Cirrus@Austlit

'With humane irony the Western Australian poet, Jack Davis gives a painful insight into the process of colonisation and the transformation of his people.'

'The Dreamers is the story of a country-town family and old Uncle Worru, who in his dying days, recedes from urban hopelessness to the life and language of the Nyoongah spirit which in him has survived 'civilisation'.' (Currency Press website)

This play examines life in a small country town during two periods, the 1940s and the 1980s, and focuses on the search for identity in the Aboriginal community of Coordah.

The Keepers is set in South Australia during the 19th century. The story centres around the relationship between Mirnat, and Aboriginal Woman and Elisabeth Campbell, the wife of a Scottish missionary. The two women deepen their relationship through their attempts to learn each other's language. The play demonstrates the complexity of the Boandik* sign language which features quite prominently in the play's stage directions and production. (Balme, 1997)

"Documents the experience of Indigenous Australians - in particular, the Boandik of South-eastern South Australia - at the hands of white settlers and their descendants. Spans two generations and two different time frames and stresses the importance of the land: "The Land is alive. It moves. It breathes. We know because we are its keepers.""

*Bungandidj peoples of Mount Gambier region, South-eastern South Australia

Source: AusStage

Source: Balme, C. 1997. 'Reading the Signs: A Semiotic Perspective on Aboriginal Theatre', in Ar̲atjara: Aboriginal Culture and Literature in Australia. Rodopi. p.163.