Political Theatre in the ‘Climate of Fear’: Censorship, Dissent, and Kennett’s Victoria

Abstract

Between 1992 and 1999, the Victorian state Liberal government under the leadership of Premier Jeff Kennett undertook an expansive state restructuring project known as ‘Victoria: on the Move’. Predominantly focused on the public sector, the restructure involved widespread privatisation and cuts to social and community services. In 1997, the lived experience of Kennett’s Victoria became the focus of a community theatre play, The Essentials, which sought to explore the occupational and domestic powerlessness experienced throughout the state during this period of transformative neoliberal expansion. Made in collaboration with community members, the play explores these themes through two interweaving narratives: one following ambulance workers through a corporate restructure; and the other about domestic violence between a high-profile, high-society couple. In this article, The Essentials is explored as an archive of Kennett’s Victoria. As a play, The Essentials documents the oft-untold experience of restructuring; as a production, The Essentials and its surrounding controversy captures what is often described as the “climate of fear” in Victoria during this period. Indeed, the production was subject to censorship when it was deemed defamatory by the City of Port Phillip Council—but of whom?