Definition
The Turning is a stage play written by Australian playwright Bill McCluskey. It is an adaptation of The Turning, a collection of interconnected short stories by Tim Winton, and dramatizes the lives of several characters in Western Australia from the 1970s to the early 2000s.
Overview
Premiered in 2008, the play was first staged by the Perth Theatre Company at the Playhouse Theatre in Perth as part of the Perth International Arts Festival. Directed by Steve Jodrell, the production featured a cast of actors who assumed multiple roles, reflecting the interwoven narrative structure of Winton’s original work. The story follows Vic Lang, the son of an honest police officer, as he navigates personal and societal turmoil against the backdrop of drug trafficking, corrupt law enforcement, and familial conflict in the fictional town of Angelus (an allusion to Albany, Western Australia). The narrative expands to the year 2000, exploring the lingering impact of past events on Vic’s marriage.
Etymology / Origin
The title The Turning derives directly from Tim Winton’s 2005 short‑story collection of the same name. In both the literary source and the play, “turning” evokes moments of pivotal change or transformation in the characters’ lives. The play’s subtitle is not used; it is commonly referenced simply as The Turning (play) to distinguish it from the book and later film adaptation.
Characteristics
- Adaptation Structure: The script integrates several of Winton’s short stories as discrete scenes, preserving the original titles (e.g., “Abbreviation,” “Damaged Goods,” “Boner McPharlin’s Moll,” “Immunity,” “On Her Knees,” “Reunion,” “Commission”).
- Temporal Scope: Spanning three decades (1970–2001), the play examines social change in a regional Australian setting, emphasizing themes of crime, corruption, family loyalty, and personal redemption.
- Multi‑role Casting: Actors portray multiple characters, a device that underscores the interconnectedness of the narratives and mirrors the fluid perspective of the source material.
- Design Elements: Original production design included set and costume work by Sam Hobbs, lighting by Joseph Mercurio, composition by Iain Grandage, sound design by Kingsley Reeve, and image design by Jon Green, contributing to a stylized yet grounded visual environment.
- Performance History: After its 2008 debut, the play has been referenced in discussions of contemporary Australian theatre and noted for its faithful yet inventive translation of literary form to stage.
Related Topics
- Tim Winton (author of the source short‑story collection)
- Bill McCluskey (playwright)
- Perth International Arts Festival (commissioning body)
- Australian drama and stage adaptations of literature
- Perth Theatre Company (original producing company)
- Contemporary Australian theatrical design and multi‑role performance practices
References
- “The Turning (play).” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turning_(play) (accessed 2024).