Unorthodox theatre collective Pony Cam is bringing a hilarious and analytical show to Malthouse

Five theatremakers from across Australia walk into a bar. Exuding a vibe that can only be described as “frenetically uproarious”, they decide to come together to form Pony Cam: an experimental collective testing the bounds of how unorthodox theatre can be. After big success with productions Burnout Paradise at Rising and Grand Theft Theatre at Melbourne Fringe, they’re setting up camp at Malthouse Theatre this August for their mainstage debut performing The Orchard.

Acclaimed playwright Anton Chekhov’s work, especially his classic The Cherry Orchard, is marked by a real stream-of-consciousness flow. Not only does that allow for nuanced commentary on the issues that matter right now (see: a crumbling climate and a failing economy), but it gives Pony Cam a chance to run wild with all sorts of weird and wonderful tangents in their reproduction. 

There’s cling wrap, wood chopping, bonkers costumes and the all-round playfulness of co-creators and performers Claire Bird, Ava Campbell, William Strom, Dominic Weintraub and Hugo Williams. Prepare to be shocked, humoured, confronted and entranced by some unforeseen techno beats. 

The Orchard is a new show as part of Malthouse Theatre’s 2025 season. You can catch it at the Beckett Theatre from August 5-16. Book your tickets here.