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Summer of the Aliens
Louis Nowra is a well-known Australian playwright. He has also written fim scripts and for television.
84 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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About the author
Louis Nowra
54 books40 followersLouis Nowra (born 12 December 1950) is an Australian writer, playwright, screenwriter and librettist. His most significant plays are Così, Byzantine Flowers, Summer of the Aliens, Radiance, and The Golden Age. In 2007 he completed the The Boyce Trilogy for Griffin Theatre Company, consisting of The Woman with Dog's Eyes, The Marvellous Boy and The Emperor of Sydney. Many of his plays have been filmed.[1]
He was born as Mark Doyle in Melbourne. He changed his name to Louis Nowra in the early 1970s. He studied at Melbourne's La Trobe University without earning a degree. In his memoir, The Twelfth of Never, Nowra claimed that he left the course due to a conflict with his professor on Patrick White's The Tree of Man. He worked in several jobs and lived an itinerant lifestyle until the mid-1970s when his plays began to attract attention.
His radio plays include Albert Names Edward, The Song Room, The Widows and the five part The Divine Hammer aired on the ABC in 2003.[2]
In March 2007, Nowra published a controversial book on violence in Aboriginal communities, Bad Dreaming.
Nowra has been studied extensively in Veronica Kelly's work The Theatre of Louis Nowra.
He resides in Sydney with his wife, author Mandy Sayer.
From Wikipedia
He was born as Mark Doyle in Melbourne. He changed his name to Louis Nowra in the early 1970s. He studied at Melbourne's La Trobe University without earning a degree. In his memoir, The Twelfth of Never, Nowra claimed that he left the course due to a conflict with his professor on Patrick White's The Tree of Man. He worked in several jobs and lived an itinerant lifestyle until the mid-1970s when his plays began to attract attention.
His radio plays include Albert Names Edward, The Song Room, The Widows and the five part The Divine Hammer aired on the ABC in 2003.[2]
In March 2007, Nowra published a controversial book on violence in Aboriginal communities, Bad Dreaming.
Nowra has been studied extensively in Veronica Kelly's work The Theatre of Louis Nowra.
He resides in Sydney with his wife, author Mandy Sayer.
From Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 19, 2013
Hands down this is the best play I've read (and part performed for that matter). I can understand the negative comments though, to an extent.
The first time I read it I wasn't overly impressed. I read it because I had to for my year 12 drama class. It seemed quite simple, childish almost. But of course in having to part-perform it I had to re-read it constantly, and try to really understand the characters. And what I found in doing this is that the subtext is really quite intense. There is a lot more going on in Nowra's play than it first seems. The issues are quite serious, but they're hidden behind young characters who downplay the otherwise very powerful content.
Certainly a play that needs a second or third read, unless you're very good at reading between the lines!
The first time I read it I wasn't overly impressed. I read it because I had to for my year 12 drama class. It seemed quite simple, childish almost. But of course in having to part-perform it I had to re-read it constantly, and try to really understand the characters. And what I found in doing this is that the subtext is really quite intense. There is a lot more going on in Nowra's play than it first seems. The issues are quite serious, but they're hidden behind young characters who downplay the otherwise very powerful content.
Certainly a play that needs a second or third read, unless you're very good at reading between the lines!
July 29, 2023
Such a huge amount of wasted potential. The premise behind this could have made for such an interesting story if this had been executed better with characters that were actually well developed. Nowra did a decent job of building up the atmosphere and the setting, and there were a few effective passages towards the end of the script, but for the most part this just fell flat. The consistent racism/homophobia/sexism would have been more impactful if Nowra had done a better job of establishing the themes, which were weak throughout the first 75% of the plot.
June 6, 2013
The term Greek tragedy resonates throughout the play...it's not until the end that you discover the significance. Mark Doyle's version of "our town" by Thornton Wilder...
February 18, 2025
Found this book second-hand, and decided to go in blind. I enjoyed the play for the most part, but felt like the format (play) itself kind of limited the story (reading wise, the play version might be different?)
I really enjoy how Nowra set the scene, it definitely reminded me of the stories that my parents would tell of their childhood. But as I said earlier, due to the format, I think the story was lacking. I wanted more interactions! I think that the characters are so layered and authentic, and I wish that Nowra expanded on their relations to one another.
Spoilers ahead --
I think that the there was a lot of missing emotion from the story. For example that when Brian's dad was showing signs of wanting to kill himself, I didn't really feel anything - I wanted more description on the way he would act or speak. Which I know would likely be shown in a production, but I am still aloud to want more.
In saying that, I wasn't a big fan of the emphasis on sex. The characters are 14, and it made me very uncomfortable at some points. I understand that the author was trying to be realistic about what he experienced as a kid, but still... it felt very icky reading about children wanting/having sex. I didn't really appreciate it.
Yes yes, I know that this is his past, but I just wasn't a fan.
Overall, I did enjoy the interactions of most characters, but there were just some things that I couldn't get over.
I really enjoy how Nowra set the scene, it definitely reminded me of the stories that my parents would tell of their childhood. But as I said earlier, due to the format, I think the story was lacking. I wanted more interactions! I think that the characters are so layered and authentic, and I wish that Nowra expanded on their relations to one another.
Spoilers ahead --
I think that the there was a lot of missing emotion from the story. For example that when Brian's dad was showing signs of wanting to kill himself, I didn't really feel anything - I wanted more description on the way he would act or speak. Which I know would likely be shown in a production, but I am still aloud to want more.
In saying that, I wasn't a big fan of the emphasis on sex. The characters are 14, and it made me very uncomfortable at some points. I understand that the author was trying to be realistic about what he experienced as a kid, but still... it felt very icky reading about children wanting/having sex. I didn't really appreciate it.
Yes yes, I know that this is his past, but I just wasn't a fan.
Overall, I did enjoy the interactions of most characters, but there were just some things that I couldn't get over.
August 30, 2018
Another read for school that I always enjoy. Relatable characters and setting that allows for students today to relate with.
February 3, 2020
A coming of age play that examines the confronting experiences of growing up as if they were like encountering an alien species.
Lewis find himself seeing, feeling and encountering many things/thoughts/emotions that to be honest, are a really strange part of the human psyche. From love and sexuality to hating the familiar and unknown, this play asks: what's more alien - alien species we don't even know exist or the strange feelings humans feel? Good main idea. Slow at times but gets there in the end!
Lewis find himself seeing, feeling and encountering many things/thoughts/emotions that to be honest, are a really strange part of the human psyche. From love and sexuality to hating the familiar and unknown, this play asks: what's more alien - alien species we don't even know exist or the strange feelings humans feel? Good main idea. Slow at times but gets there in the end!
May 15, 2011
I'm not much of a play reader and I never have been. Studying Shakespeare and Sophocles in High School was always bothersome to me. I liked the plays, but I could never quite grasp them. They never felt real to me. I didn't have vivid images of the characters the way I do reading prose. In short, the words never left the page and became a living, breathing world.
Enter Louis Nowra's Summer of the Aliens. A delightful read and a book I cannot fault. Every character is unique and attractive in their own way, and all it takes is dialogue to present wonderful depictions of the inhabitants of this world. It did probably help that I've lived in Australia all my life and could relate to the setting, but aside from that, this play is a must-read, especially for any skeptics of the style.
I'll be looking out for more Nowra in the future. I believe he is a very special writer. Poignant doesn't satisfyingly describe his writing style, but it's a start.
Enter Louis Nowra's Summer of the Aliens. A delightful read and a book I cannot fault. Every character is unique and attractive in their own way, and all it takes is dialogue to present wonderful depictions of the inhabitants of this world. It did probably help that I've lived in Australia all my life and could relate to the setting, but aside from that, this play is a must-read, especially for any skeptics of the style.
I'll be looking out for more Nowra in the future. I believe he is a very special writer. Poignant doesn't satisfyingly describe his writing style, but it's a start.
September 10, 2015
I read this play as apart of my drama class, and I'd honestly recommend it to anyone wanting a new play to read. The story was enjoyable, the characters likable and the setting was imaginable. Even though it was a book I had to read for an assignment, it's honestly going to stay one of my favourite plays for a long time.
January 6, 2014
I was lucky enough to see this when I was a teenager. Everything resonated with me and my friends. I'd say it was in the top ten plays I've ever seen. Memorable characters, a clear meaningful concepte/themes and helarious. Enjoyed reading it again recently.
April 3, 2014
I only read this because I had to. If I didn't have to, I wouldn't. It's weird. Didn't like it at all. But thanks anyways.
September 19, 2013
Not my Favourite of Louis's. But still enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews