Charcoal Creek

By Marcel Dorney. A world premiere.

A new work by award-winning playwright Marcel Dorney, Charcoal Creek is a chilling, moving and ultimately revealing story about the extraordinary power of ignorance and fear.

05 Jun – 16 Jun

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.

"What cause, apart from sheerest spite, could drive such hate, for two that you don't know from Eve and Adam?"

Recommended for ages 15+.

^{Photography: Paul Jones}

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