Author of the Month

Wesley Enoch is a critically acclaimed playwright and currently Associate Artistic Director with Sydney’s Company B. The Australian production of his play The Story of the Miracles at Cookie’s Table, winner of the 2005 Patrick White Playwrights’ Award, will open at Griffin Theatre 17 August. Wesley will also take part in a panel discussion on writing political plays at Melbourne Writers Festival on 2 September.

We spoke to Wesley about what inspired him to write Cookie’s Table, why he decided not to direct the production himself and why theatre is still so important today. To read the interview and to find out more about Cookie’s Table, click here.

Melbourne Writers Festival

How to be a playwright and influence people.
Is there still a place for political theatre? Amanda Smith speaks to Hilary Glow and two playwrights who maintain the rage on stage: Wesley Enoch and Stephen Sewell. 2 September 2007, 5:30pm–6:30pm, Beckett Theatre. Proudly sponsored by Currency Press. For more info, go to mwf.com.au.

Gail Jones, author of The Piano – the latest title in our Australian Screen Classics Series – will talk with Alexis Wright and James Cohen about different styles of writing. 2 September 2007, 11:30am–12:30pm, Tower Theatre.

Sessions for VCE Students:
Andrew Bovell discusses his script for the film Lantana on 28 August 2007, 5:00–6:00pm, Merlyn Theatre

Joanna Murray-Smith talks about her play Honour on 28 August, 6:30–7:30pm, Merlyn Theatre.

Hilary Glow talks about Hannie Rayson’s plays Inheritance and Hotel Sorrento on 29 August, 5:00–6:00pm, Merlyn Theatre.

Raimond Gaita discusses his memoir Romulus, My Father on 29 August 2007, 6:30–7:30, Merlyn Theatre. Currency Press published Nick Drake’s film adaptation of Romulus, My Father in May.

For the complete program, go to mwf.com.au

New Titles

The Circuit – Screenplays Kelly Lefever, Dot West, Mitch Torres & Beck Cole … if a prize were to be awarded for the best-looking local drama currently on our screens this would be the front-runner. Highly recommended. The Guide, SMH … the best new series of the year. Daily Telegraph To read more about The Circuit and to order your copy of the screenplays, click here.
The Story of the Miracles at Cookie’s Table Wesley Enoch Let this table be a home for me. Let it be a home for all the lost and the hungry. May all my children and my children's children eat at this table. Cookie's Table is a moving testament to culture lived, lost and found, the strength of family, adapting and gathering together. Gently peeling away the layers of storytelling, it reveals the communal binds that lie beneath them. To read more about The Story of the Miracles at Cookie’s Table and to order your copy of the play, click here.
Power Plays Hilary Glow In Power Plays, Hilary Glow investigates the why and how of eight contemporary Australian playwrights who are passionate about the theatre as a forum for public discussion – Andrew Bovell, Patricia Cornelius, Reg Cribb, Ben Ellis, Wesley Enoch, Hannie Rayson, Stephen Sewell and Katherine Thomson. A passionate account of Oz politics and culture. Guy Rundle Power Plays will be published in time for Hilary Glows appearance at the Melbourne Writers Festival on 2 September. To pre-order your copy, click here.
It Just Stopped / Myth, Propaganda and Disaster in Nazi Germany and Contemporary America Stephen Sewell To describe Stephen Sewell's dark comedy as a cautionary tale does it scant justice, given the anger and apocalyptic vision driving its mayhem and fun. It Just Stopped is a whimsical, argumentative, satirical and deeply serious play—among Sewell’s finest. Bryce Hallett, Sydney Morning Herald Myth, Propaganda and Disaster in Nazi Germany and Contemporary America has won more awards than any other Australian play. The two plays will be published in time for Stephen Sewell’s appearance at the Melbourne Writers Festival on 2 September 2007. To pre-order your copy, click here.
Parramatta Girls Alana Valentine Based on verbatim accounts of dozens of former inmates of the notorious Girls Training School in Parramatta, Alana Valentine’s vibrant new play tells a story of incredible courage, indomitable humour and a passionate longing to finally expose the truth. To read more about Parramatta Girls and to order your copy of the play, click here.
Chapel Perilous (new edition) Dorothy Hewett The painful and sometimes farcical life of defiant young poet Sally Banner, as she attempts—through her school days, lovers, marriage and politics—to extract meaning from her environment in a new edition, including the program of the production at La Mama. Season ends 19 August. To order your copy of Chapel Perilous, click here.

News

Alex Buzo Company launch

The Alex Buzo Company, founded by his daughter Emma Buzo, will be launched on 4 September with The Big Buzo Night Out – a fundraising event featuring Buzo's riotous satire The Roy Murphy Show, food, drinks, live music and special guests. For more information on the company and the launch go to www.alexbuzo.com.au. For bookings go to Ticketek.

AWGIE Awards 2007

The Australian Writers' Guild has announced the nominees for the 40th annual AWGIE Awards, which will be presented at Doltone House, Sydney on 31 August. Click here for more information.

Among the nominations are: Bastard Boys by Sue Smith and The Circuit by Kelly Lefever and Mitch Torres with Beck Cole, Jane Harrison, Kootji Raymond and Dot West (Television Mini Series Original), The Home Song Stories by Tony Ayres (Feature Film Original), Construction of the Human Heart by Ross Mueller and Holding the Man by Tommy Murphy (Stage), Electric Lenin by Janis Balodis and Tough Girls by Melissa Reeves (Music Theatre) and Hoods by Angela Betzien (Theatre for Young Audiences).

Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2007

The shortlists for the 2007 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards have just been released; the winners will be announced on 3 September. For more info, click here.

Among the nominations are: It Just Stopped by Stephen Sewell and A Single Act by Jane Bodie (Drama), Home Song Stories by Tony Ayres and Ten Empty by Brendan Cowell and Anthony Hayes (Screen Writing).

Congratulations to all nominees!

On Stage

The Story of the Miracles at Cookie's Table by Wesley Enoch will be showing at Griffin Theatre from 17 August – 22 September. For bookings go to griffintheatre.com.au. Pick up a copy of the play at Griffin Theatre for the special price of $10, to order online click here.

Wharf 2LOUD presents PUSH 9 – Motel By Angela Betzien, directed by Lee Lewis. 16 – 18 August, 8:15pm. For tickets go to sydneytheatre.com.au. Currency Press published Angela Betzien’s plays Hoods and Children of the Black Skirt, click here for more info.

As part of the VCE Theatre studies, La Mama is currently showing Dorothy Hewett’s Chapel Perilous. Production closes August 19. For tickets go to lamama.com.au, to order your copy of the play, click here.

New Theatre Newtown currently stages Dorothy Hewett's classic Australian play The Man from Mukinupin. Production closing 18 August. For tickets go to www.mca-tix.com. To see all of Dorothy Hewett's plays published by Currency Press, click here.

Melbourne Theatre Company presents Hannie Rayson’s The Glass Soldier at the Playhouse. Season ends 8 September. For bookings go to ticketmaster.com.au.

Canberra Repertory currently stages Hannie Rayson's play Room to Move. Season ends 25 August. For bookings go to canberrarep.org.au.
To have a look at Hannie Rayson's plays published by Currency Press, click here.

Queensland Theatre Company welcomes STC's hugely successful production of Roy Smiles' Ying Tong – A Walk with the Goons in Brisbane. Season goes from 22 August – 8 September, for tickets go to qldtheatreco.com.au. To order your copy of the play, click here.

Adriano Shaplin’s hilarious satire Pugilist Specialist is playing at Darlinghurst Theatre from 23 August – 15 September. Get your tickets at darlinghursttheatre.com, to order your copy of the play click here.

Company B at Belvoir Street presents Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 4 August – 16 September. For tickets go to belvoir.com.au. Currency distributes the biography of Edward Albee. For more info and to order your copy, click here.

Stay up to date about productions, authors, events and festivals – check out our News page online.

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