How does Australian drama and theatre stage a range of the different individual experiences found in Australian society?

Some good some bad. Some represent change, and some represent repression. Racism changes the individual experience. The characters and what their differing experiences represent, t The influence context had on form (staging, lighting, symbolic) What it means to us today
In your answer, refer to the dramatic forms, performance styles, techniques and the conventions of Australian Drama and Theatre and in particular to your study and experience of TWO texts set for study. Australian Theatre by exemplifying typecast individuals and portraying them on stage manages to depict a range of conflicting elements that existed in the 70s Australian society, and that exists in our society today. Playwrights such as Alex Buzo and David Williamson, used Norm and Ahmed and The Removalist to personify the clashing elements of an Australian society into familiar characters that the audience can associate with, and thus are able to stage the clash of the collars, the clash of race and the clash of radicalism and conservatism that defines an individuals experience in an Australian society. The Removalist and Norm and Ahmed intentionally create characters whose experiences represent a typecast part of society and their relationship with each other becomes a synecdoche for the inner conflict of the Australian society. Norm embodies the conservative, older, blue collared generation of Australian society that possesses not only xenophobia but a fear of change (Aarne Neeme). His identity and image becomes the iconographic Australian image and experience. The play opens with lights up on Norm wearing an open necked white shirt and grey trousers, an immediate depiction of the typical, blue collared Australian. Norms language encapsulates the Ocker, The norm Australian experience. Yet Buzo intentionally creates this embodiment of the Australian that radiates this constant threat of violence. The play opens Brinksmanship Norm and Ahmeds relationship with each other and their different experiences represents the Australian Since the Australian Theatre manifested during the radically changing society of the 70s, its dramatic form resembles this radical movement

and uses a wide range of techniques and conventions to portray a range of different Australian experiences on stage. The new wave of Australian playwrights were pressured to break away from the old fashioned bourgeois realism, instead looking to the rough theatre that provided criticism and truth. Characters became two dimensional, and the plays itself became allegorical and didactic. Norm and Ahmeds drastically different experiences in an Australian society represent two opposing forces, or two idealisms. Ahmed becomes the great social and political change of the 70s. His battle to cross the stage

The Removalist Context: New wave of Australian theatre writers, break away from old fashioned bourgeois naturalism, of theatre that insulates and diverts the middle class, instead providing the rough theatre that criticizes and reflects the truth. Voting age 21 18 The permissive society was embraced in Australia the contraceptive pils introduction of massive student numbers as a political work force. Increasing multiculturalism. The rise of the Whitlams Labour Government ended 2 decades of conservative rule. The old era was at a time of conflict was a new era of change. Quasi-naturalistic Structure: Not a three act structure involving subtext, merely an observation of situation and patter of behaviour. Act 1: Corrupt petty sub-station develops the stereotypes through the comical dialogue and character association. This way, Williamson engages us. Act 2: The environment in which the characters vulnerabilities and repressed insecurities are exposed. They are forced to break the bounds of their stereotypes and confronts their emotions. Alienates us. A great implication for Australians in an era of social changes. Tension:

Put er there, mate

Quotes: Katherine Brisbane the familiarity of the characters captures us, not any dramatic contrivance. Act 2: Absurdism: - Actions that exist as part of a larger repetitive cycle (hinting at the no. of recruits hes broken) Pinteresque: Farce: the confusion of the dead Kenny returning Enters the Removalist, then Ross and Simmonds whose momentum carries him on past a surprised Kenny Kenny keeps being cuffed to different things. Dont cuff him to yourself opens with a long pause constant questions what does your father do for a living Ross Brinksmanship, throughout the entire of act II, w/o warning Simmonds hits Carter savagely in the groin the comedy of the dead Kenny crawling in

False Endings: Entrance of Kenny

Relaxes the audience, change the tension and pace of the piece, subvert the expectations of the audience, which then makes the ending all the more shockings and salient. Black comedy: - gets all depressed and starts swingin uppercuts at himself? The great Australian truth I cant get involved mate. Watches with interest

The Ocker: Aggressive vernacular. Sexual content. Abusive and repetitious. self control is the test of manhood Carter A good arse, but an irritable bitchHer mother all over again the hysterical little tart Kenny: bloody slut

Laugh at him, yet able to associate. Hypocrisy: In my opinion people in responsible positions have a duty to ensure that their behaviour is beyond reproach

The calm before the storm: And the Australian root of mateship Sorry mate What? A welterweight?

Removal of the props: symbolism, removes the Australian image of themselves.

Expressionism: - slow light fade a frenzied ritual of exorcism Set. Lighting The bush tradition, the emotional repressiveness of mateship Realism: Realistic dialogue. Life goes on. Unrealistic realism: No climatic endings

No major revelations 2 D typecast characters

NOTHING HAS CHANGED Simmonds: nothing ever changes boy Norm and Ahmed: We are both able to associate with Norm and Ahmed. Buzo makes this possible through humour, and the association of similar values. This way we see a morph of two contradicting groups of people. Much like the 70s. We find it surprising, yet weve been ignoring the brinksmanship. Irony, because we are so used to it. - rugby Quotes: Buzo everyone assumed the play was a attack on racism, not all the while seeing the irony that he is portraying a mirror image of us. The socially approved outlet of aggression Ian Turner The Ocker: Tug in the gutter, going at it hammer and tongs Gallagher escutcheon

Purpose: move across the stage

Brinksmanship: [circling Ahmed] [grabbing Ahmed by the throat]

Pinteresque: Whats the matter mate? You got a light? You think Im a drunk? The opening: Screws it up and flings it on the ground angrily Excuse me mate Battle of the Wits: - Ahmed didnt stick with his idea. - I fear I must disagree with you there, Norm We shall overthrow them! We demand social justice Norm backs away. Norm attacks with violence. [quickly] Play any sport? Knuckle sandwich Ever played Rugby League Ahmed Toast of Tobruk Not understanding The barbarity of war left a scar on you? Not a scratch.

Ashamed of Australia: Hes at MIT. bitchy nagging inferiority so deeply entrenched into the Australian psyche (David Williamson)

Set: Essentially empty set, yet visible symbols of a landscape undergoing change.

2006 Production - decrepid scene. Opening of a trash can, bus stop, the building background looks magnificent but its unfinished, and the construction set looks unkempt. Black Humour: I wouldnt tell you blokes how to run your country. Id keep it to meself

Stereotypical dress: 2006 traditional Nehru style suit Change: Put er there Nothing changed: Still there, disappeared w/o a trace. Exercise we did in class: To get across the stage. Relevant today: Would be the tendency of the mass media to be the mouthpiece of the big commercial and military interests

Carbon tax. Appropriate: Camden Muslim School Dr Haneef Tampa crisis

Accepted violence AFL stars Rugby stars, raping young girls.