For a long time, Australia was a laggard on reducing fossil fuel emissions. Eventually, Australians rallied for action as natural disasters became more frequent and intense. But generally, we’re pretty good at ignoring growing problems. The main characters in Birds fit this national stereotype.
Through their company Sons of Stratford, Alex Hines and Sarah Stafford have brought us some memorable/hectic/award-winning shows in recent years, sometimes tilting towards darker comedy and cultural critique. For Birds, cowritten with David Stewart, the tagline suggests this pattern will continue: “SLIP SLOP SLAP. It’s the end of the world b!tch.”
On a beach somewhere, Shayna (Hines), head of a party-plan plastic storage container business, sits in a deckchair. She has sought a change of scene following a family tragedy. Nearby sits Beverley, a mum of 12, seeking to escape her own domestic matter. Shayna has a Briiiighton accent, whereas Beverley is more, shall we say, outer suburban in her speech and aspirations.
But they have a lot in common – a love of cigarettes, cocktails, and a trashy FM radio show. Each also did not arrive at the beach alone. Beverley’s four-year-old son swims far from shore. Shayna’s falcon circles above, looking for prey, ready to use some special skills when her owner beckons.
The pair notice some changes around the beach, without taking action. They’re aware of the sun’s force, but as the temperature rises, they change from kaftans to bikinis. Comically overdone reactions to events, as we might find in a horror film, quickly give way to more sunbaking and smoking.
The scenes proceed smoothly, thanks to speedy changes of costume or makeup. These, assisted by the arrival of suitable props, effectively show the passing of time. Radio snippets or observations from Shayna and Beverley succinctly update us on the beach’s steady drift from being a place of comfort, to one less hospitable.
There are certainly laughs to be had at the shared admissions of past unsavoury behaviour, which further feeds the women’s bond. The consequences of thoughtlessly floating along gave us a grimly amusing “gross-out” sequence from which we could not look away.
As the absurdity grows, we could wonder if this is what Waiting for Godot might have been if its gestation was in Australia of recent times. More uncomfortably, we might recall how Werewolf sought to challenge another type of self-interested behaviour. As we struggle to reduce our carbon footprint, Birds reminds us of how an indifference to others’ welfare can end up being to everyone’s detriment.
Birds
Meat Market – The Stables (1), 36 – 54 Courtney Street, North Melbourne
Performance: Saturday 11 October 2025 – 8.00pm
Information and Bookings: www.melbournefringe.com.au
Image: Alex Hines and Sarah Stafford star in Birds – photo by Skye Sobejko
Review: Jason Whyte