Acclaimed actor Michelle Lim Davidson makes her playwriting debut with KOREABOO, a funny and heartfelt new work, currently playing as part of the Brisbane Festival, before making its Victorian premiere at Malthouse Theatre’s Beckett from 24 September 2026.
Inspired by events in Davidson’s own life, KOREABOO is a deeply personal mother-daughter reunion story exploring intercountry adoption, cultural identity and the search for connection. Davidson stars alongside Heather Jeong, under the direction of Jessica Arthur (The Dictionary of Lost Words, GAME. SET. MATCH).
Best known to audiences for her acclaimed screen work, including starring as Noelene Kim in ABC’s The Newsreader, Davidson steps into the dual role of playwright and performer for KOREABOO, bringing her own experiences to the stage with warmth and humour.
Hannah has travelled to Korea with a plan: reunite with her birth mother, Umma, and spend a golden summer making up for lost time. But when she arrives in Seoul, the reunion she has imagined is nowhere to be found.
Umma works day and night in a convenience store and appears far more preoccupied with keeping the shelves stocked than getting to know her long-lost Australian daughter. Raised in Australia, Hannah arrives determined to find a place in her mother’s world, despite the language and cultural barriers between them.
To Umma, her K-Pop-loving daughter is a “Koreaboo” – and with little more than Google Translate and relentless optimism on her side, Hannah has one sweltering summer to bridge the distance between them.
“KOREABOO began with my own experience of returning to South Korea and trying to build a relationship with my birth family after reuniting with them. I was interested in what comes after reunion, and how you begin to build a relationship across language, culture and years apart,” said Michelle Lim Davidson.
Davidson is joined by Heather Jeong as Umma, with a creative team including Jessica Arthur (Director), Julian Larnach (Dramaturg), Mel Page (Designer), Brendon Boney (Composer & Sound Designer), Kate Baldwin (Lighting Designer), Geita Goarin (Design Associate), Sherydan Simson (Production Manager – Griffin) and Jen Jackson (Stage Manager).
Developed through Griffin Studio, KOREABOO premiered as part of Griffin Theatre Company’s 2025 season. It is currently playing at La Boite Theatre as part of the 2026 Brisbane Festival, before heading to Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre.
KOREABOO
Roundhouse Theatre – La Boite Theatre, 6 – 8 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove (Brisbane)
Season continues to 19 September 2026
Bookings: www.laboite.com.au
Malthouse Theatre, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank
Season: 24 September – 10 October 2026
Information and Bookings: www.malthousetheatre.com.au
Image: Michelle Lim Davidson stars in KOREABOO – photo by David Boon