Welcome to our February Newsletter – an issue bursting at the seams with new releases and book launches, events, special offers, productions and awards. Our author of the month for February is Kate Mulvany, author of T he Seed, which is opening Upstairs at Belvoir St Theatre this week – and as a Currency subscriber, you can get your tickets at a special price. Enjoy!

Kate Mulvany has played lead roles with major Australian theatre companies and is the author of several plays. The Seed, based on Kate’s family story, was awarded the 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Independent Production.
We asked Kate about how the play developed, how it feels to share your family story on stage and what she is up to next. To read the interview, click here.

The Seed

Kate Mulvany

Meet Rose Maloney. Her dad Danny went to Vietnam. Her grandfather Brian is ex-IRA. Today is their collective birthday. The Seed is a compelling, tightly-woven and thrilling exploration of a very real family and the repercussions of war.

‘Kate Mulvany’s story, her play about her story and her performance in her play are extraordinarily powerful and moving. This is an important work that deserves a long life.’ John McCallum, Australian

The Seed opens at Belvoir St Theatre for a second season on 16 February.
Special offer exclusive to Currency subscribers: See The Seed for just $45 – for details see our Specials section below.

Copies of The Seed will be available at Belvoir St Theatre. If you can’t make it to the show, order your copy online.

Make It Australian: The Australian Performing Group, the Pram Factory and New Wave Theatre

Gabrielle Wolf

The first major study of the APG, Make It Australian offers an illuminating glimpse into a powerful era when theatre was central to the hot issues of the day – enraging, exciting and always entertaining.

’Wolf has truly done a magnificent job. This is the first comprehensive account of the APG project, explaining its political and cultural significance and tracing the evolution of the creative forces at work. And she takes us almost as seriously as we took ourselves.’ Max Gillies

Make It Australian will be launched by Sue Ingleton on Saturday, 16 February at 6pm as part of Writers at the Convent in Melbourne. For details see our Events section.

For more information on Make It Australian and to order your copy, click here.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Philip Brophy

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is the latest in Currency's Australian Screen Classics series and Philip Brophy takes new paths in his provocative reading of the 1994 cult movie.

Expanding the boundaries of film criticism, Brophy invites all those who care for our national film culture to think more deeply about what this film is saying about Australia, its history, its culture and its cinema.

Click here to order your copy.

Asylum

Kit Lazaroo

Lally Black is a psychiatrist struggling to keep the lid on her doubts about her own funds of compassion. Yu Siying is a Chinese woman who has caught HIV in Australia. Afraid of China's judgement, Siying has one last chance to claim asylum, and believes Lally is the key to her appeal.

Asylum is opening for a second season at La Mama on 20 February. Pick up your copy at the theatre or, if you can’t make it to the show, place your order online.

The Female of the Species

Joanna Murray-Smith

What happens if a great feminist is asked to apologise for causing personal havoc in the life of one of her fans? What if she is actually taken to task for the errors of judgement in her public thinking?

This latest gem from the pen of one of Australia’s most outstanding playwrights was inspired by Germaine Greer’s experience of being held captive in her country house in Essex in 2000.

‘People have already said that the laughter in the theatre… reminds them of the heyday of David Williamson. I think that Murray-Smith is much funnier than Williamson. Her writing is more fluently intelligent, and she handles dramatic form with a sharper imagination.’ Alison Croggon, Theatre Notes

Pick up your copy at the theatre or, if you can’t make it to the show, place your order online.

NICK HERN BOOKS

Cariad

Sophie Stanton

A raucous comedy and a compelling story about secrets, memory, history and love, currently playing at Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Wales.

Late one night, Blodwen takes smartly dressed, metropolitan Jayne into her home. Jayne is paralytic and Blodwen is delighted that the two childhood friends are reunited after thirty years. But what different lives both women now lead. As Blodwen talks about their childhood, Jayne begins to worry: she doesn't remember their friendship at all. Or does she?

'A moving examination of how other people rescue us from our families' Guardian

'Supremely well written' The Times

Cariad will be available late February. For more information and to pre-order your copy, visit our website.

Three Sisters on Hope Street

Diane Samuels, Tracy-Ann Obermann

A funny, vibrant and moving version of Chekhov's Three Sisters, set amongst the Jewish community in wartime Liverpool. From the award-winning writer Diane Samuels ( Kindertransport) and well-known actress and writer Tracy-Ann Oberman.

See the World Premiere of Three Sisters On Hope Street at the Liverpool Everyman, closing 16 February 2008, and at Hampstead Theatre, London, 21 February - 29 March 2008.

'heartwarming...fascinating and powerfully affecting' Telegraph

'an extraordinary play' Sunday Times

'a bold, fresh and fruitful reinterpretation' Times

Three Sisters on Hope Street will be available late February. For more information and to pre-order your copy, visit our website.

Testing the Echo

David Edgar

A timely, provocative and witty look at the campaign to redefine Britishness for a multicultural society.

Emma is helping immigrants to prepare for the British citizenship test. At the same time, her students Tetyana, Mahmood and Chong have their own, very different reasons for wanting to pass the citizenship test. As the Home Office worries away at the questions in the test, Emma faces a challenge to her deepest-held beliefs.

The World Premiere of Testing the Echo tours the UK until 10 May. For details visit outofjoint.co.uk.

Testing the Echo will be available late February. For more information and to pre-order your copy, visit our website.

Kate Mulvany’s The Seed is moving Upstairs for its second season at Belvoir Street and Company B offers Currency subscribers tickets at the special price of $45 (save $9 off adult tickets). This offer applies to performances on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 February at 8pm and Saturday 23 February at 2pm. To book, call the Company B Box Office on (02) 9699 3444 and quote ‘Currency Offer'. For more information on the production, go to belvoir.com.au

Win one of two double passes to the opening night of Neil LaBute’s new play This Is How It Goes at Darlinghurst theatre on 27 February – be the first to send an email to karin@currency.com.au with ‘This Is How It Goes’ in the subject line and your contact details in the email body. Only winners will be notified.
Also, all Currency Press newsletter readers get discounted tickets at the great rate of $20 on Tuesday nights and $25 to all other performances. Simply quote ‘Currency offer’ when booking your tickets. For more information visit www.darlinghursttheatre.com or call the box office on (02) 8356 9987.

Three exiting festivals are opening their doors this month – make sure you don’t miss them!

Writers at the Convent, Melbourne 15-17 February
Writers at the Convent is the latest addition to Melbourne’s literary calendar: Set against the unique backdrop of the restored Abbotsford Convent, it promises to be a true celebration of writers and good writing.

Make It Australian: The Australian Performing Group, the Pram Factory and New Wave Theatre will be launched by Sue Ingleton on Saturday, 16 February at 6pm, following a panel discussion on the legacy of the APG with Jon Hawkes and John Romeril, chaired by author Gabrielle Wolf. For more details on the session go to: www.writersattheconvent.com

National Play Festival 2008, Brisbane 10-23 February
PlayWriting Australia presents the inaugural National Play Festival in Brisbane. With the aim to promote the best new Australian writing, it showcases eight new Australian plays, including work by Sven Swenson, Ross Mueller and Sue Smith.
The programme also features forums, presentations and talks with (amongst others) Daniel Keene, Joanna Murray-Smith, Cathy Hunt, Michael Futcher and Helen Howard.

Currency Press proudly supports the presentation The Cops are at the Back of the Theatre – Civil Disobedience and Radical Brisbane on Sunday, 17 February at 5pm, Visy Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse.
When Alex Buzo’s play Norm and Ahmed was first performed in Brisbane in 1969 the actor playing Norm was arrested for obscenity the moment the play was finished – Richard Fidler, Emma Buzo, Laurence Coy and Craig Meneaud will discuss how political contemporary theatre is and where the cops are today when the lights go down.
For more information on the presentation, click here.

New Zealand International Arts Festival 2008, Wellington 22 February – 16 March
The New Zealand International Arts Festival is a biennial multi-arts festival held to celebrate the best arts entertainment from around the world and within New Zealand.
Amongst the many authors taking part in talks and discussions are Christos Tsiolkas and Craig Sherborne. For details, please visit the festival website.

NSW

Kate Mulvany’s The Seed is opening at Belvoir St Theatre in its second season on 16 February. To book your tickets, visit belvoir.com.au – Check our Specials section for Belvoir’s special ticket offer exclusive to Currency subscribers. Copies of the play will be available at the theatre, or you can order one from our website.

The Club by David Williamson is showing at Glen Street Theatre until 23 February. The production then moves to Riverside Parramatta, where it will be showing from 26 February to 1 March. To book your tickets go to glenstreet.com.au or riversideparramatta.com.au; to have a look at David Williamson’s plays published by Currency Press, visit our website.

Open to both school groups and the general public, The 7 Stages of Grieving by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman is the first production of Sydney Theatre Company’s 2008 Education programme. Season goes from 22 February – 20 March. For more information, visit sydneytheatre.com.au.
Wesley Enoch is the author of Black Medea and The Story of the Miracles at Cookie’s Table, both published by Currency Press.

Ray Lawler’s famous Summer of the Seventeenth Doll returns to the stage at Riverside Parramatta from 28 February till 1 March, for five performances only. For more information on the production, visit riversideparramatta.com.au For Ray Lawler’s plays published by Currency Press, visit our website.

As You Like It by William Shakespeare is on stage in a Bell Shakespeare production at the Playhouse in the Sydney Opera House. Season ends 1 March. To book your tickets, visit bellshakespeare.com.au; to order your copy or the play, visit our website.

The Wharf Revue – Beware of the Dogma is returning to Wharf 2, STC for two additional performances on 15 and 16 February. Written by Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott, the review tackles everything from John Howard and Kevin Rudd to the Races and World Youth Day. For tickets go to sydneytheatre.com.au.
Jonathan Biggins has published an essay on the Wharf Revue in Currency House’s Platform Papers series. For more information, visit our website.

VIC

After a sell-out season in 2007, Kit Lazaroo’s Asylum is returning to La Mama for a second season, opening 20 February. For more information on the production, visit lamama.com.au; to order your copy of the play, click here.

QLD

The Female of the Species, a comic gem from the pen of Joanna Murray-Smith is currently playing in a QTC production at Cremorne Theatre, QPAC. Season ends 15 March; for tickets go to qldtheatreco.com.au. Copies of the play will be available at the theatre or you can order one from our website.

The Danger Age by Kate Mulvany is premiering in a La Boite production at the Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane. Previews 26 – 27 February, season goes from 28 February – 15 March.
For more information on the production, visit laboite.com.au
Kate Mulvany is the author of The Seed, published by Currency Press.

SA

Andrew Bovell’s When the Rain Stops Falling premieres at Scott Theatre in a joint production of State Theatre Company of South Australia, Brink Productions and Adelaide Bank Festival. Season goes from 23 February – 15 March; for tickets visit statetheatrecompany.com.au.
For more information on Andrew Bovells work published by Currency Press, visit our website.

Touring

Tim Supple’s internationally acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is currently touring Australia, performing at Perth Festival from 14 – 24 February 2008 and Adelaide Festival from 29 February – 8 March 2008.
The production will also come to Sydney Theatre Company from 11 to 22 March.
To order your copy of Shakespeare’s most famous comedy, visit our website.

International Productions

Debra Oswalds Mr Bailey’s Minder is premiering in the United States at The Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Season goes from 19 February to 9 March.
For more information on the production, visit walnutstreettheatre.org
To order your copy of the play, visit our website.

Sydney Theatre Awards
Toy Symphony swept the 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards: Michael Gow's new play won in seven categories, including Best New Australian Work, Best Mainstage Production, Best Direction and Best Actor. Currency will publish the play in May.
Best Independent Production was awarded to Kate Mulvany's The Seed which is moving upstairs for a second season at Belvoir Theatre, opening 16 February.
The award for Best Actress went to Toni Scanlan for her role in the Griffin production of Katherine Thomson's King Tide. And Currency founder Katharine Brisbane was awarded the 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards for Lifetime Achievement.
Currency congratulates all winners!