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MICHAELA BURGER Multi-talented star of Exposing Edith presents her latest cabaret
‘I have been wanting to write a show about my father – the son of Greek migrants – and his life since I was a young cabaret artist,’ says Greek-Australian performer and songwriter Michaela Burger. ‘My dad has lived such a unique life and the stories that he told us growing up often sounded made up, because they were so outrageous. As I got older, I realised that they were not only true but that they defi ned quite an extraordinary human.’
In A Migrant’s Son, Burger sets out to explore her family’s history, traversing generations of migrant experience and detailing the tragedy and triumph of her ancestors along the way.
‘When I began to write the story and the songs, I realised
that all of the qualities that I admire in my father had actually come from generations of ancestors before him. So I needed to start the story at the beginning, with the migration of my great grandparents and then my grandparents.’
The multi-award winning cabaret star – who is also
appearing in Exposing Edith, a retelling of the singer’s tragic life – will be presenting A Migrant’s Son to Edinburgh Fringe audiences for the fi rst time, having already had success in Australia with the autobiographical show. With wonderful songs and unique characters that underpin the story, it’s a production that resonates across the board thanks largely to its focus on struggle and survival. ‘The signifi cance of this story became apparent to me,’ she notes, ‘when I previewed the show and began to feel people’s reactions to a story that is not just the story of my family, but that is one of millions of people. It is SO important to tell this story as it is one of courage, defying adversity and rising above judgement and racism in a positive and peaceful way – something that this world defi nitely needs to be reminded of.’ (Arusa Qureshi) ■ Exposing Edith, Assembly George Square, until 26 Aug (not 19), 2.20pm, £12–£14 (£11–£13); A Migrant’s Son, Imagination Workshop, until 26 Aug (not 19), 5.30pm, £30–£45 (£30–£40).
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14–26 Aug 2019 THE LIST FESTIVAL 37