Awake My Love

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Awake My Love is a 1947 Australian stage drama by Max Afford. It’s based on Colonel William Light, the founder of Adelaide, and is set in 1836. The story follows Light’s clash with Governor Hindmarsh and his romance with Linda Manners. Afford originally wrote it under the title William Light – the Founder.

The play began its life in 1936 after winning a competition run by The Advertiser to celebrate Adelaide’s centenary. It was first staged in Adelaide later that year and helped launch Afford’s career with the ABC. During the Adelaide production, Afford met his future wife Thelma, who designed costumes. Critics described the work in varying ways: it was seen as a series of episodes about Light’s battle with authorities over the site of the capital, with some comparing its approach to Noel Coward’s Cavalcade. The Advertiser called it a triumph, while The Bulletin praised its dramatic power, though other reviews criticized it for uneven texture or for relying too much on explanation. Some praised the convincing character work of Light and Linda Manners, while Hindmarsh’s portrayal drew mixed responses.

The play was adapted for a ten-minute radio piece called Genesis in 1936. Afford later rewrote it and renamed Awake My Love. A reading was held at Sydney’s Independent Theatre on 2 March 1947, with a full production at the same venue in September 1947. Paul O’Loughlin, then head of drama at the ABC, directed the production, and Henry Krips wrote the music. It was the only Australian play in the National Theatre Movement Rally.

The Sydney Morning Herald called Awake My Love a significant milestone for Australian drama, highlighting its bold handling of Australian history and Afford’s growth as a dramatist. The play recreates the period’s jealousies and dreams and moves toward Light’s death from consumption. Critics overall noted strong moments, with some reservations about structure and pacing.

The 1947 production starred Peter Finch as Light, with Diana Perryman co-starring (reprising her stage role). The performance was staged again in 1948. Awake My Love was later adapted for ABC radio in 1947 and again in 1959.