The Secret River is a play by Australian playwright Andrew Bovell, based upon the 2005 novel of the same name by Kate Grenville. It premiered in Sydney on 8 August 2013.
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).
Choreographer and then artistic director for Bangarra Dance Theatre, Stephen Page, was artistic associate for the production.
Performances 2013 The STC production of The Secret River had its world premiere on 8 January 2013 at the Sydney Theatre as part of Sydney Festival. The cast included Nathaniel Dean, Trevor Jamieson, Daniel Henshall, Miranda Tapsell, and Ursula Yovich.
2016 A 2016 remount toured Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
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. The show was a record-breaking success, selling out all performances over its 18 nights, with an audience of 800 each night.
2019 It was scheduled to tour to Edinburgh International Festival and the Royal National Theatre in London in 2019.
Characters
English settlers William Thornhill, Sal Thornhill, William’s wife Willie Thornhill, William and Sal's eldest son Dick Thornhill, William and Sal's second son Smasher Sullivan, a settler on the Hawkesbury River Thomas Blackwood, an ex-convict and tradesmen Loveday, a settler on the Hawkesbury River Dan Oldfield, Williams childhood friend Mrs Herring, a mid-wife and nurse Sagitty Birtles, Smasher Sullivan's crony Captain Suckling, alcoholic and landowner
Dharug people Dhirrumbin, a guide Dulla Djin Gillyagan Muruli Garraway, friend of Dick Yalamundi, elder of the tribe Buryia, female tribe elder Ngalamalum Wangarra, tribal warrior Branyimala, tribal warrior Narabi, friend of Dick Turnkey
Original cast The cast for the 2013 production included: Nathaniel Dean - William Thornhill Anita Hegh - Sal Thornhill Jeremy Sims - Smasher Sullivan Colin Moody - Thomas Blackwood Ursula Yovich - Dhirrumbin/Dulla Djin Miranda Tapsell - Gillyagan/Muruli Bruce Spence - Loveday Bailey Doomadgee and Kamil Ellis - Garraway Lachlan Elliott and Callum McManis - Willie Thornhill Rory Potter and Tom Usher - Dick Thornhill Roy Gordon - Yalamundi Daniel Henshall - Dan Oldfield Ethel-Anne Gundy – Buryia Trevor Jamieson - Ngalamalum Rhimi Johnson Page - Wangarra/Branyimala Judith McGrath - Mrs Herring James Slee - Narabi Matthew Sunderland - Sagitty Birtles/ Captain Suckling/Turnkey
Awards and nominations
Helpmann awards Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result 2013 13th Helpmann Awards Best Play Best New Australian Work Best Direction of a Play Neil Armfield Best Male Actor in a Play Nathaniel Dean Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play Colin Moody Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play Miranda Tapsell Best Original Score Iain Grandage Best Musical Direction Iain Grandage Best Costume Design Tess Schofield Best Scenic Design Stephen Curtis Best Lighting Design Mark Howett
References
External links