PARACOSM PRESENTS
Katzenmusik
BY TOM FOWLER
3-13 JUNE | EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
BY TOM FOWLER
It's Dionysus meets the housing crisis!
From the company that brought you BLACKPILL., Paracosm has reimagined Katzenmusik into an explosive new piece of radical punk-rock political theatre bound to put the metaphorical middle finger to your landlord this June.
KATZENMUSIK (German, n.) 'katsənmuˌziːk'
caterwaul; a shrill howling or wailing noise (of a cat)
A viral video, a company capitalising on fear, prank calls, class divide and a cat memorial. The increasing income gap between rich and poor has pushed the residents of Burnside Town to breaking point.
Katzenmusik champions the experience of those constantly bending over backwards to please a landlord who treats them like shit, keeping peace with an underqualified boss and trying not to think about the fact that their life basically amounts to transferring wealth from one of them to the other. The show is a war cry for the younger generation to remind us all that the people hold true power over the oppressors.
Rent increase? Follow the call of the Katzenmusik.
Urgent repairs ignored? Follow the call of the Katenmusik.
Bond stolen? Follow the call of the Katzenmusik.
VENUE
EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
Rear Laneway, 67 Inkerman Street, St Kilda
DURATION
90 minutes
WARNINGS
Simulated animal cruelty (stylised), references to depression, anxiety and homelessness.
ACCESSIBILITY
Explosives Factory is accessed via a flight of stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.
PRAISE FOR PARACOSM'S PAST PROJECTS:
"A phenomenally well developed and executed piece of theatre."
"BLACKPILL. has huge impact"
- The Blurb
"All aspects of this production are excellent"
"One of the best shows at Explosives Factory for some time"
- Stage Whispers
"A dynamic, thoughtful, throbbing contribution to an urgent conversation"
- Praise Dionysus!
"An offering that will long stay with me."
- itellyouwhatithink.com
"An incredible piece of art"
"The best piece of theatre I have seen in a very, very long time"
- Noah Sargent, Playwright
DATES + TIMES
Wednesday 3 June - 7:30pm (Preview)
Thursday 4 June - 7:30pm (Opening)
Friday 5 June - 7:30pm
Saturday 6 June - 7:30pm
Tuesday 9 June - 7:30pm
Wednesday 10 June - 7:30pm
Thursday 11 June - 7:30pm
Friday 12 June - 7:30pm
Saturday 13 June - 7:30pm
Theatre Works has a lockout policy for latecomers. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure you don't miss out.
Refunds will not be issued to latecomers.
TICKETS
FULL PRICE
CONCESSION*
PREVIEW
$38.00
$30.00
$28.00
*Seniors, Student, MEAA, Health Care and Low Income card holders
CREDITS
DIRECTOR
Chris Patrick Hansen
WRITER
Tom Fowler
LIGHTING AND VISION DESIGNER
Jacques Cooney Adlard
PRESENTED BY
Paracosm
MEET THE ARTIST
CHRIS PATRICK HANSEN
Chris Patrick Hansen began working as an actor and theatre-maker in Brisbane before moving to Narrm/Melbourne in 2019. He is a graduate of the Queensland Theatre Youth Ensemble, the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries (Awarded 2025 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year), APO Arts Academy and the Victorian College of the Arts where he completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts (Theatre). Chris’ other devising/directing credits include ‘Impetus’ (Paracosm) ‘The Queen Must Die!’ (VCA) and ‘Lucky Thirteen’ (Living Libraries SLQ). He was also a co-devisor of ‘Sometimes Always Rarely Never’ (VCA) and ‘AKA: Also Known As’ (Melbourne Digital Fringe). In addition to running Paracosm, Chris is the Australian Producer at Fruitcake Productions, a company focussed on debuting the work of early-career writers across Melbourne and the UK. In 2025, Chris wrote and directed the smash hit BLACKPILL., an interrogation of dangerous online subcultures that oversold its full initial season and was dubbed "phenomenally developed and excecuted, "highly accomplished in all areas" and "one of the best shows at Explosives Factory for some time". BLACKPILL. Returned to Theatre Works in 2026 to open the Mainstage Season.
