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Notes
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Based on the life and murder trial of Alwyn Peter, an Aboriginal man who was released on parole after court consideration of his experiences at the hands of white law and welfare.
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Dedication: Dedicated to the memory of Deidre Golbert.
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Epigraph:
In Queensland there have been created communities in which the incidence of homicide and very serious assaults is among the highest recorded and published in the world. To be a member of such a community one does not have to be mad or bad. One only has to be Aboriginal.
Defence lawyer Des Sturges, in his opening address in the trial of Alwyn Peter, 1982.Our Aborigines live like kings. They are on clover.
Queensland Premier, Sir Joh Petersen, quoted in the press the same month. -
In 1989, documentary film-maker David Bradbury produced a documentary, also called State of Shock, about Alwyn Peter's trial and conviction, which included footage of the stage play in performance. It is not an adaptation of the play.
Production Details
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First presented as a staged reading at the Australian National Playwrights Conference, Canberra, May 1984. A revised version for two actors was first produced at the Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney, 27 August 1986. Also produced by the Playbox Theatre Co., St Martin's Theatre, Melbourne, 1986. Radio adaptation 1991. Also produced by the Riverina Theatre Company in Wagga Wagga, NSW, February 1999 and at the Stables Theatre, Sydney, June 1999.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Also sound recording.
Works about this Work
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Marginalising the Aboriginal : The White System and the Undoing of the Aboriginal in Fountains Beyond and State of Shock
2010
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Empowering and Disempowering Indigenes : Staging Australian Aboriginal Experience 2010; (p. 269-278) -
Untitled
1988
single work
review
— Appears in: Australasian Drama Studies , [Double Issue] no. 12-13 1988; (p. 181-185)
— Review of God's Best Country 1987 single work drama ; State of Shock 1986 single work drama -
A Black Production by a White Writer
1986
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Age , 9 September 1986; (p. 14) -
A Black Production by a White Writer
1986
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 9 September 1986;
— Review of State of Shock 1986 single work drama
-
Untitled
1988
single work
review
— Appears in: Australasian Drama Studies , [Double Issue] no. 12-13 1988; (p. 181-185)
— Review of God's Best Country 1987 single work drama ; State of Shock 1986 single work drama -
A Black Production by a White Writer
1986
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 9 September 1986;
— Review of State of Shock 1986 single work drama -
Marginalising the Aboriginal : The White System and the Undoing of the Aboriginal in Fountains Beyond and State of Shock
2010
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Empowering and Disempowering Indigenes : Staging Australian Aboriginal Experience 2010; (p. 269-278) -
A Black Production by a White Writer
1986
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Age , 9 September 1986; (p. 14)