Cirrus@Austlit

'This article explores the evolution of a verbatim play, 'Seeking Joe Civilian', from its origins as an idea to its execution as a rehearsed performed reading in its first draft form. The play began as a conventional telling of the Anzac story in order to attract funding; it failed to do so. Still in proposal form, the decision was taken to continue with the idea but to adapt it to what was perceived as a shift in public consciousness over the period referred to as the Anzac century. This was a period of massive political investment in the Arts and communities designed to generate stories and events that would celebrate the national identity located within the Anzac story as told from a World War I perspective.' 

'The intention was to diffuse the Anzac story, to relegate it to the past and foreground modern soldiers. But in the performed reading this did not happen. The Anzac story proved resilient; in our imaginations our modern soldiers, as our actors, became universal. The Anzac story embraced our modern soldiers as well. But what the play did expose was an even more significant intervention: the personal opportunism embedded in politically-driven campaigns of commemoration.' (Abstract)