The Dreamers is a play

Play (theatre)

A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...

 written by Jack Davis

Jack Davis (playwright)

Jack Davis , was a notable Australian 20th Century playwright and poet, also an Indigenous rights campaigner. He was born in Western Australia, in the small town of Yarloop, and lived in Fremantle towards the end of his life. He was of the Aboriginal Noongar people, and much of his work dealt with...

. The play is set in Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

. The story takes place over a period of six months in the home of the Wallitch family. It was first performed on 2 February 1982 by the Swan River Stage Company at the Dolphin Theatre, Perth. Although first performed in 1982, the play is contemporary and can be understood in a current context.

The play maintains an elegiac tone throughout for a tribal past, for a people one physically and spiritually in harmony with their world.

Jack Davis wrote this play to influence public opinion and bring about improvement in the Aboriginal situation.

Characterisation

The play features the following characters:

• Worru - An old Aboriginal
• Dolly - Niece of Worru
• Meena - Daughter of Dolly (age 14)
• Shane - Son of Dolly (age 12)
• Roy - Husband of Dolly
• Eli - a cousin
• Peter - Dolly's son (age 18)
• Darren - a white boy, (age 12 approx.)