Blackrock

by Nick Enright

It’s Toby Ackland’s birthday party down near the surf club—and that should mean heaps of grog, drugs and good clean fun. But by the morning a young girl is dead—raped by three boys and bashed with a rock. Who is responsible? The boy? The girl? Or the whole town. Blackrock is an intimate and strongly shaped human drama which examines the social forces behind the impulse to violence in individual lives.

Genres: Plays

89 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Sean Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this play is commendable for trying to tackle the issue of toxic masculinity and "boys' club" culture, but the ending is a bit pat. I just find it hard to reconcile an attempt to feel empathy for a boy who witnessed a girl being raped and who just walked away. His pain, his pain! Once again this is the story of a murdered girl who is non-existent in the play and remains a non-entity. Whereas this can be done effectively in other texts as a symbol, it's pretty much infuriating here.

[James Goodliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touched on the deeper effects and repercussions of terrible events which took place in the play in a way which was very dramatic. Makes for an interesting play.

[Nicholas Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and 1/2. This play is horrific. Utter horror. Deplorable young people.

[Mandy Partridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this play at La Boite when it first came out, and remember thinking that it was a very sensitive play about gang rape and murder, written by Nick Enright. The dead girl's friends deal with her horrible demise admirably, but some of them are unable to get past patriarchal thinking and victim blaming. A balanced script, and excellent portrayal of modern youth, who think they are open-minded, but many are stick stuck in varying degrees of misogyny, including self-hatred and survivor guilt.

[Hildaguard Houdini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I could describe this as an ordeal but a worthwhile and interesting and thought provoking experience would be a better way to describe this play. I'm looking forward to studying this in depth in literature class.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, interesting conflict and character drama, but overall would have rathered more solid character arcs/resolutions. Would probably appreciate it more if I saw it performed.

[ariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved how it portrays toxic masculinity & australian identity. The rape and murder was so tragic :(

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very emotional play

[Ashleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me

[Niamh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I studied property of the clan in drama and English, even watched it live, I definitely prefer it to Blackrock. It's a good play but I really don't think it needed to be changed

[Navigator · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure this would be a great play to watch, but analising it was not enjoyable to me. I could say so much about its themes and context, but I honestly don't have the words. I would like to see it preformed before making a final decision. Read for Lit year 11

[Maliyah’s Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

An incredibly accurate portrayal of bro culture and mateship in Australia. However, it’s important to note the family of the girls the play was based off’s family didn’t approve of it, which inherently makes the reading experience irksome