Written by George Blazevic & Ingle Knight, Directed by Alan Becher
March 1942. Japan is poised to invade Australia. United States President Roosevelt orders General Douglas MacArthur to leave the Philippines and flee to Australia to lead the fight against the Japanese in the Pacific. In Canberra, Labor Prime Minister John Curtin, nervous and sick, awaits MacArthur’s arrival, hoping that the brilliant strategist has a plan to save his beloved nation from the yellow hordes to the north. Fleeing Bataan however, has left MacArthur at his lowest ebb, defeated and dishonoured…Coming from opposite ends of the political and social spectrum - Curtin, a committed socialist and MacArthur, a conservative general - their relationship would be crucial to the battle for Australia and the Pacific and has had repercussions for Australia’s relationship with the USA ever since. Not much is known of their first meeting - Shadow Of The Eagle explores what might have happened.
Using real footage and images of wartime Australia, The Shadow Of The Eagle has been developed in partnership with the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library (Curtin University) and is the latest work by WA playwrights, George Blazevic (Nevesinska 17) and Ingle Knight (The Getaway Bus).
For further information regarding JCPML's involvement with Shadow Of The Eagle please visit their webiste at http://john.curtin.edu.au/events/shadowoftheeagletour.html
JCPML's Museums Australia Award
Congratulations to the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library (JCPML) staff for winning the Museums Australia (WA) Organisational Award for 2004 presented by the Minister for the Arts on Friday 28 May. The award is in recognition of the JCPML's innovative partnership with the Perth Theatre Company, which resulted in the award-winning play Shadow Of The Eagle. Both organizations have worked extremely well together, combining their specific skills, knowledge and resources and applying these to all aspects of the development and production of the play.
The award also acknowledges the JCPML's leadership in undertaking this groundbreaking dramatic partnership between an archives and theatre company. This bold venture has helped the JCPML reach wider public audiences, not only in Western Australia but across the country, as the play toured from Canberra to Darwin in 2004.
The play includes archival film footage and still photographs from the 1940s to enrich the experience for audiences, evoking memories for the older generation and providing a sense of context for younger viewers. Shadow Of The Eagle enables audiences to gain understanding of a great Australian leader, and was an excellent means through which the JCPML could promote and educate the public about Prime Minister John Curtin and the Australian/US relationship.
The strength of this project was the ability of the theatre company to make an exciting interpretation of historical facts - utilising theatre as a medium to engage the audience, lead them to question the historical situation and to inspire them to think about John Curtin and his vision for Australia.
This innovative collaboration between the arts and archives has attracted a lot of positive feedback and attention, and it is gratifying to have the JCPML's hard work acknowledged by the Museums Australia (WA) award.
http://john.curtin.edu.au/events/awards.html#museumaward
Cast & Crew
- Alan Becher
Director - George Blazevic
Playwright - Michelle Dado
Costume and Set Designer - Geoff Kelso
Actor - Ingle Knight
Playwright - Michael Loney
Actor - Graham Walne
Lighting Designer
