Jane Harrison (playwright)

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Jane Harrison is a descendant of the Muruwari people of NSW, from the area around Bourke and Brewarrina. Jane grew up in the Victorian Dandenongs with her mother and sister. She is a writer and a playwright.

She began her career as an advertising copywriter, before beginning work as a writer with Ilbijerri Theatre Company. Her most well-known work is Stolen, which received critical claim, and has toured nationally and internationally.

Tackling the issue the Stolen Generations, Stolen premiered at the Playbox Theatre, Melbourne in 1998, and has had productions every year since - in Melbourne and country Victoria, Sydney, Adelaide, and Tasmania, the UK (twice), Hong Kong and Tokyo, along with readings in Canada and New York ( 2004). In Sydney, it was performed at the Sydney Theatre Company, directed by Wayne Blair.

Rainbow's End, or Rumbalara tells the simple, yet complicated story of three generations of Aboriginal women; young Dolly, her mother the happy-go-lucky Gladys, and the wise and stern Nan Dear, living in their shanty perched on the flats of the Goulburn River in 1950s regional Victoria. The play was directed by Wesley Enoch.

In 2002 Jane was awarded the University of Melbourne's Kate Challis RAKA Award. Stolen has been on the Victorian Certificate of Education English list since 2002.

[edit] Plays

  • Stolen
  • Rainbow's End