State Theatre Company Programs.

The Shepherd of the Hills is the classic story of the stranger who takes the Old Trail deep into the Ozark Mountains, many miles from civilization. His appearance signals intellect and culture, yet his countenance is marked by grief and disappointment. What is his purpose in taking on the lowly work of tending local sheep? And how is it that he befriends these simple hill folk, despite his coming from the world beyond the ridges? Mystery and romance envelop this gentle yet compelling story as the identity and purpose of the stranger-turned-shepherd is gradually unveiled.

Penny, returning to Appleton from the big smoke, has always been an outsider. She never cared much about the potato race, but when she discovers that the men's prize is higher than the women's, she decides to do something about it.

In the late 1960s, new theatre companies who had a passion for Australianess, were created in opposition to stuffy, mostly imported theatre of no relevance to themselves. This work gives insights on how the new drama explored Australian themes and issues, in a theatre where the playwright had pride of place.

'Girls, I think your father's dead. I knocked his knees out. I conked his head. I shot that house clown in the neck.' In a dirt-dry town in rural Australia, a shot shatters the still night. A mother and her daughters have just welcomed home the man of the house-with a crack in the shins and a bullet in the neck. The only issue now is disposing of the body. Triggered into thrilling motion by an act of revenge, The Bleeding Tree is rude, rhythmical and irreverently funny. Imagine a murder ballad blown up for the stage, set against a deceptively deadly Aussie backdrop, with three fierce females fighting back.