MAGPIE

I peck at myself and peck at myself till there’s no feathers left. I tell myself to stop it, I say stop pecking at yourself, pecking and pecking like some demented budgie in a cage on the veranda, half bald and unfit to be seen, pecking itself to death. Stop it, just stop it. But I’m like a fiend.

Magpie was co-written by Richard Frankland and Melissa Reeves and directed by Andrea James for Melbourne Workers Theatre. It was about the relationship between aboriginal people and white people in Australia, growing up, going to school together, living together. It explored our ingrained attitudes, racism, fear, guilt, financial inequity and friendship. We had a terrific week-long workshop with the director, performers and writers, and then collaborated on the script.

PRODUCTIONS:

Melbourne Workers Theatre, Melbourne Town Hall, 2001