Strangers in the Land (play)
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| Strangers in the Land | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Mona Brand |
| Date premiered | November 1952 |
| Place premiered | Unity Theatre, London |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Malayan Emergency |
| Genre | drama |
Strangers in the Land (1952) was a theatrical play written by Australian playwright Mona Brand, and first performed in Britain for the Unity Theatre.[1][2] The play was a form of protest against the British occupation of during the Malayan Emergency, and heavily influenced by the Daily Worker's sympathetic coverage of the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA).[3]
The play was first performed for two months at the Unity Theatre, beginning in November 1952.[2]
Brand wrote the play in response to a BBC transmission about the Malayan Emergency along with the release of the film The Planter's Wife.[4]
Premise
The plot follows a woman called Christine who visits British Malaya to visit her fiancé, only to suffer a mental breakdown when learning of the atrocities committed by British forces.[3] She then hears of atrocities committed against civilians by British forces, including the decapitation of heads, forced internment, restrictions on food, and the destruction of villages.[3]
The entirety of the play takes place within the fiancé's house, with the story being told in the form of discussions and stories being shared in conversations between characters.[3]
Censorship by the Lord Chamberlain
In the UK during this time period the Lord Chamberlain, a title within the Royal Households of the United Kingdom, had the power to ban theatrical productions from commercial stages. However the Unity Theatre circumvented these restrictions to registered members of the theatre, therefore being classified as "private" showings and not commercial.[2]