About the work
Is That You, Ruthie? premiered at QPAC in December 2023. It is a poignant exploration of a mother and daughter’s enduring connection; a deeply moving play that delves into the complex aftermath of the government removal policy that separated a mother (Ruby) and daughter (Ruthie) from 1930 to 1957, leaving scars that could never fully heal.
The adaptation of Dr Ruth Hegarty’s David Unaipon Award-winning novel Is That You, Ruthie? for the stage by Leah Purcell shares a personal and profound chapter of Australia’s truth-telling history. We witness a relationship forever altered by the Government dormitory system’s cruel legacy. Though they tried to rebuild what was lost, the bond between mother and daughter would never be the same.
We bear witness to both of their experiences, chronicling the day they separated, their time enduring the hardships of the dormitory, and their challenging work lives. While there are parallels in their journeys, one narrative delves into more details, eliminating the need to recount similar experiences. Their paths eventually intersect again as they attempt to reconcile and collectively confront their haunting memories with the structure of the play imitating their actual life’s path.
