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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
This play is set in a country town, the story centres on the return of an Aboriginal soldier after World War II and the rejection he experiences by the white community.
Notes
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CONTAINS:
Love Versus Racism - Adam Shoemaker
A Poignant Reminder - Lynette Narkle
Act One
Act Two
Glossary
Production Details
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First produced under the title 'Our Town' by the Marli Biyol Co. and the WA Theatre Co. at the Playhouse, Perth, 22 October 1990.
Cast: Jack Charles, Eileen Colocott, David Field, Morton Hansen, Andy King, Lynette Narkle, David Ngoombujarra, Kelton Pell, and Camilla Sobb.
Director: Lynette Narkle and Phil Thomson.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Writing Their Own History : 'Aboriginal Australia' in the Poetry of Jack Davis and Kevin Gilbert
2012
single work
criticism
— Appears in: IJAS , no. 5 2012; (p. 84-97) This paper : focuses on the history emerging out of the poems of these two writers Davis and Gilbert in the context of New Historical perspective.' (85) -
Where Campfires Used to Gleam : A Collage of Bipolar Dreaming in Davis’ Aboriginal Theatre
2010
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities , vol. 2 no. 2 2010; (p. 136-144) 'Jack Davis' preoccupation with an aboriginal sense of experience as symbolized through uncle Worru's characterization in The Dreamers, is thought to have been sparked off by a mysterious man named Jack Henry, whose nostalgia was embittered and angered by what he considered to be the end of the golden age. Davis' own experience at the Moore River Settlement and his angst at having been forced to overlook the Noongar culture and tradition are snowballed into a representation of wisdom bordered on the edge of eccentricity. Uncle Worru's strong evocation of a poetic, almost archaic, wish-fulfilling past is thus addressed in terms of his dream-time stories. This paper tries to locate the significance of the dream-time stories in consolidating the theme of protest. The question is: how far successful is uncle Worru in acting out the role of Davis' spokesman? Uncle Worru's scheme of looking back at his past endeavors and success needs to be weighed against the younger generation's instinctive habit of dreaming forward into the future. The sense of false securities embodied through uncle Worru's dreaming backward in time necessarily comes in clash with the later generation's habit of dreaming forward. The dilution of the theme of protest thus gets enmeshed in the whirlpool of cultural abnegation. Davis' "syncretic theatre" distils the elixir of dreams polarized on the chronological separation between past and present.' (Author's abstract). -
Untitled
2000
single work
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 12 July no. 230 2000; (p. 29)
— Review of In Our Town 1990 single work drama -
In Our Town
2000
single work
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 12 July no. 230 2000; (p. 29)
— Review of In Our Town 1990 single work drama -
Swinburne Students Play Quite an Event
1997
single work
column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 18 June no. 153 1997; (p. 26)
-
In Our Town
2000
single work
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 12 July no. 230 2000; (p. 29)
— Review of In Our Town 1990 single work drama -
Untitled
2000
single work
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 12 July no. 230 2000; (p. 29)
— Review of In Our Town 1990 single work drama -
Directed to Dead-End Town
1990
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian , 27 September 1990; (p. 9)
— Review of In Our Town 1990 single work drama -
This Town Not Everyone's
1990
single work
review
— Appears in: The West Australian , 24 September 1990; (p. 52)
— Review of In Our Town 1990 single work drama -
Where Campfires Used to Gleam : A Collage of Bipolar Dreaming in Davis’ Aboriginal Theatre
2010
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities , vol. 2 no. 2 2010; (p. 136-144) 'Jack Davis' preoccupation with an aboriginal sense of experience as symbolized through uncle Worru's characterization in The Dreamers, is thought to have been sparked off by a mysterious man named Jack Henry, whose nostalgia was embittered and angered by what he considered to be the end of the golden age. Davis' own experience at the Moore River Settlement and his angst at having been forced to overlook the Noongar culture and tradition are snowballed into a representation of wisdom bordered on the edge of eccentricity. Uncle Worru's strong evocation of a poetic, almost archaic, wish-fulfilling past is thus addressed in terms of his dream-time stories. This paper tries to locate the significance of the dream-time stories in consolidating the theme of protest. The question is: how far successful is uncle Worru in acting out the role of Davis' spokesman? Uncle Worru's scheme of looking back at his past endeavors and success needs to be weighed against the younger generation's instinctive habit of dreaming forward into the future. The sense of false securities embodied through uncle Worru's dreaming backward in time necessarily comes in clash with the later generation's habit of dreaming forward. The dilution of the theme of protest thus gets enmeshed in the whirlpool of cultural abnegation. Davis' "syncretic theatre" distils the elixir of dreams polarized on the chronological separation between past and present.' (Author's abstract). -
Shift for Davis Play
1990
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The West Australian , 18 August 1990; (p. 40) -
`The Maker of History': Jack Davis - An Introduction
1994
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Jack Davis : The Maker of History 1994; (p. 1-15) -
`The Real Australian Story': An Interview with Jack Davis
Adam Shoemaker
(interviewer),
1994
single work
interview
— Appears in: Jack Davis : The Maker of History 1994; (p. 22-47) -
Oral Culture, Theatre, Text: Jack Davis's Plays
1994
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Jack Davis : The Maker of History 1994; (p. 48-59)
Last amended 4 Dec 2018 13:25:54
Subjects:
- Northam, Northam area, Northam - Southern Cross area, Southwest Western Australia, Western Australia,
Settings:
- 1940s
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