The Secret River (play)

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The Secret River
Written by Andrew Bovell
Date premiered8 January 2013
Place premiered Sydney Theatre
Original languageEnglish
Subject The Secret River by Kate Grenville
GenreDrama

The Secret River is a play by Australian playwright Andrew Bovell, [1] based upon the 2005 novel of the same name by Kate Grenville. It premiered in Sydney on 8 August 2013.

Contents

Synopsis

Narrated by Dhirrumbin, the drama is about a man who is exiled from London in the eighteenth century, and is sent with his family to a penal colony in the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales, where he hopes to make a new start, but its Indigenous inhabitants, the Dharug people, are not willing to give up their land.

Production

The play was first produced by the Sydney Theatre Company (STC). [2]

Choreographer and then artistic director for Bangarra Dance Theatre, Stephen Page, was artistic associate for the production. [2]

Performances

2013

The STC production of The Secret River had its world premiere on 8 January 2013 at the Sydney Theatre [3] as part of Sydney Festival. [2] The cast included Nathaniel Dean, Trevor Jamieson, Daniel Henshall, Miranda Tapsell, and Ursula Yovich. [3]

2016

A 2016 remount toured Sydney, [4] Melbourne, [5] and Brisbane. [6]

2017

In March 2017, a co-production of the State Theatre Company of South Australia and the Sydney Theatre Company, co-directed by Neil Armfield and Geordie Brookman, was staged at Anstey Hill Quarry as part of the Adelaide Festival. [7] The show was a record-breaking success, selling out all performances over its 18 nights, with an audience of 800 each night. [8]

2019

It was scheduled to tour to Edinburgh International Festival and the Royal National Theatre in London in 2019. [2]

Characters

Original cast

The cast for the 2013 production included: [9]

Awards and nominations

Helpmann awards

YearAward CeremonyCategoryNomineeResult
2013 13th Helpmann Awards [10] Best Play Won
Best New Australian Work Won
Best Direction of a Play Neil Armfield Won
Best Male Actor in a Play Nathaniel Dean Nominated
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play Colin MoodyWon
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play Miranda Tapsell Nominated
Best Original Score Iain Grandage Won
Best Musical DirectionIain GrandageWon
Best Costume DesignTess SchofieldNominated
Best Scenic DesignStephen CurtisNominated
Best Lighting Design Mark Howett Nominated

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References

  1. " The Secret River by Andrew Bovell". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Stephen Page". AIDC . 10 December 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 "The Secret River". AusStage . 8 January 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  4. ""The Secret River (2016)"". Sydney Theatre Company. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  5. ""The Secret River (2016)"". The Urban Scrapbook. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  6. ""The Secret River (2016)"". Australian Stage. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  7. "The Secret River". AusStage . Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  8. Cameron, Ben (31 March 2017). "The rags-to-riches tale behind Anstey Hill quarry, spectacular stage of Adelaide Festival's record-breaking The Secret River". Adelaide Now . Messenger. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  9. "The Secret River" (PDF). Perth Festival 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  10. "Helpmann Awards > Winners". HelpmannAwards.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.