June 17th sees the launch of this year’s Douglas Theatre Arts Group (DTAG) production of Mano Nera to be staged at the Clink Theatre in Port Douglas.

This production focuses on the labour force of the Cane fields of Far North Queensland during the 1930s, a large portion of which were Italian immigrants.

Mano Nera, or black hand, is based on actual events in the 1930s in Ingham, when brutal Mafia-like tactics were used by a few to extort money from farmers and business people.

The story centres around an Italian migrant who loses his job in a cane field and resorts to violence and threats which puts fear into a silent community.

Letters of extortion were distributed within the migrant Italian community in the North Queensland cane growing districts. Mano Nera - "the Black Hand" - was the name of the group claiming responsibility for the letters.

Originally from North Queensland, writer Adam Grossetti says he chose to write about Mano Nera because he thought it was an amazing chapter in early Italian northern history.

Adams plays include Dogs, Pitchfork, Lost Lagoon, Cavallo A Horse Cavallo, Bird of Prey, Hotel and Mano Nera.  A graduate of the Queensland University of Technology Adam has worked in one capacity or another in theatre, film and television for companies such as Queensland Theatre Company, La Boite Theatre, Belvoir Street Theatre and Bsharp at Downstairs Belvoir Street, The Old Fitzroy Hotel and in administration at the Royal National Theatre, London. This is a huge story of triumph over adversity

This show has everything –  explosions, murder, love, death and more.  

Mano Nera is on stage at the Clink Theatre from June 17th until July the 3rd.