Hannah had her trip all planned out. Travel to Korea. Visit her birth mother. Spend a golden summer creating precious memories.
But when she arrives in Seoul reality hits hard. Her Umma works in a convenience store day and night, barely taking a break. She seems more interested in stacking shelves and re-arranging the garden gnome display than connecting with her long-lost Australian daughter.
Hannah is Korean, yet in Umma’s mind, Hannah is a “Koreaboo”—a foreigner captivated by K-Pop, kimchi and hanboks. Armed with only Google Translate and unrelenting optimism, Hannah must try to find a place within Umma’s world before the end of a sweltering summer.
Taking inspiration from real events of Michelle Lim Davidson ‘s life ( The Feather in the Web , The Newsreader ), this profound and heartfelt play marks the writing debut of one of Australia’s most beloved performers. Michelle herself takes to the stage under the direction of Jessica Arthur ( The Dictionary of Lost Words ), in a reunion story that reaches across continents, cultures and Spotify® playlists.
Content warnings: detailed discussions of inter-country adoption, culturally contextual references to diet and body image, theatrical haze and smoke, flashing lights
