William Thornhill arrives in New South Wales a convict from the slums of
London. Upon earning his pardon he discovers that this new world offers
something he didn't dare dream of: a place to call his own. But as he
plants a crop and lays claim to the soil on the banks of the Hawkesbury
River, he finds that this land is not his to take. Its ancient
custodians are the Dharug people.
The Secret River, adapted from Kate Grenville's acclaimed novel by
playwright Andrew Bovell, was first performed in January 2013 at the
Sydney Theatre, performed by Sydney Theatre Company.
It has its UK premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival in August
2019, before coming to the National Theatre, London.