Miss Tanaka is the beautiful and enigmatic niece of Broome’s former number one pearl diver. Newly arrived from Japan, she captures the hearts of the town's menfolk, but is promised in marriage to two brawling pearl divers. Who will uncover this mysterious young woman's true identity?
Based on a story by Xavier Herbert, John Romeril's play is a magical portrayal of 1930s Broome, weaving an astonishing blend of folk tale, magic and spectacle as it races to its wild conclusion.
JOHN ROMERIL, AM has been a prolific writer whose plays have been performed at every state theatre company in Australia as well as internationally in Asia, Canada, Europe. John has received multiple awards for his work. These include: NSW Premiers Literary Award for Playwrights 2002, Australian National Playwrights Centre Award 2003, Australia Council Literature Board Fellowship 2003, The Patrick White Literary Award 2008, three AWGIES including the Dorothy Crawford Award for outstanding contribution to the profession 2016, Other lifetime achievement awards have included Sydney Theatre Award 2013 and Green Room Award 2011. For more than a decade as a house writer for the Australian Performing Group he penned more than 30 works including: The Floating World and Chicago, Chicago. Since then he has produced a body of work made with and about the Asian region including Love Suicides and Miss Tanaka. He also co-wrote Jack Charles Vs the Crown together with Jack Charles and One Night the Moon for screen and stage( film with Rachel Perkins). He has served on several Boards including as Chair of the Australian National Playwrights Centre and on the Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts. Early plays include the major works I Don’t Know Who To Feel Sorry For, Chicago, Chicago and The Floating World. Other plays are Mrs Thally F, Carboni, The Kelly Dance, Lost Weekend, Black Cargo, Bring Down the House, Doing the Block and Red Sun Red Earth. He has studied under Australia Council grants in Europe, Canada and the United States. In 1993–96 he was recipient of an Australian Artists’ Creative Fellowship. More recent works published by Currency are Love Suicides and Miss Tanaka. He has acted as Playwright-in-Residence for many theatre companies and tertiary institutions and served as Chair of the Australian National Playwrights’ Centre. In 2003 he received the inaugural ANPC Award which honours Australian playwrights who have made a significant contribution to national theatre and culture.
| Cast Info | 2F, 3M |
| Genres | Adaptations, Australian History, Surreal/magic realism |
| Themes | Multicultural themes |
| Audiences | Adult |
| Extent | 66 |
| Edition | CTS |
| Size | 137 x 210 mm |