Brothers Wreck
By Jada Alberts
Themes: Grief & Depression, Family, Inequality
Genre: Realism, Drama
Key Scenes: Scene 2, Scene 7 and Scene 11
Number of characters: 5 (2F, 3M)
Age recommendation: 15+ (strong language, suicide and alcohol abuse)
Country: Australia
Original language: English
Description:
Mob can’t survive like that, you can’t survive like that. We gotta talk to each other, as hard as it is, ’cause I guarantee you, that phone will ring and you’ll have to say goodbye again.
Set in an Aboriginal community in modern day Australia, the play assesses the impact of structural inequality and historical racial injustice on a family trying to build a life with dignity and respect.
It begins with a death: on a hot morning under a house in Darwin, Ruben wakes to find his cousin Joe hanging from the rafters. What follows is the story of a family, buffeted by constant tragedy, holding itself together – as their people have done generation after generation. This play asks us: how do we deal with death? And how many other people does it take for each of us to live? Little by little, Ruben’s family brings him back from the edge.
Ultimately the place asks whether communities which are discriminated against can truly move on without the acknowledgement of, and apology for, the severe disadvantage, dispossession and degradation they were subjected to in the past.
The play premiered in Sydney in 2014 under the direction of Leah Purcell. It is a Malthouse co-production with State Theatre Company South Australia.
+ DETAILS
Author(s): Jada Alberts
Language(s): English
Publisher: Currency Press, 2014
World Premiere (in the Engl. lang.): Malthouse co-production with State Theatre Company South Australia. Sydney in 2014
Education Pack Resource Writer: Alia Alzougbi
+ CHARACTERS
RUBIN, early 20s, seemingly untouchable. Rubin is impulsive, quick-witted and sometimes aggressive. He thinks he’s figured out the world and his place in it. Ruben’s mum died when he was young so he was raised by one of his aunties, Adele’s mum.
ADELE, mid 20s, Ruben’s cousin and sister. Adele is dedicated, sure of herself, mostly calm and always loyal. She has a tendency to worry.
JARRED, mid 20s, Adele’s boyfriend. He’s cheeky, thoughtful, and quietly confident.
DAVID, late 30s, Rubin’s counsellor. He is a former teacher who has worked in the Darwin area most of his life.
PETRA, 40s, the youngest of three sisters, she is Rubin and Adele’s auntie.
Mob can’t survive like that, you can’t survive like that. We gotta talk to each other, as hard as it is, ’cause I guarantee you, that phone will ring and you’ll have to say goodbye again.
+ PLAY TEXT BLURB
Mob can’t survive like that, you can’t survive like that. We gotta talk to each other, as hard as it is, ’cause I guarantee you, that phone will ring and you’ll have to say goodbye again.
This play is about life.
It begins with a death: on a hot morning under a house in Darwin, Ruben wakes to find his cousin Joe hanging from the rafters. What follows is the story of a family, buffeted by constant tragedy, holding itself together—as their people have done generation after generation. This play asks us: how do we deal with death? And how many other people does it take for each of us to live? Little by little, Ruben’s family brings him back from the edge.
The play premiered in Sydney in 2014 under the direction of Leah Purcell. It is a Malthouse co-production with State Theatre Company South Australia.
Buy the play text here
