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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
The Keepers is set in South Australia during the 19th century. The story centres around the relationship between Mirnat, and Aboriginal Woman and Elisabeth Campbell, the wife of a Scottish missionary. The two women deepen their relationship through their attempts to learn each other's language. The play demonstrates the complexity of the Boandik* sign language which features quite prominently in the play's stage directions and production. (Balme, 1997)
"Documents the experience of Indigenous Australians - in particular, the Boandik of South-eastern South Australia - at the hands of white settlers and their descendants. Spans two generations and two different time frames and stresses the importance of the land: "The Land is alive. It moves. It breathes. We know because we are its keepers.""
*Bungandidj peoples of Mount Gambier region, South-eastern South Australia
Source: AusStage
Source: Balme, C. 1997. 'Reading the Signs: A Semiotic Perspective on Aboriginal Theatre', in Ar̲atjara: Aboriginal Culture and Literature in Australia. Rodopi. p.163.
Production Details
-
First produced by the Mainstreet Theatre Company, Town Hall, Naracoorte, SA, 25 February 1988. A revised version was later produced at the Troupe Theatre in Adelaide as part of the 1988 Adelaide Festival.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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'Why, White Man, Why?' : White Australia as the Addressee of Apostrophe in Contemporary Aboriginal Writing
2002
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Zeitschrift fur Anglistik und Amerikanistik , vol. 50 no. 2 2002; (p. 166-178)
— Appears in: Imaginary Antipodes : Essays on Contemporary Australian Literature and Culture 2011; (p. 23-36) 'Contemporary Australian indigenous literature is characterised by a remarkably prevalent use of apostrophic address directed at the white reader. This mode of direct address in black literary texts draws attention to the political dynamics moulding reader-writer relations in contemporary Australia. The article examines numerous examples of this direct mode of address in prose, poetry and drama, and argues that this direct mode of address is a central element in the message of black writers. The use of apostrophe implies the active 'positioning' of the white reader on the part of the indigenous speaker; only by virtue of this positioning is the reading process made possible. The direct mode of address in these texts thus demands that the reader take up a stance characterised by a readiness to listen attentively to black literary voices.' (Author's abstract) -
The Dance as Text in Contemporary Australian Drama : Movement and Resistance Politics
1992
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Ariel , January vol. 23 no. 1 1992; (p. 133-147) -
On the Outskirts of European Literature
1990
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 12 May 1990; (p. B11)
— Review of Writing from the Fringe : A Study of Modern Aboriginal Literature 1990 single work criticism -
Black and White in Australian Drama : Melbourne 1988
1990
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Meridian , May vol. 9 no. 1 1990; (p. 33-43) -
Plays From Black Australia : Introduction
1989
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Plays From Black Australia 1989; (p. vii-xi)
-
Untitled
1988
single work
review
— Appears in: New Theatre Australia , May 1988;
— Review of The Keepers 1989 single work drama -
Untitled
1988
single work
review
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 4 March 1988;
— Review of The Keepers 1989 single work drama -
Untitled
1988
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 26 April 1988;
— Review of The Keepers 1989 single work drama -
Untitled
1988
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 May 1988;
— Review of The Keepers 1989 single work drama -
Untitled
1988
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sun-Herald , 5 June 1988;
— Review of The Keepers 1989 single work drama -
'Why, White Man, Why?' : White Australia as the Addressee of Apostrophe in Contemporary Aboriginal Writing
2002
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Zeitschrift fur Anglistik und Amerikanistik , vol. 50 no. 2 2002; (p. 166-178)
— Appears in: Imaginary Antipodes : Essays on Contemporary Australian Literature and Culture 2011; (p. 23-36) 'Contemporary Australian indigenous literature is characterised by a remarkably prevalent use of apostrophic address directed at the white reader. This mode of direct address in black literary texts draws attention to the political dynamics moulding reader-writer relations in contemporary Australia. The article examines numerous examples of this direct mode of address in prose, poetry and drama, and argues that this direct mode of address is a central element in the message of black writers. The use of apostrophe implies the active 'positioning' of the white reader on the part of the indigenous speaker; only by virtue of this positioning is the reading process made possible. The direct mode of address in these texts thus demands that the reader take up a stance characterised by a readiness to listen attentively to black literary voices.' (Author's abstract) -
Black and White in Australian Drama : Melbourne 1988
1990
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Meridian , May vol. 9 no. 1 1990; (p. 33-43) -
The Dance as Text in Contemporary Australian Drama : Movement and Resistance Politics
1992
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Ariel , January vol. 23 no. 1 1992; (p. 133-147) -
Plays From Black Australia : Introduction
1989
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Plays From Black Australia 1989; (p. vii-xi) -
On the Outskirts of European Literature
1990
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 12 May 1990; (p. B11)
— Review of Writing from the Fringe : A Study of Modern Aboriginal Literature 1990 single work criticism
Last amended 10 Aug 2019 19:28:28
Subjects:
- Bush,
- Urban,
- South Australia,
Settings:
- Mount Gambier area, South East South Australia, South Australia,
- 1840s
- 1850s
- 1860s
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