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Great Emu War, The
An Imagined Version of a True Event

  • Xavier Coy
  • Full Length Play, Comedy, 1930s
  • 5M, 2F
  • ISBN: OT-12984

It's 1932 in Warralakin, Western Australia. The Australian Government has given land to veterans who returned to Australia after the First World War. There’s a problem however, the emu.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Comedy

  • Time Period: 1930s
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult
  • Set Requirements: Bare Stage/Simple Set, Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: Strong Language

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups, College Theatre / Student
It's 1932 in Warralakin, Western Australia. The Australian Government has given land to veterans who returned to Australia after the First World War. There’s a problem however, the emu. Emus are running wild and destroying wheat crops all throughout Western Australia. The Royal Australian Artillery send two Privates – Kelly and Brown – along with five thousand rounds of ammunition and a Lewis Machine Gun to start the cull on the farm of Clementine and Billy Westlake. 

As winning the war effort begins to look more and more unlikely The Royal Australian Artillery send out reinforcements and a tank in order to cull the emus. Can the might of The Royal Australian Artillery take down the strange looking native bird or will the bird fight back?

To read a sample of the script, CLICK HERE.
Author's Note: Based on, perhaps the most ridiculous story in Australian history, The Great Emu War is ripe for satire. When I read about the true story of The Royal Australian Artillery being sent out to WA to wage war on an animal that is on our coat of arms I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Not only did it seem like an insane waste of resources but it spoke to a deeper issue that we are facing in the world right now, climate change. For me this story was about Man vs Nature. There is no way for the people who populate the planet to overcome the might of Mother Nature. 

I wanted to give a voice to the animals. We, of course, have intruded on their natural habitat and had the arrogance to believe that we can destroy anything to get what we want. 

The Great Emu War is a satire of many elements of Australian society. I wanted to explore, among many things, the fragility of the male ego and masculinity and our relationship with alcohol. On a global level I wanted to satirize the frivolous attitude we have when it comes time to go to war. 

Characters

  • Casting: 5M, 2F

  • BILLY WESTLAKE - M, 40s
    MAJOR G.P.W. MEREDITH - M, 50s
    CLEMENTINE WESTLAKE / KERRY-ANNE - F, 40s
    PRIVATE DOUGLAS BROWN / RON - M, 30s
    PRIVATE NEVILLE KELLY / DON - M, 20s
    COLONEL WARWICK KATTER / STEVE - M, 40s
    REGINALD / REGINA TURNER / PRISCILLA - F, 20s

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Great Emu War, The Script This is optional. Order Now

    It's 1932 in Warralakin, Western Australia. The Australian Government has given land to veterans who returned to Australia after the First World War. There’s a problem however, the emu. Emu’s are running wild and destroying wheat crops all throughout Western Australia. The Royal Australian Artillery send two Privates – Kelly and Brown – along with five thousand rounds of ammunition and a Lewis Machine Gun to start the cull on the farm of Clementine and Billy Westlake.

    As winning the war effort begins to look more and more unlikely The Royal Australian Artillery send out reinforcements and a tank in order to cull the emus.  Can the might of The Royal Australian Artillery take down the strange looking native bird or will the bird fight back?

    		$24.95

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