Scattered Lives is an invaluable resource to unpack • the audience-actor relationship • transformation of character • performance styles and skills • diversity of forms • playmaking techniques • multiple performance styles • the manipulation of conventions and dramatic elements • how drama can reflect social, political and historical contexts.
CONTACT US
PRODUCTS LIST
Playscript
Scattered Lives is a contemporary Australian work that explores who and what is ‘Australian’. Episodic in form, the play charts situations that have brought people to Australia from the late 1950s to the present day. It juxtaposes 4th-wall naturalism with elements of Brecht and Epic theatre, including direct address. The play provides a dynamic resource to explore the actor-audience relationship. Originally written and performed as a 2-hander, the Scattered Lives published script has over twenty nominated roles, including Narrators who step in and out of the dramatic action. The play includes monologues, duologues, shared-stories and multi-character scenes.
Online Access
Scattered Lives is based on lived experiences and commonality research and draws from the real-life stories of people who have found refuge in Australia. In this highly acclaimed live production, which features shadow-play, two experienced actors play over twenty roles. With the use of a representational prop, a change in body rhythm or subtle vocal variation, in full view of the audience the actors effortlessly transform from one character to another. Students stream the high quality video of the live production logging on with a password. Both the Scattered Lives DVD and the Online Access come with a simple Usage Licence to protect the copyright in the work. Online access is subscription based and lasts for the school-year.
DVD
The live production of Scattered Lives is available as a DVD. The DVD is a key resource for any drama teacher exploring conventions of Brecht, Epic Theatre, Verbatim Theatre or other political or non-linear dramatic forms. This high quality video is professionally shot, edited and the sound fidelity is not compromised. The DVD can be used if the teacher is working virtually via video conferencing systems like Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Students join the virtual classroom as the teacher stops and starts the DVD when necessary. Both the Scattered Lives DVD and the Online Access come with a simple Usage Licence to protect the copyright in the work. NB: Earlier production currently only available on DVD. Online Access is the most recent production.
PRODUCTION RESOURCE NOTES AVAILABLE
Comprehensive Production Resource Notes available digitally with your order.
Topics covered include: the form, content, the writing process and the production.
Written by AWGIE Award winning writer Sally McKenzie, Scattered Lives is episodic in form. Narrators introduce duologues, monologues and multi-character scenes as they step out of the action to directly address the audience.
Both the Scattered Lives play and production were included on the VCE Drama Playlists in 2014 and 2019. The play is a Queensland Senior Drama Syllabus suggested text.
‘It’s a fast-moving, intense, challenging and remarkably poignant play’. The Advertiser, Adelaide.
PURCHASING INFO
Playscript
- discounts for multiple copies
- revised edition
- express post satchel
- ongoing resource
- postage & packaging at cost
Online Access
- video of live performance
- video is streamed
- professionally shot & edited
- high quality images & sound
- subscription-based
- current production
DVD
- video of live performance
- ongoing resource
- professionally shot & edited
- express post postage
- use with video conferencing
- earlier production only available
TEACHER REVIEWS
‘I bought the DVD. Fantastic show’. ‘I can highly recommend this production’. ‘My students love this play’. ‘The show was moving, funny, poignant and relevant. Loved it’! ‘We use the DVD. Great analysis for conventions’. ‘Should be compulsory for every high school student’! ‘A deeply meaningful and moving piece of theatre’.