No Sugar

No Sugar

• Genre: Drama; Historical; Socio-Political
• Originally Published: 1986
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1000L; high school/adult
• Structure/Length: 2 acts; approximately 114 pages; approximate reading time 2 hours
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The play revolves around the Millimurra-Munday family, who are Aboriginal Australians living during the Great Depression. The central conflict explores their forced relocation from Northam to the Moore River Native Settlement and their subsequent experiences of racism, cultural dislocation, and struggle for survival.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Racism; discrimination; representation of colonial violence and oppression; coarse language, sexual and gender-based violence

Jack Davis, Author

• Bio: Born 1917, died 2000; Aboriginal Australian playwright and poet; from the Noongar people in the southwest of Western Australia; works often address themes of displacement, Aboriginal rights, and racial injustice; played a crucial role in the development of contemporary Indigenous Australian theatre and literature.
• Other Works: The Dreamers (1982); Honey Spot (1987); Barungin (Smell the Wind) (1989)
• Awards: Western Australian Premier's Book Award (1986); Australian Writers’ Guild AWGIE Award for Best Stage Play (1987)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Systematic Racism
• The Importance of Family
• Civilization

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the historical and sociological contexts regarding the colonial legacy, which perpetuates Systematic Racism through Aboriginal discrimination during the Great Depression and incites Joe and Jimmy’s frustration in the play.