Mano Nera

"Blood, sweat and fear in the North Queensland canefields..."

During the 1930s, letters of extortion were distributed within the migrant Italian community in the North Queensland cane growing districts. Mano Nera - "the Black Hand" - was the name of the group claiming responsibility for the letters. Were they a slick criminal organization or simple-minded thugs? Fear divided the community.

As Australians argued for deportation, the Italian community who had fled political oppression and a fast-deteriorating society to make North Queensland their home faced a choice. Were they going to put up with their reputation being sullied by the actions of a few desperate men? Or were they going to fight for every privilege their newly-adopted country could offer?

Winner of the Premier's Drama Award and developed in association with the Queensland Theatre Company, Adam Grossetti's new play richly evokes the tense stand-off between the British authorities and a divided Italian community desperately trying to make the most of its hard-won freedom.

APT