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y separately published work icon Inheritance single work   drama   - Prologue, Two acts, Epilogue
Issue Details: First known date: 2003... 2003 Inheritance
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Inheritance is a story of two families battling it out in the unforgiving terrain of Victoria's Mallee region. The elderly twin sisters, Dibs Hamilton and Girlie Delaney, represent two kinds of rural family story. Dibs inherited the family farm and has prospered; her children, Julia and William, are well educated city folk, and her adopted Aboriginal son, Nugget, is a successful farmer managing the family farm. Girlie, on the other hand, has had a rougher ride. Her son Lyle and his wife maureen are embittered by their experience of life on the farm as one of endless struggle and never getting an even break. (x). 'Speaking the Truth to Power: Hannie Rayson's 'Inheritance'.

Notes

  • Dedication: To all the farmers, stockmen, shearers, stock-and-station agents, country publicans and exiles who told me their stories with such good humour and grace. Thank you.
  • Broadcast on ABC Radio's Airplay in four parts during September 2007.

  • The setting of the play is based on the Victorian towns of Nyah West, Quambatook and Sea Lake.

Production Details

  • First produced at The Playhouse, Melbourne, by the Melbourne Theatre Company on 5th March 2003. Directed by Simon Phillips.

    A reading of the play was given in the Nyah West picture theatre early in 2003.

    The most recent production was an amateur production at Stirling Community Theatre in South Australia, 21 February to 8 March 2014.

Contents

* Contents derived from the Strawberry Hills, Inner Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales,:Currency Press , 2003 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Speaking Truth to Power : Hannie Rayson's 'Inheritance', Hilary Glow , single work criticism (p. ix-xvi)
Director's Note, Simon Phillips , single work criticism (p. xvii-xix)
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Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Strawberry Hills, Inner Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales,: Currency Press , 2003 .
      image of person or book cover 76588230487126087.jpg
      Image courtesy of publisher's website.
      Extent: 99p.
      Note/s:
      • With a foreword by Peter Sommerfeld. Sydney. June 2003.
      ISBN: 0868197203
    • Strawberry Hills, Inner Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales,: Currency Press , 2003 .
      Extent: 90p.
      Note/s:
      • Author's note: This edition of the play was published ahead of the premiere at Melbourne Theatre Company for VCE students. This version dates from January 2003 and does not contain any revisions that the author may have made in rehearsal. There may be differences, therefore, between this text and the play as performed. A revised edition to be published later in 2003 will incorporate any changes.
      ISBN: 0868197106
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Related Works

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Works about this Work

Political and Social Discourse in the Plays of Hannie Rayson with Particular Focus on Inheritance (2003) Ken Harper , 2008 single work criticism
— Appears in: IJAS , vol. 1 no. 1 2008; (p. 92)

Hannie Rayson is what is called in Australian slang a 'stirrer', meaning a person who attempts to stir up debate on matters of social and political significance. This is perhaps not unusual for a playwright in any country in an age when political engagement is increasingly seen as the legitimate province of the artist. It is not unusual in Australia where historically may playwrights have concerned themselves with notions of Australian identity, politics and social justice in their works.
Redistribution of Power : Hannie Rayson Rachel Fensham , Denise Varney , 2005 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Dolls' Revolution : Australian Theatre and Cultural Imagination 2005; (p. 285-328) The AustLit Anthology of Criticism 2010; (p. 49) '...discusses Rayson's participation in and contributuion to ... the turning of the wheel that would make women the key players on the Australian stage.' (p.285)
Class Action Hilary Glow (interviewer), 2005 single work interview
— Appears in: Meanjin , vol. 64 no. 1-2 2005; (p. 326-335) The AustLit Anthology of Criticism 2010; (p. 50) Editor's note: Dramaturg Hilary Glow talks to playwright Hannie Rayson about class, racism and political apathy in contemporary Australian society and how the stage can represent and tackle such issues.
Drama from Farmland to Gangland Diane Carlyle , Nick Walker , David Dunstan , 2004 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian , 4 February 2004; (p. 34)
— Review of A Man With Five Children Nick Enright , 2002 single work drama ; Inheritance Hannie Rayson , 2003 single work drama ; Mercy Thieves Mark Kilmurry , 2002 single work drama ; Last Chance Gas Steve Taylor , Kevin Densley , 1994 single work drama
Theatre Goes Bush Inheritance Carol Middleton , 2003 single work review
— Appears in: State of the Arts , April - June 2003; (p. 54-55)
— Review of Inheritance Hannie Rayson , 2003 single work drama
Inheriting Fear and Envy Helen Thomson , 2003 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 7 March 2003;
— Review of Inheritance Hannie Rayson , 2003 single work drama
Theatre Bill Perrett , 2003 single work review
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 9 March 2003; (p. 9)
— Review of Inheritance Hannie Rayson , 2003 single work drama ; The Telephone Exchange Samantha Bews , 2000 single work drama
What to Say About ... Inheritance Kendall Hill , 2003 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 26-27 April 2003; (p. 36)
— Review of Inheritance Hannie Rayson , 2003 single work drama
Drama from Farmland to Gangland Diane Carlyle , Nick Walker , David Dunstan , 2004 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian , 4 February 2004; (p. 34)
— Review of A Man With Five Children Nick Enright , 2002 single work drama ; Inheritance Hannie Rayson , 2003 single work drama ; Mercy Thieves Mark Kilmurry , 2002 single work drama ; Last Chance Gas Steve Taylor , Kevin Densley , 1994 single work drama
Theatre Goes Bush Inheritance Carol Middleton , 2003 single work review
— Appears in: State of the Arts , April - June 2003; (p. 54-55)
— Review of Inheritance Hannie Rayson , 2003 single work drama
Dry Run in a Harsh Place Peter Ellingsen , 2003 single work column
— Appears in: The Age , 8 February 2003; (p. 6)
Another Country Katrina Strickland , 2003 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 1-2 March 2003; (p. 14-15, 17)
Speaking Truth to Power : Hannie Rayson's 'Inheritance' Hilary Glow , 2003 single work criticism
— Appears in: Inheritance 2003; (p. ix-xvi)
Director's Note Simon Phillips , 2003 single work criticism
— Appears in: Inheritance 2003; (p. xvii-xix)
Class Action Hilary Glow (interviewer), 2005 single work interview
— Appears in: Meanjin , vol. 64 no. 1-2 2005; (p. 326-335) The AustLit Anthology of Criticism 2010; (p. 50) Editor's note: Dramaturg Hilary Glow talks to playwright Hannie Rayson about class, racism and political apathy in contemporary Australian society and how the stage can represent and tackle such issues.
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Awards

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Last amended 15 Dec 2017 09:21:59
Subjects:
Settings:
  • Country towns,
  • Mallee, North West Victoria, Victoria,
  • 1900-1999
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