Black Mary single work   drama   - Two acts.
Issue Details: First known date: 1996... 1996 Black Mary
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Black Mary is based on the life of an Aboriginal woman bushranger.

Production Details

  • First produced at the Sydney Street Theatre Space, Sydney, May 1996. Director Charlie Little.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Black Mary & Gunjies : Two Plays by Julie Janson Julie Janson , Canberra : Aboriginal Studies Press , 1996 Z531127 1996 selected work drama

    'Black Mary is a play telling the story of Aboriginal bushranger Mary Ann and her partner, Captain Thunderbolt, roaming northwestern New South Wales in the mid-nineteenth century. Dressed like the men, Mary Ann is one of the gang, managing to survive in the outback and to elude capture most of the time. She dreams of returning with Thunderbolt to live with her people but instead witnesses their massacre and plots revenge...'

    'A contemporary play, Gunjies combines family life, young love, a football match and a debutante ball with political activism, racial discrimination and uneasy relations with police (the gunjies). Janson's characters are ordinary people-warm, funny, resilient-who are suddenly involved in tragedy...'

    'An introduction provides interesting historical background on bushranger Mary Ann, and both plays are illustrated with photographs. The plays are recommended for Years 7 to 12 Australian history, Aboriginal studies drama and literature.' (Source: Publishers website)

    Canberra : Aboriginal Studies Press , 1996
    pg. 11-84

Works about this Work

Thunderbolt's Black Mary Rides into Folklore Verity Chambers , 1997 single work column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 23-24 August 1997; (p. 1)
Feisty Femme in Black Drama John Ellicot , 1997 single work column
— Appears in: The Australian , 28 January 1997; (p. 2)
Captain Thunderbolt Was No Freedom Fighter Edgar F. Penzig , 1997 single work correspondence
— Appears in: The Australian , 27 August 1997; (p. 14)
Stage Set for Black Mary 1996 single work column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 10 April no. 123 1996; (p. 15)
A Historical Odyssey Gabrielle Bonney , 1996 single work criticism
— Appears in: Dialogue , December no. 29 1996; (p. 8-9,13)
Aboriginal History Inspires a Tale of Passion and Fury 1995 single work column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 17 May no. 101 1995; (p. 17)
Stage Set for Black Mary 1996 single work column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 10 April no. 123 1996; (p. 15)
Thunderbolt's Black Mary Rides into Folklore Verity Chambers , 1997 single work column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 23-24 August 1997; (p. 1)
Captain Thunderbolt Was No Freedom Fighter Edgar F. Penzig , 1997 single work correspondence
— Appears in: The Australian , 27 August 1997; (p. 14)
Feisty Femme in Black Drama John Ellicot , 1997 single work column
— Appears in: The Australian , 28 January 1997; (p. 2)
Last amended 28 Jul 2004 16:46:03
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