By Derek Schlennstedt
Created 20 years ago and still relevant today, Yarra Valley residents have the opportunity to see a new adaptation of one of Australia’s most important plays “Seven Stages of Grieving”.
Funny, devastatingly sad, and as relevant as ever, the play traverses the phases of Aboriginal history, inviting audiences to face hard truths, join hands and grieve together.
Playing in Healesville at The Memo on 10 May, the Seven Stages of Grieving is a wise and powerful play that tells the story about the grief of Aboriginal people and the hope of reconciliation.
The young and extremely talented Chenoa Deemal weaves poignant stories of different people from different mobs – tear-streaked tales of tragedy go hand-in-hand with jubilant celebrations of simple survival.
The production tells the stories of seven different aspects of grief; encompassing family funerals, black displacement, the impact of European wars and other stories.
A topic that many people can relate to, Chenoa said that grief was universal and something that everyone had experienced in some form.
“Grief is universal and so that’s what people can relate to, stories about family, about the character’s father, those are things people can relate to and these types of grief are not just exclusive to Aboriginal people, everyone knows grief,” she said.
Equal parts funny and sorrowful, the original script pennned by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman, has been skilfully updated to reflect today’s political climate, including current political references to make it relevant to a contemporary audience.
Design elements throughout the production include various paraphernalia that relate to Chenoa’s youth – coloured sand from her traditional land in Hopevale Queensland are part of the props used and tropical forest sound effects are reminiscent of the deep green rainforests of Cairns, where Jason Klarwein, the director is from.
Chenoa hasn’t visited the Yarra Valley before, but said she looked forward to exploring the area.
Seven Stages of Grieving will play at the Healesville Memo on 10 May, with performances starting at 11am and 7.30pm.
Bookings on 1300 368 333.
