Children of the Black Skirt

Three lost children discover an abandoned orphanage in the bush and become trapped in a timeless world, haunted by spirits of the past and tormented by the ominous Black Skirt, a cruel governess harbouring a mysterious past. The children begin to listen to the stories of the restless spirits of other children who have passed through the orphanage, and by doing so release the spirits from the tragedies of their pasts. This new gothic fairytale for young people tells a history of Australia through the eyes of children from convict times, the Stolen Generations, World War Two and beyond. An evocative play exploring the themes of history, reconciliation and the power of storytelling; this is Roald Dahl meets Charles Dickens under the harsh Australian sun. Children of the Black Skirt has toured widely through Australian schools and is fast becoming a classroom favourite with teachers and students alike. Includes teachers'' notes written by Adrianne Jones and Michael Boyle.