Hallowed Ground – Woman Doctors In War

History cannot be repeated!

Hallowed Ground - Woman Doctors In War chronologically shifts to and fro through a century of wars, with vivid and strong accounts of Australian medical women who have worked in the armed forces.

Carolyn Bock and Helen Hopkins from The Shift Theatre - writers and two of the four performers - have recreated an explorative meshing of female characters that project an ongoing concern over the male dominated hierarchical divisions in the military/medical establishment. The actors give powerful and honest performances.

It’s undeniable that women feel the need, and should have the right, to do service for their country. These stories reflect the passionate hunger to be out on the front healing the sick and wounded. Lilian (Helen Hopkins), who was denied military service in World War One, finds herself working in the Balkan region as part of the team representing the Scottish Women’s Hospital.

Doctor Tam (Chi Nguyen) reflects on her life, as a nine-year-old fleeing Saigon with her family and her time spent in Iraq, both vivid reminders of her time as a refugee and the horrendous fight for survival in war zone areas. She is awarded her medal of service and feels she has done well for a boat person.

Mary (Carolyn Bock), a radiologist, was rejected for service in World War Two, yet she leaves her family behind to be the only woman, along with three thousand (all male) British Troops in the Middle East. When she returns her husband has a heart attack and is then sent to rural Mallee area to work. Despite the grief, hardship and the brutal conflicts witnessed she remains a strong and courageous woman and yet, justly so, feels she has been treated unfairly.

Catherine (Jean Goodwin) tucks her child into bed and heads off to Afghanistan; she relies on unreliable Skype to send her motherly love and hopes for the best as she diligently works on call. She feels there is a strong male camaraderie that rejects her but she proves them wrong and in time feels that with the growing numbers of females in the service, a mutual respect and understanding between genders will hopefully be achieved.

The ‘faux gallery’ set design failed to compliment the hardships and conflicts of these characters in war. Visual projection and or slide show would have worked better in this historical contextual play. The sound design was minimal and lacked atmospheric strength. The lighting was stark and poignantly harsh.

Flora Georgiou

Image by Nancy Flammea.