Croatian cowboy cabaret ‘Kauboj’ at Sydney Fringe

(Photo credit:Tammy Dang)

From the Wild West of Dalmatia to the high-stakes kitchens of Sydney, Kauboj is a riotous musical journey through food, family and finding your place in the world.

Nominated for Best Cabaret & Music Theatre at the Sydney Fringe Awards 2024, the show returns this September to Riverside Theatres, Parramatta for two nights only.

Kauboj follows the story of Jakov, a Croatian chef whose adventures are as unpredictable as a misbehaving mechanical bull.

When Jakov migrates to Australia, his dream of becoming a Michelin-starred chef appears within reach, until rivalries flare, pistols are drawn, and Jakov faces a defining choice: remain loyal to his so-called brothers or forge his own path in the ruthless culinary world.

(Photo credit:Tammy Dang)

With original music inspired by Balkan folk melodies woven with the charming twang of country western, Kauboj gallops between comedy, nostalgia, and bittersweet ambition.

“This is a story about grabbing life by the horns. It’s also about knowing that in order to grow, you sometimes have to take a leap into the unknown,” says lead artist Mara Knežević.

(Photo credit:Tammy Dang)

“As a Croatian-Australian artist, I’m excited to have created a show that connects with my cultural background but also presents a playful yet powerful commentary on how we express culture, often blending our imagination with reality.”

Mara’s Croatian roots trace back to her maternal grandparents, who both came from the outskirt villages of Zadar, along the Dalmatian coast.

Along with their children, including Mara’s mother, they migrated to Sydney, Australia in the 1960s. Her father, also a Croatian migrant, arrived in Australia in the 1980s.

Mara tells us that the inspiration behind Kauboj comes from a mix of cultural and personal threads.

“In my research, I became aware that Croatia had its own curious relationship with the Western film genre. Films like “Winnetou” and what some people might refer to as “sauerkraut” Westerns were shot in the Croatian landscape, reimagining it as the American frontier.

(Photo credit:Tammy Dang)

My father, like many young men of the 60s and 70s, grew up with these films, and that love of cowboy stories has stayed with him. In fact, my memories growing up often include films like Clint Eastwood’s A Fistful of Dollars playing on the TV in the lounge room.

My father also trained in hospitality back in Croatia and cooking is still one of the ways he expresses both skill and care. So when I started thinking about Kauboj, these two contrasting elements – cowboys and cooking – started to bubble away in my mind.

It’s about how cultural influences travel, transform and land in unexpected places, and ultimately how they shape our identity,” she says.

(Photo credit:Ben Draisma)

Mara’s Croatian heritage has profoundly influenced her artistic work and values. In 2023, she co-created the acclaimed musical The Hen House, a story inspired by her grandmother’s job working at a chicken factory in Sydney. In 2017, she performed in the award-winning cabaret Ljubičica: Wild Violet, a show that told the story of her mother’s migrant experience.

Through these works, Mara has demonstrated her passion and commitment to telling stories that place diverse voices at the centre rather than the margins, and that uphold values of kindness, integrity, and creative courage.

She says the creative process for Kauboj has been a huge collaborative effort.

“I’m very lucky to be working with such a highly accomplished and extraordinary team: actor, director and dramaturg Tasha O’Brien (Taming of the Shrew, Dangerous Liaisons, Hot Mess), poet and playwright Šime Knežević (In Your Dreams, Various Characters, The Hen House), and musician and arranger Daniel Potaczala.

(Photo credit:Tammy Dang)

Each of us has brought a unique sensibility to the work, which has greatly benefited it, bringing a richness in quality and originality,” she concludes.

Kauboj is perfect for lovers of live music, migration stories, foodies and cowboys.

CREATIVE TEAM

Performer/Collaborator: Mara Knežević
Director/Collaborator: Tasha O’Brien
Writer/Collaborator: Sime Knežević
Accompaniment: Daniel Potaczala

BOOK HERE: https://riversideparramatta.com.au/whats-on/kauboj/
Venue: Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
Dates: 12 – 13 September 2025
Ages: 15+ | Duration: 50 mins | Genre: Cabaret / Comedy / Music Theatre