Australian TheatreAustralian Theatre

An OverviewAn Overview

Early HistoryEarly History

Australia’s first settlers sought to Australia’s first settlers sought to reproduce the theatre they had left reproduce the theatre they had left behind when they arrived here in the behind when they arrived here in the late 18late 18thth century century

Because Australia was a convict Because Australia was a convict settlement this produced interesting settlement this produced interesting results, as conditions could not have results, as conditions could not have been more differentbeen more different

Port Arthur Convict Settlement, Port Arthur Convict Settlement, TasmaniaTasmania

It is believed the first play was It is believed the first play was performed in a small mud hut in 1789performed in a small mud hut in 1789

At that time Restoration comedy was At that time Restoration comedy was popular in England so that was the popular in England so that was the style of drama copied herestyle of drama copied here

Restoration comedy was based on the Restoration comedy was based on the manners and lifestyles of the manners and lifestyles of the aristocracy, or rich peoplearistocracy, or rich people

Restoration ComedyRestoration Comedy

Convict TheatreConvict Theatre

During the 1800’s convicts engaged During the 1800’s convicts engaged in acting and staging many playsin acting and staging many plays

This was vigorously opposed by This was vigorously opposed by manymany

Drama seemed like too much fun and Drama seemed like too much fun and enjoyment and convicts were enjoyment and convicts were supposed to being punished not supposed to being punished not rewarded for their crimesrewarded for their crimes

Convict chain gangsConvict chain gangs

The PlaysThe Plays

Much of the drama was from EnglandMuch of the drama was from England A few Australian plays were now being A few Australian plays were now being

writtenwritten- eg, The Bushrangers by David Burn in eg, The Bushrangers by David Burn in

18291829Plays like this about the convicts’ Plays like this about the convicts’

conditions, bushrangers, etc, were not conditions, bushrangers, etc, were not allowed to be performed because they allowed to be performed because they described the terrible conditions of life described the terrible conditions of life for the convicts.for the convicts.

Edward Geoghegan wrote his play Edward Geoghegan wrote his play “The Currency Lass” in 1844“The Currency Lass” in 1844

Legislation was passed by the Legislation was passed by the government declaring that plays had government declaring that plays had to meet certain conditions before to meet certain conditions before they could be performedthey could be performed

Opening of TheatresOpening of Theatres

In 1833 the Sydney Theatre Royal In 1833 the Sydney Theatre Royal openedopened

It imitated an English theatreIt imitated an English theatre It had a proscenium arch stageIt had a proscenium arch stage It set the standard for other It set the standard for other

Australian states to followAustralian states to follow

Sydney Theatre RoyalSydney Theatre Royal

Audiences enjoyed light Audiences enjoyed light entertainmententertainment

Life in Australia was hard at that timeLife in Australia was hard at that time

However there were problems However there were problems because theatre was badly organisedbecause theatre was badly organised

1850’s Gold Rushes1850’s Gold Rushes

Gold was discovered in 1850Gold was discovered in 1850 A rush of people arrived in Australia to A rush of people arrived in Australia to

search for gold and make their fortunessearch for gold and make their fortunes More people were going to the theatresMore people were going to the theatres New theatres were being builtNew theatres were being built George Coppin, an entrepreneur invited an George Coppin, an entrepreneur invited an

American performer, J. C. Williamson, to American performer, J. C. Williamson, to come to Australia to perform.come to Australia to perform.

Williamson enjoyed great successWilliamson enjoyed great success

A Gold Miner’s LicenceA Gold Miner’s Licence

George CoppinGeorge Coppin

J. C. WilliamsonJ. C. Williamson

He was married to Maggie MooreHe was married to Maggie Moore They both acted and managed their They both acted and managed their

successful playssuccessful plays The plays were all musicals from overseasThe plays were all musicals from overseas They encouraged overseas stars to tourThey encouraged overseas stars to tour One of these was the famous actress One of these was the famous actress

Sarah BernhardtSarah Bernhardt Overseas performers had to travel to Overseas performers had to travel to

Australia by shipAustralia by ship

J C WilliamsonJ C Williamson

Maggie Moore, his wifeMaggie Moore, his wife

The married couple, both The married couple, both actorsactors

Sarah BernhardtSarah Bernhardt

Audiences loved the overseas Audiences loved the overseas entertainers but this discouraged the entertainers but this discouraged the writing and staging of home grown writing and staging of home grown Australian playsAustralian plays

Vaudeville dominated the stages of Vaudeville dominated the stages of the 1890’sthe 1890’s

Vaudeville was a variety style with Vaudeville was a variety style with music, dancing and comedy skitsmusic, dancing and comedy skits

Vaudeville ExamplesVaudeville Examples

Acceptance of Australian Acceptance of Australian ContentContent

Radio developed in the 1920’sRadio developed in the 1920’s

Quiz shows, radio plays (serials and Quiz shows, radio plays (serials and dramas) developed with a uniquely dramas) developed with a uniquely Australian flavourAustralian flavour

In 1954 the Australian Elizabethan In 1954 the Australian Elizabethan Trust was set upTrust was set up

This gave Australian drama the This gave Australian drama the opportunity to come to the opportunity to come to the foreground in Australian theatresforeground in Australian theatres

The aims of the trust were to The aims of the trust were to encourage Australian writing and encourage Australian writing and performersperformers

Playwright – Ray LawlerPlaywright – Ray Lawler

““Summer of the Seventeenth Doll”Summer of the Seventeenth Doll” A great success with critics and A great success with critics and

audiencesaudiences A realistic play about two North A realistic play about two North

Queensland cane cutters, Barney and Queensland cane cutters, Barney and Roo, who came down to Melbourne Roo, who came down to Melbourne where they meet and develop where they meet and develop relationships with nancy and Oliverelationships with nancy and Olive

Ray LawlerRay Lawler

Summer of the Seventeenth Summer of the Seventeenth DollDoll

It was both moving and funnyIt was both moving and funny It changed Australian theatre foreverIt changed Australian theatre forever It gave permission for Australians to It gave permission for Australians to

support their own culture, rather than support their own culture, rather than Australian work being seen as second Australian work being seen as second rate compared with English and rate compared with English and American worksAmerican works

Many other Australian plays soon Many other Australian plays soon followedfollowed

The Introduction of TV in The Introduction of TV in AustraliaAustralia

1956 was the dawn of television in 1956 was the dawn of television in AustraliaAustralia

It meant that actors, directors and It meant that actors, directors and writers had another avenue for their writers had another avenue for their workwork

NIDANIDA

Another milestone for Australian theatre Another milestone for Australian theatre was the establishment of NIDA in 1958was the establishment of NIDA in 1958

NIDA – National Institute for Dramatic ArtNIDA – National Institute for Dramatic Art NIDA has profoundly impacted the training NIDA has profoundly impacted the training

of Australian actors, directors and of Australian actors, directors and designers. Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman designers. Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman were both students at NIDAwere both students at NIDA

Other states introduced their own courses Other states introduced their own courses in dramatic arts – Victorian College of the in dramatic arts – Victorian College of the Arts in VictoriaArts in Victoria

The SixtiesThe Sixties

Life was moving rapidly during the Life was moving rapidly during the 1960’s1960’s

It was a time of great change and It was a time of great change and upheavalupheaval

Much experimentation was happening Much experimentation was happening in drama around the world. People in drama around the world. People struggled to make sense of it allstruggled to make sense of it all

Alternative theatre required little Alternative theatre required little money and much innovation and money and much innovation and experimentation. It thrived.experimentation. It thrived.

Australian PlaywrightsAustralian Playwrights

John RomerilJohn Romeril Jack HibberdJack Hibberd David WilliamsonDavid Williamson Barry OakleyBarry Oakley Tim RobertsTim Roberts Barry DickensBarry Dickens Louis NowraLouis Nowra

Female playwrights of the late Female playwrights of the late 2020thth and early 21 and early 21stst centuries centuries

Joanna Murray-SmithJoanna Murray-Smith Hannie RaysonHannie Rayson Alma de GroenAlma de Groen

Indigenous DramaIndigenous Drama

Stolen by Jane HarrisonStolen by Jane Harrison Yanagai! Yanagai!Yanagai! Yanagai!

““Stolen” by Jane HarrisonStolen” by Jane Harrison

Yanagai! Yanagai!Yanagai! Yanagai!

Australian Theatre TodayAustralian Theatre Today

After initial experimentation and After initial experimentation and searching for an identity, Australian searching for an identity, Australian theatre has become diversetheatre has become diverse

Playwrights have broadened their Playwrights have broadened their views and theie worldviews and theie world

Louis Nowra, Stephen Sewell, Ron Louis Nowra, Stephen Sewell, Ron Elisha, Michael Gow have been Elisha, Michael Gow have been praised for their playspraised for their plays

Many community theatres have been Many community theatres have been establishedestablished

Community theatre groups are created to Community theatre groups are created to meet the needs of particular groupsmeet the needs of particular groups

Limited grants are distributed by various Limited grants are distributed by various government bodies to support the artsgovernment bodies to support the arts

Even major theatre companies like Even major theatre companies like Melbourne Theatre Company and The Melbourne Theatre Company and The Malthouse rely on government grants and Malthouse rely on government grants and sponsorship from businesssponsorship from business

Although the big American and Although the big American and English blockbuster musicals, like English blockbuster musicals, like Miss Saigon, still receive the greatest Miss Saigon, still receive the greatest box office support (they sell the box office support (they sell the most tickets), the richness and most tickets), the richness and diversity of mainstream and diversity of mainstream and alternative Australian theatre alternative Australian theatre continues to survivecontinues to survive

Miss SaigonMiss Saigon

Theatre CompaniesTheatre Companies

MTC Melbourne Theatre CompanyMTC Melbourne Theatre Company The MalthouseThe Malthouse La MamaLa Mama Bell ShakespeareBell Shakespeare And many othersAnd many others

You can check out the websites of these You can check out the websites of these companies or look for their up coming companies or look for their up coming shows in major newspapers.shows in major newspapers.