A gripping new play is set to premiere in Adelaide, promising to unearth a pivotal, yet largely forgotten, chapter of the city's history. Titled ‘Logan St’, the production sheds light on the socio-cultural landscape of Adelaide’s south-west corner in the 1940s, an area colloquially known as ‘Little Beirut’ due to its marginalised population.

Writer and director Jacob Boehme has spent three intensive years bringing this powerful narrative to the stage. His journey into the past was inspired by the firsthand accounts of his grandmother, Dulcie Sansbury, a Kaurna woman whose experiences in Logan Street formed the bedrock of the play. It was through her stories that Boehme first encountered the hidden realities of a city grappling with segregation and prejudice.

Adelaide's Segregated Past

During the 1940s, Logan Street and its surrounding precincts served as an unofficial dumping ground for various marginalised communities. Boehme reveals that “pretty much every brown person, including the Irish,” was confined to this area, which was widely perceived as a slum. Aboriginal people faced severe restrictions, often requiring “exemption certificates” to move freely from state-run missions into city spaces, effectively signing away their identity for basic freedoms. Non-European migrants, too, endured heavy surveillance, social exclusion, and stringent limitations on their daily lives.

At the heart of ‘Logan St’ is the extraordinary friendship between Boehme’s grandmother, Dulcie Sansbury, and Gool Mahomet – an Afghan cameleer affectionately known as ‘Goolie’. Their unlikely bond, forged amidst the challenges of Logan Street and the Adelaide Mosque, provides a poignant human lens through which the audience can experience the era's complexities. When a local theatre company approached Boehme to write a play, he knew instantly that this was the story he had to tell.

Boehme’s extensive research involved delving deep into city archives, state records, and various library publications. He discovered a rich, yet largely unacknowledged, history that had been overshadowed by the city's rapid development. “Logan Street had a history of being kind of the poor part of town, poor financially, but definitely not culturally,” Boehme explained, emphasising the vibrant, resilient spirit of its inhabitants despite their economic struggles.

Bringing Characters to Life

The casting process brought together dedicated actors deeply moved by the script. Alexis West, a Birri Gubba, Wakka Wakka South Sea Islander woman, took on the challenging role of Dulcie. West described being “blown away” by the script, recounting how she was in tears by the end of her first reading. “It is a real privilege and honour to be able to take the role up, this incredible human being that Jacob has brought to life,” she shared.

Equally crucial was finding the right actor for Goolie. Ali Ammouchi, who has a Lebanese background, found the script profoundly impactful, confessing he had to put it down halfway through due to its emotional resonance. In preparation for his role, Ammouchi made a pilgrimage to Mahomet’s grave at West Terrace Cemetery. “Just to be at the grave and almost have that moment along with the real character Goolie, it was quite special for me,” he reflected, vowing to tell Goolie's story to the best of his ability.

Beyond Dulcie and Goolie, Boehme has woven another incredible ancestral story into the production. His great-great-great-great-grandmother, Munarto Nellie Raminyemmerin, a Kaurna woman, survived harrowing circumstances. At just 14, she was taken by seal hunter John Wilkins to Kangaroo Island, then known as the ‘island of the dead’. After bearing him seven children, she was abandoned when the sealing trade ended. Demonstrating immense courage and knowledge of her ancestral waters, she swam all seven of her children from Kangaroo Island back to the mainland, an act of sheer will that ensures her descendants, including Boehme, are here today. Her remarkable story serves as a powerful testament to resilience and survival.

With opening night fast approaching, Boehme admits to feeling the pressure, especially knowing his family will be in the audience. ‘Logan St’ is more than just a play; it is a vital act of remembrance and an invitation for wider reflection. Boehme firmly believes that countless other layers of stories, people, and histories that have shaped this nation are still waiting to be told.

‘Logan St’ runs from July 24 to August 8 at the Space Theatre, located within the Adelaide Festival Centre. This production offers a unique opportunity to connect with Adelaide’s past and celebrate the indomitable spirit of its diverse communities.