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AUTHOR OF THE MONTH
Nick Drake
is Currency’s author of the month for June. The British poet, novelist
and playwright adapted Raimond Gaita’s critically acclaimed memoir
Romulus, My Father
for the screen. The movie is opening in cinemas around the country this
week. Nick spoke to us about the adaptation process, his time in
Australia and his future projects. To read the interview and to find
out more about the screenplay, click here
.
I can’t think of a single Australian movie with such a dense and complex emotional texture. I know I will never forget it.
Helen Garner
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NEW TITLES & REVIEWS
Her Maj – A History of Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat
Peter Freund with Val Sarah
Published by Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat, available through Currency Press
Ballarat’s
Her Majesty’s Theatre is one of Australia’s most significant historic
theatres. On 7 June, it celebrates its 132nd birthday. Peter Freund and
Val Sarah review the history of the theatre, both as a building and as
a social institution.
For more information and to purchase your copy click here.
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Bastard Boys
Sue Smith
The ABC mini-series about the 1998 waterfront dispute was watched by
970,000 viewers and created a lot of public debate. Written by Sue
Smith, Currency Press published the screenplay in May. Here is what
some of the critics had to say:
It's a salutary reminder of the power of intelligent character-driven drama Graeme Blundell, The Australian
This
finely tuned account of recent history is as good as it gets
…Beautifully written by Sue Smith, who has mastered the sort of
language wharfies and, apparently, politicians and bosses are prone to
use, and makes it roll off their tongues with blistering effect.
Robin Oliver, Sydney Morning Herald
It’s such a superb piece of writing.
Scott Meek, former ABC head of drama in The Age.
To get your copy of the screenplay, click here, to read our interview with Sue Smith, click here.
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The Piano
Gail Jones
Gail Jones’ thoughtful and perceptive critique of Jane Campion’s award-winning film is the latest title in the Australian Screen Classics series, making it the sixth title in the series.
Gail joined other writers in the series, Nell Schofield and Tony Moore
and the series editor, Jane Mills at the Sydney Writers Festival panel:
Reading and Writing Australian Screen Culture where they talked about
their favourite film and how it impacted on them. The audience
thoroughly enjoyed the session and one woman was heard to say as she
left: ‘that was fascinating’.
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ON STAGE
*
Wonderlands by Katherine Thomson will be playing at Deckchair Theatre, Fremantle, 7 June–1 July. To book your tickets go to deckchairtheatre.com, to see all of Katherine Thomson's plays published by Currency Press click here.
*
Inheritance
by
Hannie Rayson is playing at the Union Theatre at University of Melbourne from 16–30 June. To get your tickets go to fulldressproductions.com.au.
*
Reconstructing Jimmy
– a rock n' roll musical set against the backdrop of the Aboriginal Referendum in 1967 – by John Harding will be performed at Woodford during The Dreaming Festival from 9–11 June.
* Roy Smiles’
Ying Tong – A Walk with the Goons will be playing at Riverside Parramatta from 13–16 June for five shows only.
And from 20 June to 28 July, Melbourne Theatre Company will stage
Ying Tong at the Playhouse. For tickets go to theartscentre.net.au.
Ying Tong has been published by Oberon Books, UK and is now available through Currency Press. To purchase your copy click here.
* Parnassus' Den are having a reading of
Night of the Ding Dong by Ralph Peterson on Monday 25 June at the Old Fitzroy Hotel. Further details can be found on their website: www.parnassusden.org.au.
Night of the Ding Dong is published in
Plays of the 50s Volume 1.
AUTHOR NEWS
* In association with the exhibition
An Incomplete World: Works from The UBS Art Collection,
Louis Nowra will be talking at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on 13 June, 6.30pm–7pm as part of the Gallery’s Art After Hours program. Entry is free. For more information on the exhibition, click here.
* Congratulations to
Patricia Cornelius on winning this year’s Patrick White Playwright’s Award for her play
Do Not Go Gentle.
The announcement took place on 2 June in the Sydney Theatre Company
auditorium as part of the Sydney Writers’ Festival. Currency Press has
published Patricia Cornelius’ plays
Love and
Who's Afraid of the Working Class?
* Congratulations also to
Tommy Murphy on winning the NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Drama for his adaptation of
Holding the Man. That’s the second year in row Tommy has won this award (he won it last year for
Strangers in Between). Both plays are now published in one volume.
*
Katherine Thomson and
Tim Pye
have recently been using the Currency Boardroom for brainstorming
sessions and Katherine emailed us to say how enjoyable it was: ‘We were
keen to find somewhere that would lend itself to comedy (i.e. able to
pace/something to look at/fresh air). The Currency room was perfect,
thank you, thank you, thank you.’. We’d love to have the space being
used more often, so if you need a space to develop your ideas, for
rehearsals or meetings, give us a call. Payment negotiable and
'strapped for cash' writers are given very ‘competitive’ rates.
We
hope you enjoyed our news for this month. Tell your friends about our
newsletters, they can subscribe to our mailing list online at www.currency.com.au. |
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