The 7 Stages of Grieving

2020 marked the 20th anniversary of the Harbour Bridge Walk for Reconciliation, where the word “Sorry” was written across the sky; an event recounted in Deborah Mailman and Wesley Enoch’s beloved 1995 Australian play. Much has changed since then, but not enough.

In this updated production, Shari Sebbens (Black Comedy, Thor: Ragnarok) directs Helpmann Award winner Elaine Crombie (Barbara and the Camp Dogs, Top of the Lake) in a tour de force performance tracing seven phases of Aboriginal history – Dreaming, Invasion, Genocide, Protection, Assimilation, Self-Determination and Reconciliation.

Defiantly funny and deeply moving, The 7 Stages of Grieving paints an intimate portrait of the First Nations experience in contemporary Australia. An ode to the power of storytelling itself and a potent but joyful expression of resilience and survival that we need now more than ever.

A Sydney Theatre Company production presented by State Theatre Company South Australia.