The 7 Stages of Grieving

by Wesley Enoch

Genres: Plays, Read For School, Fiction, Literature, Teaching, Australia, Theatre

77 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[C.X. Blake · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting. Yet to write my English essay.

[Sahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have to read this for english, and unfortunately its not optimal having to analyse this text through a script when schools want us to analyse the text type as a play.

This book explores the impacts of British colonisation on indigenous Australians, and explores the impacts of systemic racism throughout generations through intergenerational trauma. It is quite a confronting read, and is very heavy at times. Though Enoch tries to alleviate the harsh themes that are explored in some scenes with humour and sarcasm which can be explored in its own sense as repression of grief. Overall this book is a great read, and it really explores the impacts of colonisation as well as pushes the audience to pick up some of the 'baggage' and grief that indigenous Australian's have been holding onto, and share the burden with them, if we want to progress as a society.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: colonisation, racism, police brutality, death in custody, death of a grandparent, Stolen Generations, genocide, death of a loved one, systemic racism

3.5 stars

Extremely powerful and emotional, but I am ten thousand percent sure that reading the script pales in comparison to seeing the play in person.

[Zahra G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't actually seen the play yet, but this was pretty interesting anyways

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

studying this in yr 12 - i think to understand the true meaning and depth you really have to experience it live

[Mandy Partridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deborah Mailman blew the audience away when this play was first performed in Brisbane. This one woman show compared the individual stages of grief, with racial grief for Aboriginal people- Dreaming, Invasion, Genocide, Protection, Assimilation, Self-Determination, and Reconciliation. Co-writers Wesley Enoch and Mailman drew from their own, and their families' experiences through the killing times, the stolen generation, to now, still hoping for Treaties and Land Rights, and an Australia Day for all Australians. This play has seen newer adaptions, since it first went on stage in 1995, and other powerful First Nations actors have played the role. When I see solo shows, I sometimes wonder if it could have been better as a two-hander, and if there is a reason for it being a solo show, other than a cost-saving device.

[Fai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being a book/play off the year 12 booklist, it was surprisingly pretty good! I loved the hidden symbolism hidden throughout each ¿chapter? it made me more attentive to what I was reading and view it more from a ‘bigger picture’ perspective. Lowkey, I feel like I would enjoyed and gained more from watching the play as opposed to reading its script + stageplay, but the use of dark humour and anecdotes was *chefs kiss*.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d love to see this onstage as I feel it’d have more impact. It doesn’t follow traditional play script but is important reading for Indigenous Australian perspectives.

[caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Another book I read for school. Reading it in class lost its appeal for me but looking back on it, I think I liked this book. And don’t even get me started on how I had to hold my tears back after reading “Walking Across Bridges” because that was truly touching. And then again when I reread the scene for the essay I was writing.

Last read: 23/08/22
Second time round was more enjoyable. Suffice to say it’s because I had a more thorough understanding of what I was actually reading. I feel infinitely more sympathetic and I dunno… it was quick and good to add more annotations.

[Clive Parkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scripts are meant to be performed and it’s hard to judge this text - so much is missing from what a live show would generate, from larger design and direction decisions down to the smaller, nuanced elements shared between actor and audience.
It will be interesting to see how this can be “studied” for the VCE...

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the first time you read this it feels strange and slightly annoying. Who enjoys reading a play's script, especially one based on such a visual performance? but the more you read and analyse and once you watched the play, wow, does it come together. Such a powerful and important contemporary piece of Australian theatre. I'd definitely recommend all Australians to really READ this and try to get the deeper meaning. Shout out to my English teacher #mrs B (vce trauma)

[Bec]

The school is doing this for Year 12 next year - it would definitely be better seeing it performed - its hard just reading it.

[mariam ˚⋅˖* ⊱❀⊰ *˖⋅˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have enjoyed it more had I watched the play

[Sara-Rose Lock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ummmm... Well, this book is a school book so three stars is quite a good rating considering I usually hate my school books. It was so short which was nice. I think I finished it in about an hour. I have never read a book like this before. It was in a theatre script sort of format which was interesting. I felt a bit sad afterwards because of how people have treated Aboriginal people. I liked how this book was written from many different Aboriginals' perspectives. It helped to make the book feel authentic and I feel like I understand more of the discrimination Aboriginal people have faced through the stolen generation and continue to face.

[Jane Milton]

The seven stages refer to dreaming, invasion, genocide, protection, assimilation, self determination and reconciliation- and the play suggests that these apply both to personal grief and the grief of First Nations people. This is a really important and interesting idea, but as a play it’s a bit hard to rate as I’ve only read through the play and it’s clear that you’d need to see it performed. It would also require an absolute genius like Mailman to carry it off as it’s a one woman show. It’s a strange choice for the VCE text list.

[s · Rating 4 out of 5]

studying this in school- this play has such a meaningful message.. it really draws on the experiences that not many talk about which really brings into perspective how others a treated, which is so heartbreaking

[crispy bits · Rating 4 out of 5]

as with most plays read for school, I truly believe not being able to see it live is doing such a disservice to the students. My school is currently studying this book for Y10 english and while it is good, reading it on its own doesn't capture the magic that I'm sure the stage does.

[mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

had to read this for school (thanks vcaa) but definitely one of my favourite text to be assigned ever.

i love the symbolism and the blunt way Enoch & Mailman portray the harsh realities of Indigenous Australians over decades of time. really want to see the play though !!

[Shareen Khan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The invasion poem really got to me… loved that… but that was about it.. my eyes were closing throughout the entire Nobel so it took me 20mins to finish it instead of like 15mins…

I do appreciate the message that was being conveyed to us, the readers🫶

[Alicia Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful example of indigenous Australian truth-telling that has stood the test of time.

I would have loved to see the play. I think some of the content of this is even more relevant in the year 2025.

[Sarah Leavesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, beautiful and incredible. I would love to see this in performance.

[Jaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this is one of those things that would be more impactful when performed, as opposed to just read as text.

[Maryam Hussain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it’s 3.5 stars...

[Chris Lindert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The feelings expressed in this script are powerful. Seeing the play would, I’m sure, be much better.

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reading.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for VCE marking. Interesting and very quick read, looking at the experiences of Aboriginal people since white people arrived. Would be interesting to see it performed.

[Abigel Wright · Rating 1 out of 5]

At least it was succinct, maybe it would be better in person, but it doesn't do anything remotely new. The points it made were reasonable but I just felt like I was reading 'Stolen' again.

[Stefani Nguyen · Rating 2 out of 5]

read it in year 12

[Lilly Gleeson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is beautifully written stage production, but reading it is different to seeing the performance played out on stage.

[zara · Rating 3 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book-even though i have to aggressively study it for VCE English and it's in a play format (which i thought i wouldn't enjoy-) this book really was worth the read :)