I did begin to feel at a disadvantage for not having heard or read this story prior to seeing the performance, as to me the framework of the play being about institutionalised children didn’t quite align with the 75 minute story I had seen as a standalone piece of work. There were moments that even with narration it was difficult to place how much time had passed or where we sat in timeline, however the events that took place and their effects were still clear. In such a short run time however, time is a precious commodity, and the time lost to initial confusion left me feeling like I had missed an important moment to connect more with the people who’s story I was watching unfold. It's a somewhat bittersweet ending, as we do see Peter eventually reunite with his mother and find a new family, however we are reminded that this is one of many stories of lost children and not all have such a happy ending. I also think this story, and Peter, truly represents the Australian spirit – the resilience to keep pushing on, no matter how dark a place you’re coming from. Still, there are moments of light throughout, and we see the bonds of family and love shown in various ways. This story is an eye-opening glimpse into the very real traumas and shameful history of Australia.
It also touches on many other aspects of Australian life throughout the decades, such as domestic violence and familial abuse, institutionalised children and the Stolen Generation, child abuse, disability and ableism, and cultural strains.
At its heart, the narrative follows the life of Peter and the eventual journey back to his mother, after being taken from her arms as a baby, and his mother’s attempt to reconcile life without her first born after her escape from a violent marriage.
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