Koreaboo playfully explores love, identity, and belonging against a backdrop of a highly stylised Korean convenience store.
Written by and starring Michelle Lim Davidson, the play draws from her personal experience as a Korean-Australian adoptee. In her debut work, Davidson describes Koreaboo as a small step in reclaiming the narrative of Korean adoptees around the world.
We learn early on that Hannah (played by Davidson), born in Korea but adopted and raised in Australia, has always struggled with a sense of belonging — too Korean to be Australian, too Australian to be Korean.
Hoping to reconnect with her birth mother, Soon He (played by Heather Jeong), Hannah tries to speak Korean, proudly announcing she watched Squid Games without subtitles, only to be told: “Better you speak English.” Mother and daughter struggle to connect; Hannah’s mother doesn’t seem to want her there, suggesting she would enjoy her trip more visiting another part of Korea. But Hannah is determined to stay and discover her history, even if that means stocktaking and dust toilet rolls for a week.
At first, Soon He appears harsh, rejecting her daughter, more interested in stacking shelves and rearranging her precious garden gnome display than embracing her long-lost child. Hannah is a koreaboo in her eyes —someone infatuated with Korean culture without truly understanding it. But their bond begins to form through a shared love for K-Pop. Hannah, eager to connect, lets herself be remade into “K-Hannah,” even if that means dressing (in her words) like “a toddler who likes boats.”
Davidson, best known as the award-winning star of ABC’s hit series The Newsreader, a presenter on Play School for 13 years, and with an impressive string of theatre credits, captivates the audience. Her stage experience contrasts with Jeong, a chef and food writer with several TV appearances, who makes her theatrical acting debut. However, Jeong brings heart and sass to the role, with her little hip wiggles and declaration: “I’m too fabulous to be imagined”.
Directed by Jessica Arthur, the dialogue flows between Korean and English, with Hannah relying on Google Translate to bridge the gaps. Davidson’s script is sharp and witty, giving both actors punchy lines and moments of real vulnerability that land with the audience.
Set in Seoul, Mel Page’s set design recreates a Korean convenience store in vivid detail — chip packets, kimchi, and instant noodles included.
This mother-daughter reunion isn’t tidy. It’s layered, messy, and moving. Koreaboo uses humour and heart to explore the complexities of identity and adoption, delivering a playful story with empathy and depth.
4 stars
Run time: 80 minutes (no interval)
Koreaboo is playing at the Downstairs Theatre at Belvoir until 20 July 2025
Developed as part of Griffin Studio, an initiative of Griffin Theatre Company with support from the Malcom Robertson Foundation and Griffin Studio donors, and the Griffin Redraft Fund. For tickets visit Griffin Theatre Company
Looking for a pre-show bite? Regina La Pizzeria and Foreign Return are located close by. For more suggestions, check out Bites & Sips.
BACCHUS AT THE THEATRE 
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