Musical play.
While Stockade follows the main historical events which occurred around the time of the Eureka Stockade rebellion Cook sided with tradition by portraying its leader, Peter Lalor, as a romantic rebel battling against the cold-blooded Captain Thomas. He also included a fictional story about a young couple and the tragic impact the rebellion had on their lives.
The musical, which uses a folk musical format (with new lyrics added to traditional songs) and episodic representation, explores somewhat didactically the theme of violent confrontation and murder, asking the question 'why does it have to be resorted to?'
Using a folk musical format, with new lyrics added to traditional songs, this version of the Eureka Rebellion portrays leader Peter Lalor as a romantic rebel battling against the cold-blooded Captain Thomas. The narrative explores the issues of violent confrontation and murder, asking, 'Why do we have to resort to them?'
Presented episodically, the screenplay follows the main historical narrative, interspersing it with a fictional story about a young couple and the tragic impact of the rebellion on their lives.
The music for both the play and film was taken from traditional sources. New lyrics were written by Kenneth and Patricia Cook.
Commissioned by the University of New South Wales Drama Foundation, Stockade was originally slated for a Jane Street Theatre production, but this fell through and it was eventually presented at the Independent Theatre in North Sydney.
1971 : Independent Theatre, North Sydney ; 13 March - ca. May. Dir. Ross McGregor ; Music Dir. Michael Caulfield. - Cast: Rod Mullinor (Peter Lalor), Michelle Fawdon (Liz Green), Graham Corry (George Black), Sue Hollywood (Ma Bentley), Max Cullen (Rafaelio Carboni), Charles Thorne (Capt. Thomas), Michael Rolfe (Captain Wise), Norman Willison (Johnny Green), George Clay (Edward Thoren).
1974 : Adelaide Festival (no details)
1974 : Theatre 3, Canberra ; 25-29 June. Dir. Ross McGregor ; Prod. Canberra Repertory Society, Canberra Theatre Trust ; Ast Dir. Ian MacDougall ; Design Russell Brown ; Lighting Len Fisher ; Cost. Audrey Cook; Prod Mngr. Liz Fergusson ; Stage Dir. Thelma White; Stage Mngr. Michael Crawford. - Cast incl. Keith Richards (Peter Lalor), Patsy Hemingway, Audra Biggs, Hec MacMillan, Bettina Smeaton, Jon Stephens.
This entry has been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian-written music theatre being conducted by Dr Clay Djubal.
One of Australia's longest-lasting dramatic societies in Australia, the Canberra Repertory Society (CRS) was founded in 1932 as a breakaway group from the Arts and Literature Society. The split followed a disagreement over the cost of jazz garters.
Although focusing on the years 1932 to 1982, Anne Edgeworth's biography was published to celebrate the Society's fiftieth year of activity.
One of Australia's longest-lasting dramatic societies in Australia, the Canberra Repertory Society (CRS) was founded in 1932 as a breakaway group from the Arts and Literature Society. The split followed a disagreement over the cost of jazz garters.
Although focusing on the years 1932 to 1982, Anne Edgeworth's biography was published to celebrate the Society's fiftieth year of activity.