Temporal setting: 1990s
Location notes:
Scenes occur at both Stephanie's flat and Brendan's office. Both settings are located in Canberra. Coordinates have been given for Canberra.
Temporal setting: 1990s
Location notes:
The ACT Supreme Court Building is located at 4 Knowles Place, Canberra City. It is adjacent to the Magistrates Court Building.
Temporal setting: 1990s
Location notes:
Open since 1971, the Iranian Embassy in Canberra is located at 25 Culgoa Circuitm, O'Malley ACT 2606.
The play is partly inspired by the "real life" events of April 1992, when a group of protesters outside the Iranian Embassy proceeded to storm the embassy, setting fire to papers and destroying furniture. As Michael Futcher and Helen Howard note:
Like fellow Iranians the world over, they were horrified by the news that many Mojahedin member (Iranian freedom fighters) has been bombed by Iranian government forces and killed. They flocked to embassies within their new countries to draw attention to Iran's actions and to demand that trade sanctions be imposed (xvi).
The protesters involved in the raid were labelled "terrorists" by the Australian media, a two year court case ensued against those involved and many received long jail terms. A Beautiful Life dramatises the Australian court case.
Quotes
“The Iranian Embassy, Canberra, April, 1992.
Jhila rips away the shroud from on of the figures to reveal a coffin-like cage representing a filing cabinet, and smashes it to the ground.
[...]
An eruption of violence. A diplomat, Ahmad Husseini, staggers backwards holding a fire extinguisher threateningly at a small, angry mob. One actor carries a hand-held light, signifying a camera, shining it on each major action. The other two shrouded figures are violently stripped and sent crashing to the ground. Hamid sprays a large red 'X' on an image of Ayatollah Khomeini. The mob rampages over the scattered documents, setting fire to some.”
(p. Act One, Sc.1)
Temporal setting: 1990s
Location notes:
The remand centre of Scene Two, where Jhila and Hamid are being held, is most likely referring to the former Belconnen Remand Centre, which operated from 1976 until 2009. Coordinates have been given for this location.
The former Belconnen Remand Centre was located on Rae Street in Belconnen, ACT. It operated from 1976 until 2009 when the Alexander Maconochie Centre was built – the Australian Capital Territory's first correctional facility for convicted felons.
Temporal setting: 1990s
Location notes:
Jhila and Hamid's take-away shop is located in Brisbane. Coordinates are given for Brisbane.
