The 7 Stages of Grieving
Characters
A single actor presents this piece that lasts for about one hour. The play consists of a number of short scenes performed by a single actor who portrays an individual’s perspective on historical events. The character who shares her experiences is both an individual in her own right and someone who also represents others, voicing their experience. The actor employs different forms and styles to change perspectives. These include monologues where a single actor addresses the audience, often retelling stories from her life, some traditional songs in language, and mime. The use of different technologies such as words projected on a surface add depth to the piece. The tone varies, driven by both the content and the style. Styles drift from colloquial soliloquy to stand-up comedy to court reports.
The actor tells the story of a collective people but the audience can specifically hear the events surrounding select people. These include the nana, a grandmother who has passed and who triggers the reflection, and other members of the actor’s family including her father, brother and Aunty Grace. Significant historical events are referenced through a women from the stolen generation era, a young man called Daniel Yocke and protest marchers. Above all, the woman’s own experience is palpable throughout the play.