Close to the Bone is a story about a family’s survival in the face of adversity, written with students from the EORA Centre in Redfern in 1990, some of whom were members of the Stolen Generations. Moving from the mission to Redfern and back again, it celebrates Redfern’s role in providing a focal point for dislocated Indigenous Australians. The play also honours the role EORA played in bringing people together and linking them with family. It was first performed by EORA students in the heart of Redfern. It was directed by Lydia Miller, David Kennedy and Rhoda Roberts with music by Scott Saunders and Karen Vaughan.
Close to the Bone is a large cast play that is suitable for students of all ages and youth groups.
‘This play presents the issue of the Stolen Generations with an authentic Aboriginal voice and gives a powerful impression of the continuing human impact of bureaucratic decisions on Aboriginal families, both in the past and now. The New South Wales Aboriginal Education Consultative Group fully supports and endorses the publication of this play.’ — Linda Burney, President, NSW AECG
NED MANNING is a writer, actor and teacher. His debut play, Us or Them, marked the Griffin Theatre Company’s transition from a co-op to a professional company. Other plays include Milo, Kenny’s Coming Home and Tsunami. Alice Dreaming, his large cast play for young people, is regularly performed by schools and youth theatre groups in Australia and overseas. Close to the Bone, developed with students at the EORA Centre in Redfern, is the first play written about the Stolen Generation. Luck of the Draw, a play on the same subject, was performed by Kooemba Jdarra and the Darwin Theatre Companies. He wrote ten plays for Bell Shakespeare’s Actors at Work program. As an actor, Ned starred in the cult classic, Dead End Drive-In as well as appearing in many Australian film and tv productions including Looking for Alibrandi, Mr Inbetween, The Shiralee, Bodyline and many more. His teaching memoir, Playground Duty, has become required reading for anyone embarking on a teaching career. His latest novel is Painting the Light.
| Cast Info | 11F, 4M, 4O, (doubling available) |
| Genres | Australian History, Drama |
| Themes | Political/Social themes, Large Cast, First Nations |
| Audiences | Adult, Young Adult, Secondary: Years 10-12, Secondary: Years 7-9 |
| Extent | 80 |
| Edition | Standard |
| Size | 210 x 137 |
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