Pony Cam’s irreverent take on Chekhov blooms at Malthouse

Cult theatre collective Pony Cam has returned to the stage with The Orchard, a wildly contemporary take on Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, now playing at Malthouse Theatre’s Beckett Theatre in Southbank until
August 16.

Known for blending cheeky wit with sharp social critique, the award-winning company has reimagined the Russian playwright’s final masterpiece through a distinctly modern, Melbourne lens.

Set in a crumbling estate torn between doomed inheritances and impossible expectations, The Orchard explores climate collapse, economic dysfunction, and intergenerational angst with real failure, cheap champagne, and the occasional gamble.

“This Orchard will be much closer to home,” the Pony Cam collective said. “There will be real indecision, real failure, real gambling, cheap champagne, and a dangerous proposition.”

Bringing together co-creators and performers Claire Bird, Ava Campbell, William Strom, Dominic Weintraub and Hugo Williams, The Orchard is the latest from a group that has built a loyal following for its genre-busting, boundary-pushing works including Burnout Paradise (RISING) and Grand Theft Theatre (Melbourne Fringe Festival).

Malthouse Theatre’s executive producer and CEO Vivia Hickman praised the group’s return to the venue.

“Pony Cam is hot property in theatre right now, for good reason. They have an uncanny ability to tackle the important issues in our zeitgeist with equal parts sincerity and whimsy,” she said.

Pony Cam’s performance style is physical, instinctive, and rooted in collective storytelling, often finding joy in the absurd and humour in despair. Their shows have become cult favourites among Melbourne’s independent arts community, with Time Out calling their work “sheer bedlam in the most magnificent way.”

Tickets for The Orchard are on sale now at malthousetheatre.com.au •