Named after the number that became intrinsically connected to Adam Goodes, 37 is a play about footy.
But much like the game itself, it's about more than that: it's also about the kind of country Australia really is.
The reaction to Goodes' now famous war cry at the 2015 Indigenous Round heavily influences the story, which is set in a coastal town football club at the time.
“The ordeal that Adam Goodes went through really made me realise the idea of reconciliation in this country was really assimilation, and that we were so far away from really reaching a true form of reconciliation,” said Nathan Maynard, the play’s writer.
A Trawlwoolway man from Larapuna country, Maynard says he used the footy setting to make a social commentary about race in Australia.
“I think I used it as a metaphor for Australia.
"But it’s not just in sporting clubs, it’s everyday life for Aboriginal people, where we’re always compromising to make white fellas feel better about the slaughter of our people and the treatment of our people today,” he said.
The cast of Nathan Maynard's new play 37 on stage. Source: Supplied / Pia Johnson.
One of the men - Jayma - is played by rising star Ngali Shaw, who says his character’s story is one of resilience.
“[Jayma] and his cousin join up on a team with all white people and go through a full season with these people, and through it they watch together the Adam Goodes war cry dance back in 2015 … this is just about that moment and how it brought out white Australians' true views and true thoughts about us,” he said.
“After [the Voice to Parliament referendum] we copped a lot of stuff, so it’s important ... to show how real it is, and how real these situations are, and that we go through them every day.”
Tibian Wyles and Ngali Shaw, who play the cousins Sonny and Jayma in 37. Source: Supplied / Pia Johnson.
“37 was inspired by Adam Goodes, not only his football career but all the work he did around football, as Australian of the Year in particular," Mr Drandic said.
"He really exposed racism in this country and a lot of discourse happened as a result of this man standing up,” Mr Drandic said.
“It’s the character in this work Jayma whose journey really mirrors Adam Goodes' journey in terms of standing up against racism, especially when you feel alone - it’s such a strength.”
For Mr Maynard, a highly accomplished and award-winning artist and writer, it is crucial that audiences walk away from the show asking themselves some difficult questions about how exactly they’re working to make Australia a better place.
“This play, it’s all about the football but it’s nothing about the football. I want them to go away and ask themselves - ok what am I doing in the name of reconciliation? Am I really putting my body on the line? Am I making any sacrifices?”
37 is running at the Melbourne Theatre Company until the 5th of April.
