More than we can tell: reflecting on the performing of monologues as a mode of inquiry

Abstract

Many years ago now, in my role as a community theatre artist and neophyte researcher, I was engaged in researching, writing and directing a play based on the stories of a regional town in Queensland, Australia. The stories were all focused on the main industry of the town, the local meatworks. I gathered stories from past and present employees, family members and other residents of the town, and trawled historical documents for interesting facts and anecdotes from the meatworks’ colourful past.