Five plays from around the country which illustrate that the rich tradition of indigenous storytelling is flourishing in contemporary Australian theatre.

Adapted from her award-winning novel, Vivienne Cleven’s Bitin’ Back is a ‘zany and uproarious black farce’ ( National Indigenous Times);

Black Medea, Wesley Enoch’s richly poetic adaptation of Euripides Medea, blends the cultures of Ancient Greek and indigenous storytelling to weave a bold and breathtaking commentary on contemporary experience;

The acclaimed King Hit, by David Milroy and Geoffrey Narkle, strikes at the very heart of the Stolen Generations, exploring the impact on an individual and a culture when relationships are brutally broken;

Set in the 1950s on the fringe of a country town, Rainbow’s End by Jane Harrison creates a ‘thought-provoking and emotionally powerful’ ( Age) snapshot of a Koori family to dramatise the struggle for decent housing, meaningful education, jobs and community acceptance;

And David Milroy’s Windmill Baby, set on an abandoned cattle station in the Kimberley landscape, combines the poetry of a campfire story with the comedy of a great yarn.

‘Each play is a durable, resilient stone that both builds upon Indigenous traditions but also lays the foundation for the generations that will follow.’ Professor Larissa Behrendt, from her Introduction.

Currency Press | 978-0-86819-795-1 | PB