What I Wrote: Katherine Thomson A STUDY GUIDE by KATY MARRINER Snodger Media and Ronin Films http://www.theeducationshop.com.au Introduction the screenplay for the film Unfolding Florence – The Many Lives of Florence This study guide to accompany What Broadhurst. She has been Vice-Pres- I Wrote: Katherine Thomson has been ident of the Australian Writers’ Guild written for senior secondary students. and President of Sydney PEN. It provides information and sugges- tions for learning activities in English, About the filmmakers Literature, Theatre Studies and Drama. Dr Tess Brady – Presenter What I Wrote: Katherine Thomson is a Dr Tess Brady is a highly respected short film about Australian playwright editor, researcher and teacher of writ- Katherine Thomson. Dr Tess Brady in- ing at university level. She was the terviews Thomson and provides a criti- co-founding editor of the international cal introduction to Harbour, Answered online scholarly journal TEXT and has by Fire, Mavis Goes to Timor and published children’s picture books, Wonderlands. What I Wrote: Katherine adult radio drama, crime fiction, short Thomson also includes a discussion of stories and popular non-fiction. Her some of Thomson’s other plays and an most recent publication is Creative investigation of her approach to writing Writing: Theory beyond practice, with for the stage. Nigel Krauth. What I Wrote: Katherine Thomson Catherine Gough-Brady – is one title from a four-part series Director spotlighting Australian playwrights. Catherine Gough-Brady is a documen- The series offers students information tary filmmaker. She has made works about the ideas and processes of the for a variety of media. Gough-Brady playwrights, as well as the opportunity has produced and directed educational to hear what the playwrights have to videos and web sites. Her ‘docugame’ say about their work. Other titles avail- Docks Dispute <http://www.docks able in the What I Wrote series include: dispute.com> is currently used in tertiary management and industrial • What I Wrote: Matt Cameron relations courses. • What I Wrote: Louis Nowra • What I Wrote: Hannie Rayson Using What I Wrote: Katherine Thomson in the Further information about the series classroom can be found at <http://www. whatiwrote.com.au>. The writer’s context Katherine Thomson ‘Katherine isn’t interested in the high and mighty.’ Katherine Thomson is an Australian – Dr Tess Brady playwright and screenwriter. She began her career as an actor with the • As you view What I Wrote: Katherine Australian Theatre for Young People Thomson, compile a list of state- in 1969. After writing her first play A ments that describe Thomson’s Change in the Weather, Thomson was place in society. commissioned by Film Australia to write the film adaptation. Thomson’s • Use the internet, critical essays and theatre works include Diving for Pearls, commentaries to compile a detailed Harbour, Navigating, Barmaids, Mavis summary of the contexts that shape Goes to Timor and Wonderlands. Thomson’s work as a playwright. She has also written extensively for Discuss your findings with others in television. Her television screenplay the class. credits include Grass Roots, Wildside, Blackjack, Halifax f.p., Fallen Angels, • Drawing on one of Thomson’s plays, G.P. and Something in the Air. Thom- determine how Thomson’s experi- son was the co-writer of the television ence of and attitudes to the world in series Answered by Fire and wrote which she lives have influenced the construction of the text. Work in a Critical perspectives • In 1999, after twenty-five years of small group to complete the analysis. forced occupation, East Timor won Use the internet, critical commentar- Develop a PowerPoint presentation the right to vote for independence ies and reviews to arrive at a detailed to communicate this information to from Indonesia. The United Nations knowledge and understanding of the the class. sent in a group of volunteers to critical reception of Thomson’s writ- supervise and protect the ballot. ing. What viewpoints do you support? Views and values They promised the East Timorese What viewpoints do you refute? • Drawing on What I Wrote: Katherine that they would stay after the vote, Thomson and your knowledge of The plays regardless of the outcome. It was a Thomson’s plays, make a list of the promise they couldn’t keep. Answered by Fire issues that Thomson has brought to audiences’ attention. Mark Waldman is an Australian police- Use electronic and print texts to man who volunteers for the United investigate East Timor’s vote for in- • Do you think Thomson’s plays have Nations Mission in East Timor. When dependence and the consequences the power to influence people’s he is put in charge of the Civilian Police of this bid for freedom. response to real world events and at the UN base in Nunura, he meets issues? Julie Fortin, a Canadian policewoman • The hero heads home – without on her first overseas mission, and the girl. Was this the ending you • Thomson is interested in writing Ismenio Soares, a Timorese translator expected? plays about people and how they assigned to work with the unit. When deal with change. Her plays are the vote is in favour of independence, • ‘Answered by Fire is a story of faith, about how ordinary people respond the Indonesian military and its militias fear and the extraordinary strength to social, economic and political cause chaos. The UN evacuates, forc- of the human spirit.’ What moments change. Thomson invites her audi- ing Mark and Julie to abandon Ismenio and statements in the play show this ences to consider what happens and his family. to be true? when the personal collides with the bigger issues. Drawing on the play Answered by Fire is inspired by real Harbour that you are studying, create an an- stories. Thomson co-wrote the A dying of ideals. A confusion about notated visual display that explores television mini-series with Canadian the future.’ Thomson’s portrayal of change. writer Barbara Samuels. – Dr Tess Brady • The dissident walks through Thom- • Watch Answered by Fire. What were Harbour is set during the 1998 Pat- son’s plays – the whistleblower, the your favourite scenes? Why? rick Dispute. The play documents the unionist and the activist occupy her drama of the dispute: the picket lines, stage. Complete a detailed analysis • Drawing on pertinent quotations from the covert training of ex-army person- of one of Thomson’s dissidents. Turn Answered by Fire, generate a discus- nel in Dubai, the midnight takeover of your analysis into a monologue in sion of the mini-series portrayal of the wharves by balaclava-clad guards which the character articulates his or the political and the personal stories. with guns and dogs and the training of her views and values. a scab labour force. Thomson uses this backdrop to tell the difference.’ Discuss this assessment story of a wharfie family. Sandy hasn’t of Mavis Goes to Timor by drawing been home for six years. He returns to on moments and statements from find his family divided. His wife doesn’t the play. want to know him and his children have not only grown up but have Wonderlands grown away from his political values. ‘Old friends are facing new animosi- The world has changed and Sandy ties.’ isn’t sure about where he stands. – Dr Tess Brady • Thomson’s characters are flawed ‘This is a play about history. About how but that is what makes them human. history shapes us, how we become our Compile a profile for one of own history.’ Thomson’s characters. Use moments – Dr Tess Brady and statements from the play to describe and explain the character’s Wonderlands is a play about belong- nature and behaviour. ing. Thomson portrays the complexity of ownership and inheritance. What I • As the funeral pyre catches fire, what Wrote: Katherine Thomson else goes up in flames? acknowledges that Thomson wanted her audience to feel tugged between a • The Federal Government and Patrick battle of histories. were united in their decision to smash the Maritime Union of The Yirralong people have lodged a na- Australia. Use print and electronic tive title claim for their ancestral land. media texts to investigate the dis- Lon, a third-generation pastoralist fears pute and how it polarized the nation. that his dream of passing the family property Ambertrue on to his son-in- • ‘Harbour is a vivid exploration of law will be destroyed. family, belief and identity.’ Is this how you see the play? • ‘This is history, Sandra, history. Bit of advice. Lugging history on your Mavis Goes to Timor back’s a sure-fire way to become a Mavis Taylor was an 86-year-old grand- pain in the neck.’ mother and retired haberdasher when she decided to take affirmative action Use this quotation to begin the class’ and help alleviate the suffering of the discussion of Wonderlands. Timorese. Thomson’s play Mavis Goes to Timor portrays what happens when • Brady suggests that Alice is too Mavis takes her sewing machines to much of a ‘goodie goodie’ for her Timor. She confronts the devastation liking. What’s your opinion of Alice? caused by the military occupation, disregards the bureaucratic red tape • ‘We have to find new ways to move and does not give in to self-doubt. forward.’ Is this the message of Wonderlands? Thomson created Mavis Goes to Timor with Angela Chaplin and Kavisha Maz- Diving for Pearls zella. ‘A play about change and how we cope with it.’ • Thomson’s play was inspired by a – Dr Tess Brady documentary called Mavis Goes to Timor. View the documentary. What An industrial plant is closing down not moments of the documentary do you because it is inefficient or the com- find inspiring? pany is running at a loss, but because the site has become prime real estate • ‘Mavis’ story is an affirmation that value.