Australian theatre is fascinating, the stories have taught us a lot about our culture, and our unique qualities about living in Australia. Theatre in Australia has changed over time, from stories of the bush legends to vaudeville comedy acts, to stories about Australian families and stories of our country. Playwrights such as Patrick White (The Ham Funeral, The Season at Sarsparilla), David Williamson (Don’s Party, The Removalists) Michael Gow (Away, Toy Symphony) and Matt Cameron (Ruby Moon, Tear from a Glass Eye), just to name a few, have all contributed to building Australian theatre up to where it is now. Because of Australia’s rich culture theatre has been able to flourish and continue to change.
Alice and I propose that we put on a season of six plays, which celebrate the Australian culture, the Australian community, and our way of life. We want to look at how theatre in Australia has adapted and changed over time, focusing between the 1950’s and the present. To do this we want to choose a play from each era which portrays aspects of Australian culture. We want to show the public what it is to be Australian. We’re also looking at relationships between people within our culture, and the ways they have changed.
Because of our strong focus on Australian theatre and Australian culture, we also propose that we stage our season with the Griffin Theatre Company, performing at the stables theatre, in Kings Cross in Sydney. We have chosen Griffin Theatre Company and the Stables Theatre performance space because of it’s home grown and Australian focus. Since its establishment in 1979, it is the only professional company in Sydney which is dedicated to the production and development of Australian plays, supporting both upcoming and established Australian playwrights. The company is so dedicated to supporting and promoting Australian material that in 1981 they made an ‘all Australia policy’ so all the material performed and supported was all Australian. The Griffin Theatre Company also works with schools to encourage youth to enjoy Australian theatre. They also run outreach programs and workshops within the company to promote theatre within the community. Many Australian actors and Australian playwrights started their careers at the Stables Theatre with the Griffin Company. One of our chosen plays, Away by Michael Gow, premiered in the stables theatre, and we love that we can bring it back with our season celebrating both the past and contemporary Australian theatre productions.
The plays that Julia and I have chosen for our season at the Griffin/Stables Theatre are all classic Australian plays that celebrate the unique qualities of living in Australia. They are each from a different decade following the World War Two (1950’s – 2000’s), however they are not necessarily representative of the era in which they were written. As Julia has explained we endeavour to link these plays not only through the obvious connection that they are all Australian, but also the unique relationships that are represented within.
To kick our season off we will start with the 1950’s classic Summer of the Seventeenth Doll. Written by Ray Lawler and first performed in 1955, this play explores the intricacies of relationships in the 1950’s. It follows the story of two sugarcane cutters who annually travel south to Melbourne to visit two women and as per tradition, give them a doll. However, the summer of the seventeenth doll is different, wrought with tension and disappointment. Summer of the Seventeenth Doll is renowned for authentically portraying Australian life, and therefore is the perfect play to start our season that celebrates the beauty of Australian theatre.
The next play to hit the stage will be The Season at Sarsaparilla, written by Patrick White. This play sits firmly within our theme of the celebration of Australian culture, community and the Australian way of life as it follows the lives of families in ordinary suburban Australia. The prospect of working with this play excites us because we believe that there is a lot we could do to make it relevant for contemporary audiences.
The Removalists, written by David Williamson is the play we have chosen from the 1970’s. It is another classic Australian play, which this time depicts a broken marriage and its fallout. It is interesting to note at this stage that all these Australian plays have a dark undertone. Yet again it will be interesting for both Julia and myself to try and adapt the play to a contemporary audience and really try to develop the unique Australian story it portrays.
Now to a personal favourite of mine, Away, written by Michael Gow. This play follows the stories of three internally conflicted families holidaying on the coast for the Christmas of 1968. The play explores the human responses to death, racism, class and relationships. As Julia has previously mentioned, Away was first performed by the Griffin Theatre Company in 1986, and therefore it will be interesting to bring it back to celebrate both the past and contemporary theatre in Australia.
The next stop of the nostalgia train is Louis Nowra in the 1990’s. It is yet undecided whether we will present Cosi or Summer of the Aliens, as both delve deep into very different, yet equally interesting relationships. Cosi is the story of a man who puts on a performance with the patients. Through this process of working with the patients, the man discovers a new side to himself. Summer of the Aliens is about a 14 year old boy who is obsessed with aliens; he uses this obsession to mask his own adolescent confusion about the changing world around him. Summer of the Aliens is the prequel to Cosi.
Last but not least is the deeply macabre Matt Cameron play Ruby Moon. This play is a fractured fairytale that explores the story of a couple struggling after the disappearance of their daughter. It is set in the heart of Australian suburbia and therefore fits in perfectly into our season.
Julia and I hope to celebrate the beauty of Australian theatre through our choice of both the plays and the venue. Australian theatre is fascinating, the stories have taught us a lot about our culture, and our unique qualities about living in Australia. What we love most is the stark contrast between the authentic and abstract depictions of how unique the Australian culture is, our families and the dynamics of the Australian household.
Julia & Alice x.
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