HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING
The town of Heywood is situated in South Western Victoria between Hamilton and Portland. The area discussed in the play was settled by the Scots, Irish and Germans in the middle of the nineteenth century. The latter two lived mainly within their own communities. The area surrounding Port Fairy is still distinctively Irish, while the Tarrington district has maintained it’s German origins. The rest is a mixture of Anglo-Celtic people, a large percentage of whom were Scots.
During the period of the play there were a number of Lutheran Churches who conducted their services in German. Students attending Lutheran Schools were taught in German before lunch and in English after lunch. Religious instruction and prayers were also conducted in German. There was a large Aboriginal Mission at Condah. Chinese Market Gardeners grew and supplied fresh vegetables for the district.
Into this cultural mix, hawkers of many nationalities were introduced. These Hawkers were mainly Indian and predominantly Sikh. This is the story of just one of them.
ABOUT THIS BOOK
A Young Sikh Hawker died in Heywood Victoria, at the beginning of the twentieth century – his brother arrives in town to cremate him.
What do the town people think about this?
What do they do?
How do they respond?
A few songs, some jokes and pathos.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Len Kenna This is Len’s second Play, his first Play “The Putting-down of Ned Kelly” has been produced three times in the last five years. In it’s last season the Play was included on the VCE Drama Playlist in Victoria and after a season in Melbourne it toured a number of country Towns.
Both the Kelly Play and “It Happened in Heywood” reflect his main interests, which are a love of Australian History, the bush, and Australian life in general. Much of his understanding of the subject matter for his plays was gathered while travelling to various parts of Victoria in his horse and cart, collecting material for his poetry and short stories.
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Painting Night Performance: by Crystal Jordan
First Performance was a Night Performance at The Moat Theatre LaTrobe University.
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