In the backyard of an Adelaide mosque, an unlikely alliance takes root. Goolie, an Afghan cameleer and mosque caretaker, and Dulcie, a young Aboriginal woman navigating life on Kaurna Country, find common ground through storytelling, cooking and the quiet acts of kinship that become survival when the world presses in from all sides.
This is the premise of Logan St, the sweeping new work from Kaurna and Narungga theatre-maker Jacob Boehme, which opens tomorrow at the Adelaide Festival Centre’s State Theatre. It is a play about the resilience of culture, the cost of silence, and a friendship that begins in a garden where nothing will grow.
Boehme has created an autobiographical work of fiction, one inspired by his own family history and lived experience. The play draws on extensive historical research, conversations with family and community members, and documented events, though it uses the tools of dramatic storytelling to bring these experiences to the stage. Some scenes, dialogue and character interactions have been imagined or combined for theatrical purposes.
Past and present collide
Woven through this contemporary narrative is a haunting second story: that of Munarto, a Kaurna girl who lives through the devastation of colonisation in 1836. As past and present echo and collide across the production, Logan St reveals the threads that connect generations and the spirit of resistance etched into this place.
Boehme has spoken of his intention to honour the enduring strength of his female ancestors, the legacy of the Afghan cameleers who helped build this country, and the quiet acts of defiance that have always existed alongside the louder histories. It is a work that sits comfortably in the tradition of Australian plays that reckon with our past while speaking directly to the present.
Music and atmosphere
The production features original music by Dale Cornelius, with songs created collaboratively by Jacob, Dale and Sonya. Traditional Afghan songs have been provided by Feroz, adding another layer of cultural specificity to a work already rich with it.
Audiences should be prepared for a sensory experience. The production uses native blue bush smoke and rose scents throughout the performance, along with haze and smoke effects. Those with sensitivities to fragrances may wish to consider this before booking. The show also contains violent and sexual references and features complete theatrical blackout.
A detailed “What to Expect” guide is available from the State Theatre website for those who would like more information before attending.
Development and support
Logan St was developed with Major Project Commissioning Support from Create SA, alongside early development support from Creative Victoria. The music element was developed with support from Adelaide City Council, a reminder of how local investment in the arts can help bring ambitious works to fruition.
The production runs for 80 minutes with no interval, a lean running time that speaks to the focused intensity of Boehme’s storytelling.
The details
What: Logan St by Jacob Boehme
Where: State Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Duration: 80 minutes, no interval
Content notes: Contains violent and sexual references, complete theatrical blackout, scents (native blue bush smoke and rose), haze and smoke effects
For South Australians interested in theatre that grapples with who we are and where we have come from, Logan St represents exactly the kind of work our state’s stages should be presenting. It is local in its specificity, universal in its themes, and made by an artist deeply connected to the stories he is telling.
Buy tickets here – statetheatrecompany.com.au
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