“Charcoal Creek was excellent. I cannot fault the creative team. The set, with its long, lean gum trees, was hauntingly stark. Anne-Louise Rentell’s direction was crisp and precise...” - Australian Stage
**** (4-stars) “Compelling… rewarding theatre… hits the mark…” – Arts Hub
Charcoal Creek by Marcel Dorney
A Merrigong Theatre Company Production - Premiere season: 5 – 16 June 2012
Charcoal Creek is a chilling, moving and ultimately revealing story about the extraordinary power of ignorance and fear.
Newcomers to Charcoal Creek, Edward and Charlotte are newlyweds and recently arrived from England. Brigid, the wife of local dairy farmer Tom is having nightmares – premonitions of something terrible – and wants her new neighbours gone. Each of their lives will be irrevocably changed by the events of one terrifying night…
In the late 19th century, the Illawarra played host to one of the first incidents of violent resistance by white Australians to new arrivals at a place called Charcoal Creek, now known as Unanderra.
Inspired by this historical footnote, this new work by one of Australia’s most exciting playwrights examines how a community can descend into prejudice and hatred, and how ordinary people can allow terrible things to happen.
Commissioned by Merrigong Theatre Company, Charcoal Creek draws on the forces of class, Darwinism, and the Industrial Revolution to explore the impact of change and development on the forging of the Australian psyche.
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
Cast: Olivia Beardsley, Johnny Carr, Catherine Moore, Ed Wightman
Director: Anne-Louise Rentell
Costume Designer: Imogen Ross
Lighting Designer: Verity Hampson Sound Designer: Daryl Wallis Set Designer: Anne-Louise Rentell Stage Manager: Clare Spillman Production Manager: Jack Horton Set Realisation & Construction: James Clarke, Charli Dugdale, Jack Horton, Alicia Thomas
