koreaboo.

“There is the Hollywood version of an adoptee reunion – where it is idyllic, and the adoptee would automatically connect with their birth family. In my experiences and many other adoptees I have spoken with this experience didn’t solve the problems but opened up to more questions”, Michelle stated.

“There are long adoption narratives that have been more so focused on the miracle of creation of family, and I am not saying that I and the play plans to take that away, but we wanted to show that the adoptee experience is a lot more complex. The “Koreaboo” story is one contribution to many works that many Korean adoptees are exploring- academically and creatively, and I thought through this play, I could unpack a little bit of the experience”.

For Michelle, the hope is that audiences can learn about what it is like to be a Korean adoptee, and where she explicitly states that she can’t speak for all adoptees, the story of Koreaboo adds to the complex narrative and will help unpack this experience – even a little.

“In terms of what audiences take away? Well, I can’t control that. But, my hope is that if someone who watches the play and walks away with having a conversation about it that it has opened up a new thought about the experience- that is a positive takeaway”.

“It has taken me a very long time to understand my own story and history, so I do not expect audiences to have an in-depth understanding. The play really is about how most people do not understand what we as adoptees from Korea and other parts of Asia have gone through and experienced”, Michelle expressed.

Interested in checking out Koreaboo? Well you can buy tickets by visiting the Griffin Theatre Company site, by clicking here or going to this site: https://griffintheatre.com.au/whats-on/koreaboo/ .