An Octoroon single work   drama   - 150 minutes
Adaptation of The Octoroon; or, Life in Louisiana Dion Boucicault , 1859 single work drama
Issue Details: First known date: 2017... 2017 An Octoroon
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'It’s the story of historical Louisiana. Or historical Far North Queensland. Or it’s the story of a black playwright. Or how race is portrayed on stage. Or maybe it’s about how they’re all the same story.

'Brash and provocative, this satirical comedy traces its roots back to an 1859 stage melodrama by crowd-pleasing Irish impresario Dion Boucicault. When the story of a man who scandalously falls for a slave on his Louisiana plantation premiered in New York, it helped fan the flames of the American Civil War.

'Today – with race still as incendiary a global issue as it was then – the dazzling and radical African-American playwright has torn apart and rebuilt the original text as a towering, immersive and wildly funny theatrical experience like no other.

'In a version subtly recontextualised to uncover and skewer Australia’s shameful history of slavery, leading Aboriginal artist and commentator Nakkiah Lui (Black Comedy, Black is the New White) makes her directorial debut in an Australian exclusive.' (Production summary)

Notes

  • Additional Awards:

    Nominations:

    Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play (Elaine Crombie), Helpmann Awards, 2018.

Production Details

  • Presented by Brisbane Festival and Queensland Theatre. Performed at the Bille Brown Studio South Brisbane : 16 September - 8 October 2017

    Director: Nakkiah Lui.

    Designer: Renee Mulder.

    Assistant Designer: Vilma Mattila.

    Lighting Designer: Ben Hughes.

    Sound Designer / Composer / Musical Director: James Henry.

    Fight Choreography: Niki-J Price.

    Stage Manager: Pete Sutherland.

    Assistant Stage Manager: Kathryn O’Halloran.

    Cast: Elaine Crombie, Chenoa Deemal, Sarah Ogden, Melodie Reynolds-Diarra, Shari Sebbens, Colin Smith, Anthony Standish, and Anthony Taufa.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Nakkiah Lui Reimagines An Octoroon : 'It Appeals to the Contrarian in Me' Stephanie Honor Convery , 2017 single work column
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 17 September 2017;

'The playwright-actor’s directorial debut reinterprets a blistering drama about race in America for an Australian context.'

Nakkiah Lui Reimagines An Octoroon : 'It Appeals to the Contrarian in Me' Stephanie Honor Convery , 2017 single work column
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 17 September 2017;

'The playwright-actor’s directorial debut reinterprets a blistering drama about race in America for an Australian context.'

Last amended 19 Jun 2018 10:09:19
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