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'Convict William Thornhill, exiled from the stinking slums of early 19th century London, discovers that the penal colony offers something that he never dared to hope for before: a place of his own. A stretch of land on the Hawkesbury River is Thornhill’s for the taking.
'As he and his family seek to establish themselves in this unfamiliar territory, they find that they are not the only ones to lay a claim to the land. The Hawkesbury is already home to a family of Dharug people, who are reluctant to leave on account of these intruders.
'As Thornhill’s attachment to the place and the dream deepens, he is driven to make a terrible decision that will haunt him for the rest of his life.' (Source: Currency Press website)
Teaching Resources prepared by Arts Centre Melbourne.
Teaching Resources prepared by Arts Centre Melbourne, written for VCE.
Other 2013 Helpmann Awards include:
Nominations:
Tess Schofield: Best Costume Design
Stephen Curtis: Best Scenic Design
Mark Howlett: Best Lighting Design
Miranda Tapsell : Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play
Nathaniel Dean : Best Male Actor in a Play
Wins:
Colin Moody: Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play
Presented by Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Festival, and Allens (as a Sydney Theatre Company production), Sydney Theatre, 8 January to 9 February 2013.
Director: Neil Armfield.
Artistic Associate: Stephen Page.
Set Designer: Stephen Curlis.
Costume Designer: Tess Schofield.
Lighting Designer: Mark Howell.
Composer: Iain Grandage.
Sound Designer: Steve Francis.
Cast including Iain Grandage, Trevor Jamieson, Jeremy Sims, and Bruce Spence.
Produced at the Playhouse Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 14-17 February 2013.
Director: Neil Armfield.
Composer: Iain Grandage.
Produced by the Sydney Theatre Company (and presented by Allens), 6 February to 20 February 2016.
Director: Neil Armfield.
Artistic Associate: Stephen Page.
Set Designer: Stephen Curtis.
Costume Designer: Tess Schofield.
Lighting Designer: Mark Howett.
Composer: Iain Grandage.
Musical Director: Isaac Hayward.
Sound Designer: Steve Francis.
Tour Director: Kip Williams.
Dramaturg: Matthew Whittet.
With Georgia Adamson, Joshua Brennan, Toby Challenor, Shaka Cook, Nathaniel Dean, Frances Djulibing, Jennifer Hagan, Isaac Hayward, Trevor Jamieson, Heath Jelovic, Ningali Lawford-Wolf, Madeleine Madden, Colin Moody, Jeremiah Mundine, Wesley Patten, Kelton Pell, Richard Piper, Rory Potter, James Slee, Bruce Spence, and Matthew Sunderland.
This production also performed at the Playhouse, QPAC (25 February to 5 March 2016) and the Arts Centre Melbourne (10 March to 19 March 2016).
Presented by the State Theatre Company of South Australia and Adelaide Festival (a Sydney Theatre Company production), 28 February to 19 March 2017.
Director: Neil Armfield.
Artistic Associate: Stephen Page.
Set Designer: Stephen Curtis.
Costume Designer: Tess Schofield.
Lighting Designer: Mark Howett.
Composer: Iain Grandage.
Sound Designer: Steve Francis.
Cast includes Georgia Adamson, Joshua Brennan, Shaka Cook, Nathaniel Dean, Frances Djulibing, Ningali Lawson-Wolf, Bruce Spence, and Matthew Sunderland.
Sydney Theatre Company production toured the United Kingdom in August and September 2019, which productions at the King's Theatre, Edinburgh (part of the Edinburgh International Festival) and the National Theatre, London.
'Wangkatjungka woman Ningali Lawford-Wolf is heading to the United Kingdom as a cast member of the Sydney Theatre Company's production of The Secret River.'
'To celebrate the year’s memorable plays, films, concerts, operas, ballets, and exhibitions, we invited twenty-six critics and arts professionals to nominate some personal favourites.' (Introduction)
'One way of looking at a story is as a mental suitcase that brings together a bunch of actions that would be unintelligible as disparate events. Its basic job is twofold: first, to name them, then to order them.
'The naming can be confronting, akin to a biblical judgement. But if it doesn’t take place, then the story isn’t told. What happens then? Nothing good. Which is why one of the most powerful lines in this extraordinary play is when William Thornill, ex-convict lag and born riverman, takes part in a massacre of Hawkesbury Aboriginals, then tells his family with sepulchral finality 'we will not speak of this again'.'
