No Sugar and its Relationship to Australian Social and Cultural Context Olivia Clare 12th Grade

Theatre reflects the society from which it springs, and in the case of No Sugar by Jack Davis (1986) this reflection is an exploration of cultural and social issues of Australian society. Although written later, Jack Davis’ commissioned play is set in Western Australian during the Great Depression of the 1920’s and 1930’s, known to Australian history as ‘The Assimilation Period’. No Sugar attempts to provide light on this dark part of Australia’s past in both a humorous and tragic way, educating its audience on the importance of Aboriginal family relationships and kinship with the environment, and the extent to which European invasion affected this. The play also gives an insight into the life of an Aboriginal during this time, the injustices they faced, and their positive but predominantly negative interactions with white Australians. To connect thoroughly to an audience and to highlight the thematic notions of this Australian play, it is essential for it to transform into a theatrical productions through thoughtful staging and performing.

No Sugar is a didactic play, attempting to educate the audience of Aboriginal culture, which includes the importance of family and maintaining culture and tradition. The opening scene of the...