'This is a proud milestone in Australian theatre history; a contemporary Indigenous performance text from the highly acclaimed Kooemba Jdarra. Appropriating western forms whilst using traditional storytelling, it gives emotional insight into Murri life. This one-woman show follows the journey of an Aboriginal ‘Everywoman’ as she tells poignant and humorous stories of grief and reconciliation. A powerful, demanding and culturally profound text, The 7 Stages of Grieving is a celebration of Indigenous survival, an invitation to grieve publicly, a time to exorcize pain. It has a universal theme told through the personal experiences of one incredible character.'
Source: Publisher's blurb (Playlab).
Unit Suitable For
AC: Year 10 (NSW Stage 5)
Themes
family, grief, History, Indigenous rights, the past
General Capabilities
Critical and creative thinking, Ethical understanding, Intercultural understanding, Literacy
Cross-curriculum Priorities
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
First produced by Kooemba Jdarra at the Metro Arts Theatre, Brisbane, 1 September 1995.
Director: Wesley Enoch.
New production by the Sydney Theatre Company at the Wharf Theatre from February to March 2008. Later presented at Wagga and Albury, NSW.
Produced by the State Theatre Company of South Australia at The Space, Adelaide Festival Centre, 22-29 May 2010 and then on tour in regional South Australia until 17 June 2010.
Presented by the Queensland Theatre Company. A Grin & Tonic Theatre Troupe production. Performed 17-28 March 2015 at Bille Brown Studio, QTC.
Director: Wesley Enoch.
Cast: Chenoa Deemal.
Also at QUT Gardens Theatre in May, 2017 as a part of a national tour. The productions then travels to London as a part of the 2017 Origins Festival (http://originsfestival.bordercrossings.org.uk/).
Set to be presented by Sydney Theatre Company at the Roslyn Packer Theatre, 23 May to 13 June 2020.
Director: Shari Sebbens.
Designer: Elizabeth Gadsby.
Associate Designer: Tyler Ray Hawkins.
Lighting Designer: Mark Pennington.
Composer & Sound Designer: Steve Francis.
Cast includes Elaine Crombie.
This production then presented by State Theatre Company of South Australia, Space Theatre, 25 June to 4 July 2020.
Sydney Theatre Company production cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Theatre Company of South Australia production cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sydney Theatre Company production rescheduled for 21 May - 19 June 2021.
Director: Shari Sebbens.
Set & Costume Designer: Elizabeth Gadsby.
Lighting & AV Designer: Verity Hampson.
Composer & Sound Designer: Steve Francis.
Cast: Elaine Crombie.
Presented by the State Theatre Company of South Australia, 28 July - 7 August 2021, at the Space Theatre.
Director: Shari Sebbens.
Set & Costume Designer: Elizabeth Gadsby.
Lighting & AV Designer: Verity Hampson.
Composer & Sound Designer: Steve Francis.
Cast: Elaine Crombie.
See also the entry in the AusStage database for more production information.
(Publication summary)
Review of The Seven Stages of Grieving produced by the State Theatre Company of South Australia at The Space, Adelaide Festival Centre, 22-29 May 2010 and then on tour in regional South Australia until June 17 2010.
Review of Daniel Keene's The Share produced by five.point.one, The Bakehouse, Adelaide from 20 May to 5 June 2010