Black Diggers

Black Diggers is the must-see show from the Brisbane Festival - the compelling and untold story of the indigenous soldiers who fought for their country in World War I.

Written by Tom Wright and directed by Wesley Enoch, the painstakingly researched QTC production tells how Aboriginal men, who were downtrodden and shunned at home, stepped up to enlist in the Great War along with other patriotic men from Australia and around the world.

Despite the fact that they had been banned from serving in the military they persisted and eventually succeeded in their quest to go and ‘defend the free world’, which was ironic considering their own lives at home were shackled by racism and oppression.

Indeed, at a time when they were unable to vote, segregated and having their own children removed from their lives, the horrors of war on a beach at Gallipolli were perceived as hardly being worse and even an escape from the dark depths of racism.

When they returned from war, there was no acknowledgement, no heroes welcome and at home the status quo remained – the level of racism and oppression they slid back into remained.

The story of these forgotten men, of their honour and sacrifice, was compiled from in-depth interviews with families and descendants of Black Diggers, veterans, academics and historians.

And with it finally being told via this extraordinary play, after almost a century has passed, finally we shall remember them.

Buy tickets here