Welcome to our August newsletter! In this month’s author interview, Gabrielle Wolf and Julian Meyrick discuss New Wave Theatre and its impact on contemporary Australian theatre. Gabrielle and Julian will also take part in a panel discussion at the Melbourne Writers Festival, check the Festivals section for details.

Also in this issue: New Releases, a new crop of titles in Currency’s Clearance Cupboard, great Give-aways and Special Offers, Awards and Festival News and—as always—the latest on what’s happening On Stage. Enjoy!

Julian Meyrick is the author of See How it Runs: Nimrod and the New Wave. He is a theatre historian and director and until recently was Associate Director and Literary Advisor at Melbourne Theatre Company. Gabrielle Wolf is the author of Make it Australian: The Australian Performing Group, the Pram Factory and New Wave Theatre, the first critical history of the APG.

In our author interview, Julian and Gabrielle discuss the rise and fall of Nimrod and the APG—and the lessons contemporary theatre makers can learn from the past. Click here to read the interview.

Gabrielle and Julian will also take part in the panel session LEGACY OR BURDEN? New Wave Theatre and its aftermath at the Melbourne Writers Festival on 29 August. For details, see the FESTIVAL section.

Saturn's Return

Tommy Murphy

Saturn has returned, and a moment of doubt changes everything. The universe conspires against Matt and Zara, and Zara is jettisoned into orbit.

Shifting perspectives on identity and Tommy Murphy's trademark comic flair combine to create a lively theatre of insight and ingenuity.

Saturn’s Return is the third title under Currency’s new STC imprint and will be published in time for the production, opening 15 August. To pre-order your copy, visit our website.
 

The Time is Not Yet Ripe - New Edition

Louis Esson

A new edition of this high-life political comedy from 1912 in which the forces of socialism, feminism and conservatism fight out an election and an engagement to marry – published to coincide with the La Mama Theatre production at Carlton Courthouse, opening 27 August.

'It is so well written and charming that it is tempting to wish that he had written more plays like it.' John McCallum

To pre-order your copy, visit our website.
 

It's ‘2-for-1’ month at Currency and we've got six great offers to tempt you. Offer expires Sunday, 7 September. All specials are also listed on our website.

1) Purchase a copy of Make it Australian: The APG, the Pram Factory and New Wave Theatre by Gabrielle Wolf and receive a free copy of See How it Runs: Nimrod and the New Wave by Julian Meyrick.

2) Purchase any auditioning book from Currency and/or our agencies (Nick Hern Books and Oberon Books) and receive a free copy of Alternative Shakespeare Auditions for Men or Women (don't forget to tell us which edition you'd like).

3) Purchase a copy of Top Shelf Volume I: Reading and Writing the Best in Australian TV Drama and receive a free copy of Top Shelf Volume 2: Five Outstanding Television Screenplays.

4) Purchase a copy of Playing with Ideas: Australian Women Playwrights from the Suffragettes to the Sixties and receive a free copy of Tremendous Worlds: Australian Women's Drama 1890-1960.

5) Purchase a copy of Alvin Purple by Catharine Lumby and receive a free copy of The Devil's Playground by Christos Tsiolkas.

6) Purchase a copy of Reflections: an autobiographical journey by Paul Cox and receive a free copy of Three Screenplays by Paul Cox which includes: Lonely Hearts, My First Wife and A Woman's Tale.

 

MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL 22-30 August
Another fantastic line-up of authors and events – to make your choice easier, here are our highlights of the program:

Currency Session with Gabrielle Wolf and Julian Meyrick, chaired by Alison Croggon:
Legacy or Burden? New Wave Theatre and its aftermath
Melbourne's APG and Sydney's Nimrod Theatre were the hippest, hottest places to be in the 1970s. By the mid-1980s the passion was spent and both companies folded. Gabrielle Wolf (Make it Australian) and Julian Meyrick (See How it Runs) discuss the impact of their demise on future generations of theatre makers. Chaired by Alison Croggon, Melbourne theatre reviewer for the Australian and author of the online blog theatre notes.
When & Where: 29 August, 2:30-3:30pm, ACMI Cinema 1

Julian Meyrick is also taking part in the session On Ecstasy with Barrie Kosky.
 

Other Currency authors appearing at the festival:

Catharine Lumby (author of Alvin Purple, the latest title in our Australian Screen Classics series) is taking part in Snap, Crackle and Porn and From Friedan to Feministas.

Joanna Murray-Smith is taking part in the VCE session Exploring Issues of Identity and Belonging.

Melina Marchetta will appear at Melina Marchetta in Conversation: Melina’s top-selling debut novel Looking for Alibrandi won a great number of awards and was adapted and released as a major Australian film in 2000.

And you can meet Graeme Blundell at A Man in Full: Graeme Blundell describes his life of many parts.
 

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 31 July – 10 August
This year’s programme has a retrospective on Ozploitation films – Don’t miss your chance to see some of Australia’s cult movies on the big screen. The Adventures of Barry McKenzie is scheduled for Thursday, 7 August. Click here to check the program.

Catharine Lumby took part in a panel discussion on Ozploitation movies at BIFF last Saturday. A recording will be broadcast on Radio National’s Australia Talks on Thursday, 7 August at 6:10pm.

Indigenous Literary Day
On Wednesday, 3 September 2008 all Australians are invited to participate in the second Indigenous Literacy Day. ILD aims to help raise urgently needed funds to address the literacy crisis in remote Indigenous communities. There will be events across Australia and participating publishers and booksellers will donate 5% of their takings that day. Individuals can help by attending activities in their local area; buying a book at a participating bookshop on 3 September 2008 or organising their own private fundraising literary lunches and morning teas.

Currency Press is a proud supporter of the Indigenous Literary Project.
For a list of all participating publishers and booksellers, visit worldwithoutbooks.org .

Gallipoli screening at STC
STCinema: Gallipoli. Sunday 10 August at 2pm, all tickets $10.
To celebrate the Sydney Theatre season of Nigel Jamieson’s Gallipoli, STCinema presents award-winning Turkish director Tolga Örnek’s film of the same name, narrated by Jeremy Irons and Sam Neill. Followed by a panel discussion with Nigel Jamieson, Ashley Ekins and Brad Manera. For more information, visit www.sydneytheatre.com.au.

Currency Press has published the official companion to Tolga Örnek’s film, which incorporates significant material not included in the film. For more information and to order your copy, visit our website.

Popcorn Taxi presents a special pre-release screening of Not Quite Hollywood on Wednesday, 13 August, followed by a live Q&A with director Mark Hartley, veteran stunt man Grant Page, Roger Ward plus a few other special guests you'll not want to miss; guest hosted by Michael Adams. For details, visit popcorntaxi.com.au.

David Williamson feature on SBS: Sunday 31 August 2008, 6pm
A new series of Australian Biography starts on Sunday, 31 August with a feature on David Williamson. For more information on the series and a preview of David Williamson’s interview, go to filmaustralia.com.au.

Advanced Course: Free Adaptation
Applications are now open for Griffin's ten-week advanced playwriting course commencing 10 September. This new course focuses on the writing of an original play loosely based on an existing classic. The course will be led by playwright Hilary Bell, whose plays include Wolf Lullaby, Memmie Le Blanc, Shot While Dancing, Eye of the Storm and The Falls. For More information contact the Griffin office on 9332 1052 or email belinda@griffintheatre.com.au. Please note that participants are required to have playwriting experience.

Be our friend on Facebook
Join us in our venture to keep Australia posted about the latest publications, productions and events in the performing arts. If you’re already on Facebook, all you need to do is follow this link or search for "Currency Press" and click on "become a fan".
 

Helpman Award
The winners of the 2008 Helpmann Awards have been announced: Toy Symphony received four awards, including Best New Australian Work (Michael Gow), Best Direction (Neil Armfield) and Best Male Actor (Richard Roxburgh). Leah Purcell was awarded Best Female Actor for her role in Wesley Enoch's The Story of the Miracles at Cookie's Table. For the complete list, visit helpmannawards.com.au.
Currency congratulates all winners.
 

It’s ‘2-for-1’ month at Currency – make sure you check out Currency’s Clearance Cupboard above or have a look at our website.

The third production in the 2008 Wharf 2LOUD season, Saturn’s Return is a fantastical theatrical adventure in which playwright Tommy Murphy ( Holding the Man, Strangers in Between) plays with shifting perspectives on identity, time and place.
Special Offer: Purchase tickets to any of the following performance of Saturn’s Return by Friday 8 August and pay just $20 per ticket: Friday 15 August at 8.15pm, Saturday 16 August at 8.15pm or Monday 18 August at 8.15pm. To take advantage of this exclusive ticket offer call STC Box Office on 9250 1777 and quote 'Tommy Murphy'. Please note that a $7 transaction fee applies to each booking.

Win one of twenty double-passes to see Not Quite Hollywood: The wild, untold story of OZploitation (courtesy of Madman Cinema), Mark Hartley’s documentary feature on Australian genre cinema of the 1970s and '80s.
National release date is 28 August. To go in the draw, tell us which Ozploitation movie Catharine Lumby wrote about in our Australian Screen Classics series. Email your answer to karin@currency.com.au with ‘Not Quite Hollywood’ in the subject line and your answer and address in the email body. Only winners will be notified.

Krishnan’s Dairy takes two of the most universal Indian clichés – the Taj Mahal and the corner store, and fuses them into a funny and touching love story. You’ll never look at your corner store in the same way again.
Special offer: See Krishnan’s Dairy at the Casula Powerhouse for just $20. Simply call the box office on 9824 1121 and quote “Currency Press Offer”. Offer closes Monday, 11 August. Season: 14-16 August, 8pm. For more information visit www.casulapowerhouse.com

Arabian Night is currently playing at the Stables Theatre, season ends 23 August.
One by one, five people on a bare stage begin to describe a seemingly ordinary evening in a local apartment block. As darkness falls, their five stories collide on the seventh floor in an exhilarating eruption of desire and imagination. Roland Schimmelpfennig’s magical and voyeuristic play is an unstoppable theatrical freefall.
Special 2-for-1 offer: Call MCA-TIX on 1300 306 776 and quote “Currency 2-for-1”. Subject to availability, for performances to 16 August, adult tickets only.

Win one of ten double-passes for Checkpoint Zero at Sidetrack Shed Theatre, Marrickville. Set in modern day Israel/Palestine, Checkpoint Zero is a story of the effects of conflict on current generations and the dilemmas involved in inheriting wounds from the past. To go in the draw, send an email to karin@currency.com.au with ‘Checkpoint Zero’ in the subject line and your contact details in the email body. Only winners will be notified. Passes are valid to performances on 9, 10, 13 and 14 August (pick your night). Season goes from 28 July – 24 August, for bookings call 02 9560 1255.

Griffin Searchlight, a mini-festival of play readings running from 26-29 August, kicks off with the announcement of the Griffin Award and a reading of the winning play on Tuesday 26 August followed, as the week progresses, by the showcasing of four exhilarating new full-length Australian plays from Griffin's Resident Writers Nicki Bloom, Jonathan Gavin and Sue Smith. Win one of five double-passes to the mini-festival. To go in the draw, tell us which play by Nicki Bloom will be published by Currency in November 2008. Email karin@currency.com.au with ‘Griffin Searchlight’ in the subject line and your answer and contact details in the email body. Only winners will be notified.
For more information on the festival, visit griffintheatre.com.au.
 

NSW

Tommy Murphy’s new play Saturn’s Return is opening at Wharf 2 (STC) on 15 August in a Wharf 2 LOUD production. Special offer: Currency subscribers can get tickets at a special rate, for details, check the SPECIALS section. Season ends 30 August. For more information and to book tickets, visit sydneytheatre.com.au.
Saturn’s Return is the third title under Currency’s new STC imprint. The script will be available in time for the first production. To pre-order your copy, click here.

Arabian Night by Roland Schimmelpfennig is currently playing at the Stables Theatre, season ends 23 August . Special offer: Currency subscribers can get tickets at special prices, check the SPECIALS section for details. The script of Arabian Night is available through Currency Press, for more information visit our website.

Scorched by Wajdi Mouawad is playing at Belvoir St Theatre Upstairs. Season ends 7 September. For tickets, visit www.belvoir.com.au. Mouawad’s Wedding Day at the Cro Magnons is available through Currency Press, for details check our website.

Gallipoli is currently showing at Sydney Theatre in an STC production. Nigel Jamieson, one of Australia’s most distinctive theatre creators, brings to the stage a visceral exploration of one of the myths at the centre of the modern Australian psyche. For tickets visit sydneytheatre.com.au, season ends 25 August.

Tim Crouch’s award-winning play An Oak Tree is currently showing at Belvoir St Theatre Downstairs in a B Sharp production. An Oak Tree is a vivid, risky and hilarious experience where no two performances are the same: one half of the cast changes every night. Directed by Tanya Goldberg and starring John Leary with guest appearances from some of Australia’s leading actors. Season ends 10 August. Book now online or call 9699 3444. Tim Crouch’s unusual playscript is available through Currency Press online.

Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker is currently playing at Darlinghurst Theatre. Adapted from the novel The Playmaker by Thomas Keneally, Our Country's Good takes us back to our convict past and tells the true story of the first theatrical production staged by white people in Australia—performed entirely by convicts. Season ends 23 August. For tickets go to darlinghursttheatre.com. If you are interested in the production history Our Country's Good, have a look at Max Stafford-Clark's account of the production at the Royal Court Theatre in Taking Stock: The Theatre of Max Stafford-Clark.

Monkey Baa’s stage adaptation of Susanne Gervay's I am Jack is touring NSW in August and September. For details, visit monkeybaa.com.au. Currency has published Monkey Baa’s stage adaptation of Jackie French’s Hitler’s Daughter. For more information and to order your copy, visit our website.

VIC

Three Oaks is currently playing at La Mama. Inspired by writer Monica Raszewski’s discovery of letters and notes from an artist’s estate, Three Oaks explores the notion of piecing together a life when a person dies, using a combination of text, music and physical theatre. Season ends 10 August. For tickets go to lamama.com.au.
Three Oaks is published in a double volume with Dina Ross’ Chrysalis. To order your copy, visit our website.

Chrysalis by Dina Ross has opened at La Mama. Annie is on trial for the murder of her three babies. Expert witness Professor Lawrence Taylor is convinced Annie is guilty. But is she? Season ends 23 August. For tickets, go to lamama.com.au, for more information on the play, visit www.chrysalistheplay.com.au.
Chrysalis is published in a double volume with Monica Raszewski’s Three Oaks. To order your copy, visit our website.

Louis Esson’s high-life political comedy The Time is Not Yet Ripe is coming to Carlton Courthouse in a La Mama production. Opening 27 August, for bookings go to lamama.com.au. Currency Press is publishing a new edition of the script in time for the production. To pre-order your copy, visit our website.

Red Sky Morning by Tom Holloway is opening at Red Stich Theatre on 27 August. For more information and tickets, visit redstich.net. Tom Holloway is the author of Don’t Say the Words, published by Currency Press. To order your copy, visit our website.

Melissa Reeves’ The Spook is coming to The Capital theatre, Bendigo for three nights only,7-9 August. For details, visit thecapital.com.au.
The Spook is published by Currency, for more information and to order your copy, visit our website.

QLD

Travelling North by David Williamson is coming to the Playhouse, QPAC. Season goes from 19 August to 6 September. For details and tickets, visit qldtheatreco.com.au.
To see all plays by David Williamson published by Currency Press, click here.
 

WA

Far Away by British playwright Caryl Churchill is coming to Playhouse Theatre in a Black Swan production. Season goes from 16-31 August. For details and tickets, visit bstc.com.au. Caryl Churchill’s playscripts are available in Australia through Currency Press. For more information, visit our website.

SA

Architektin by Robyn Archer is coming to The Dunstan Playhouse in a production by State Theatre Company, SA. Season goes from 29 August to 20 September. For details, visit statetheatrecompany.com.au. Robyn Archer is author of Currency House’s Platform Papers 4: The Myth of the Mainstream: Politics and the Performing Arts in Australia Today, available through Currency Press. For more information visit our website.
 

TAS

The Griffin production of Tom Holloway’s new play Don’t Say the Words is playing at Hobart’s Is Theatre until 9 August. For bookings, call 03 6234 8561. To order your copy of the playscript, visit our website.

Nick Parsons’ play Hollow Ground is playing at the Peacock Theatre in Hobart, Salamanca Arts Centre until 9 August. For tickets call 03 6234 8414 or email reception@salarts.org.au.

TOURING

Monkey Baa’s production of Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat is touring NSW, VIC, QLD and Tasmania from August till November. For details and tickets, visit monkeybaa.com.au.
Monkey Baa’s stage adaptation of Jackie French’s novel Hitler’s Daughter is available from Currency Press. For more information and to order your copy, visit our website.

Bombshells by Joanna Murray-Smith is touring nationally in a Perth Theatre production. For touring dates and details, visit perththeatre.com.au.
Bombshells and other plays by Joanna Murray-Smith are published by Currency Press. For more information, visit our website.