Krubi of the Illawarra

Radio show

Krubi of the IllawarraGenre| verse play

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Running time| 60 mins (9:30 pm - 10:30 pm)
Country of origin| Australia
Language(s)| English
Home station| 2FC
Syndicates| ABC
Written by| Coral Lansbury
Directed by| Robert Montgomery[1]
Recording studio| Sydney
Original release| June 10, 1949 (1949-06-10)[2]

Krubi of Illawarra is an Australian radio verse play by Coral Lansbury. It was her first notable play and was written when she was nineteen.[3]

Lansbury wrote the play while studying anthropology at university. It was inspired by Professor A.P. Elkins' book The Australian Aboriginie.[4]

The play won the 1948 Henry Lawson prize for poetry.[5]

Lansbury played the title role in the original 1949 production. It was one of the most highly regarded Australian radio plays of the 1940s.[6] The play was produced again in 1951.[7]

## Premise

[edit]

Krubi, a young Aboriginal woman, defies the strictures of her group by enquiring into knowledge normally reserved for men. She refuses to marry Arilla, her bethrothed. Arilla shows Krubi Churinga, the secret place of men's initiations.

Wingaree, a wise Aboriginal edler, watches on.

## References

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1. ^ "Friday, June 10 A.B.C. Programmes", ABC weekly, Sydney, 4 June 1949, retrieved 31 January 2024 - via Trove
2. ^ "FRIDAY, June 10 A.B.C. Programmes", ABC Weekly, 11 (23), Sydney, 4 June 1949, retrieved 11 October 2023 - via Trove
3. ^ Melanie Nolan, 'Lansbury, Coral Magnolia (1929–1991)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lansbury-coral-magnolia-17182/text30213, published online 2015, accessed online 11 October 2023.
4. ^ "POETESS, 19, TO STAR IN OWN RADIO PLAY". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. XIV, no. 62\. New South Wales, Australia. 2 June 1949. p. 9. Retrieved 11 October 2023 - via National Library of Australia.
5. ^ "Coral Lansbury". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 4 June 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 11 October 2023 - via National Library of Australia.
6. ^ Rees, Leslie (1953). Towards an Australian Drama. p. 147.
7. ^ "RADIO". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 32, 826. Victoria, Australia. 17 November 1951. p. 16. Retrieved 11 October 2023 - via National Library of Australia.

## Notes

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* Lansbury, Coral (1949). "Krubi of the Illawarra: A Radio Play". University of Sydney SRC. Hermes, Sydney. pp. 66–76.

## External links

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* Krubi of the Illawarra at AustLit