Year 9 Drama · Responding — Analyse and Evaluate · 10m read

Australian Theatre

Australian theatre tells our stories — from bush mythology to suburban life to First Nations voices.

Learning objective: Explore Australian plays, playwrights and companies.

By the end of this lesson you can:

• I can name Australian playwrights and companies.
• I can analyse themes in Australian theatre.
• I can discuss First Nations theatre.

Australian theatre is a family photo album. Flip through and you see many faces: First Nations storytelling going back tens of thousands of years, colonial melodramas, larrikin comedies, migrant stories and bold contemporary work. Together they show who Australia is.

Our stories on stage

PLAYWRIGHTS AND WORKS:
• Ray Lawler — "Summer of the Seventeenth Doll" (1955), landmark Australian realism.
• David Williamson — social comedies.
• Jack Davis — "No Sugar" (First Nations experience).
• Contemporary: Nakkiah Lui, Kendall Feaver, Patricia Cornelius.

COMPANIES:
• Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse, Ilbijerri (First Nations), Belvoir, Arena Theatre (young audiences).

THEMES:
• Identity, mateship, history, colonisation, family, multiculturalism.

| Play / maker | Era | Key ideas |
|---|---|---|
| *Summer of the Seventeenth Doll* (Ray Lawler) | 1955 | Australian identity, mateship |
| *The Removalists* (David Williamson) | 1971 | Violence, authority |
| *The Sapphires* (Tony Briggs) | 2004 | First Nations women, music, war |
| *Away* (Michael Gow) | 1986 | Grief, healing, family |
| *The 7 Stages of Grieving* (Wesley Enoch & Deborah Mailman) | 1995 | First Nations grief and survival |
| Ilbijerri Theatre Company | 1990– | First Nations stories |

Key ideas at a glance

• Know the context: When and why written.
• Identify themes: Identity, belonging, Country.
• Recognise First Nations voices: Respect protocols.
• Connect to today: What still matters?

Worked example (Medium)

Why is First Nations-led theatre important?

1. Voice. First Nations artists tell their own stories.
2. Truth. Shares histories often absent from mainstream stages.

Answer: It centres First Nations voices and truth-telling.

Worked example (Medium)

Explain how *The 7 Stages of Grieving* uses theatre to tell First Nations stories.

1. Form. One woman performs many stories.
2. Content. Grief, dispossession, survival.
3. Effect. Personal and political truths shared directly with audience.

Answer: Solo, episodic storytelling shares personal and collective First Nations experiences.

Common mistakes

• Assuming theatre is only overseas Australia has a strong theatre tradition. Fix: Study local works.
• Only studying old plays Misses diverse voices. Fix: Include contemporary and First Nations works.

Ilbijerri and First Nations theatre

Ilbijerri Theatre Company (Melbourne) is Australia's longest-running First Nations theatre company. Its name means "coming together for ceremony" in Woiwurrung.

It creates work by First Nations artists, often about community, history and identity, and tours schools and festivals.

Practice questions

1. Ilbijerri Theatre Company is:

   1. A musical company
   2. A First Nations theatre company
   3. A dance school
   4. A film studio

   (1 marks)

2. Name one theme common in Australian plays.

   (2 marks)

3. Ilbijerri is a:

   1. Commedia troupe
   2. First Nations theatre company
   3. Music festival
   4. Film studio

   (1 marks)

4. *Summer of the Seventeenth Doll* explores:

   1. Space travel
   2. Australian identity and mateship
   3. Commedia
   4. Opera

   (1 marks)

5. Explain why studying Australian theatre is valuable.

   (2 marks)

Summary

• Key Australian playwrights.
• Major companies.
• Themes of identity and history.
• Australian theatre reflects many voices.