Playwright and Performer Kate Mulvany reflects on her journey to adapting D’Arcy Niland's The Shiralee.
After adapting Ruth Park’s Harp in the South trilogy and Playing Beatie Bow for the Sydney Theatre Company, there was one more story I yearned to explore - The Shiralee by D’Arcy Niland, who was Ruth’s husband.
Niland’s extraordinarily dark and desolate novel pre-dated Cormac McCarthy’s celebrated father-child pilgrimage The Road by 50 years. Niland’s novel is a violent exploration of the Australian male psyche told through the lens of a swagman named Macauley who snatches his daughter Buster out of spite and concern and now finds himself stuck with this burden - his “shiralee”.
Despite the horrific murk of Niland’s book, most iterations have been rather golden in nature - they temper down Macauley’s brutal view of the world and focus instead on what he teaches his daughter Buster in their time in the outback. But in this new stage adaptation, I wanted to shift the lens once again and return to the lurking violence of Niland’s book and acknowledge what Buster teaches her father in their time on the road together.
The Shiralee you are about to experience is the story of a child courageously challenging the norms expected of them. This play explores, from Buster’s unique perspective, what it is to walk through the world as a girl surrounded by violence. Buster may only be a mere speck in the vast Australian landscape, but she is endlessly curious, funny and wise, and has her own giant world of ideas growing inside her own mind and heart. It is also the story of Mac, who was forced to become an adult before his time, and now must learn to accept the broken child within. And it is the story of community - the friendships that can and should be celebrated in this incredible ancient country we are so lucky to call home.
In this play, I have also woven in aspects of my own childhood with my father Danny - a silently raging Vietnam War veteran road worker - who would often take me “out bush” with him in rural Western Australia. These trips could see us rescue a joey from its dead mother’s pouch, stumble across a country wedding, and witness a brutal bar fight in the same day, before curling up in a ute tray as the sun set over the west coast. These magical and malevolent trips have stayed with me always, so it’s little wonder that the story of Buster and Mac and everyone they meet is so close to my heart. So this one’s for you, Dad.
I am so honoured to bring this retelling of D’Arcy Niland’s book to the stage, as well as return as an actor to the STC boards after 17 years. I hope The Shiralee will have everyone, no matter who they are, rejoicing their inner Buster and reaching out to any lost Macs and realising that some burdens can also save you.
My gratitude to the astoundingly brilliant team of creative swaggies who have brought this adaptation to life, especially Jess Arthur. We have walked, run, danced and sang the long dusty road together to bring this to you, and we’re so glad you’ve joined us on the road.
Use yer boots. Enjoy.
The Shiralee is on stage at Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House until 29 Nov.
Photo: Prudence Upton.