Welcome to our March newsletter. In this issue, you are invited to rediscover the children’s classic The Tram to Bondi Beach in a brand new stage adaptation by Libby Hathorn and J. Andrew Johnstone. You can also check out our new releases, win one of five double passes to see The Kid and read the latest news on events, productions and awards happening this March. Enjoy!

Libby Hathorn has written over forty books for children and won a host of awards for her work in literature, including the Centenary Medal in 2003.
J. Andrew Johnstone is a successful author and playwright. The two worked together to adapt Libby’s celebrated children’s book, The Tram to Bondi Beach, for the stage.

We asked them about the importance of theatre for young people, about the challenges of adapting a picture book for the stage, and what they think Bondi Beach means for the Australian psyche. To read the interview, click here.

The Tram to Bondi Beach

Libby Hathorn and J. Andrew Johnstone

Set against the magical backdrop of Bondi Beach, in the year the Sydney Harbour Bridge opens, Keiran a boy from Bondi hopes to help his family survive the Depression.

See the characters of this Australian children’s classic come to life in an engrossing stage adaptation.

Available late March. For more information and to pre-order your copy, visit our website.

The Kid

Michael Gow

The play that launched Michael Gow’s playwriting career returns to the stage.

In blazing heat, a stolen Mini hurtles towards Sydney. Inside, three unstable teenagers from the country—Snake, Aspro and Dean—plan a future that will begin when they collect Aspro's accident compo from the Department.

Sparks fly. Tensions escalate. Twilight approaches…

The Kid opens at the Stables in a Griffin Theatre production on 14 March. Get your copy of the play at the theatre at the special price of $10—if you can’t make it to the show, order online from our website.

FROM OUR AGENCIES

CURRENCY HOUSE

The Permanent Underground: Australian Contemporary Jazz in the New Millennium (Platform Papers No. 16)

Peter Rechniewski

In the last 20 years modern jazz has undergone an unprecedented transformation and expansion. Yet, Australian jazz culture is divided and has not yet managed to counteract its marginalization by the media. Across the spectrum of Australian music, jazz is a permanent underground. Peter Rechniewski defines the causes and makes a way through to the light.

For more information and to order your copy, visit our website.

SYDNEY EISTEDDFOD

The Sydney Eisteddfod Story: 1933–1941

Jennie Rowley Lees

The City of Sydney Eisteddfod opened in 1933 to instant success. When the Pacific War forced it to recess in 1941, it had uncovered a wealth of astonishing talent, and fired what the critics described as the start of a cultural renaissance.
Published to coincide with its 75th birthday, The Sydney Eisteddfod Story takes us back to the beginnings of this most successful competition.

The Sydney Eisteddfod Story will be launched on 19 April – for more information, see our Events section below.

You can buy your copy directly from Sydney Eisteddfod or you can pre-order your copy online from www.currency.com.au (available late March).

Launch
The Sydney Eisteddfod Story: 1933-1941 by Jennie Rowley Lees will be launched by Peter Kirkpatrick on 19 April, 2008. A concert featuring some of the most outstanding winners from the 2007 McDonald’s Performing Arts Challenge will precede the launch. Concert begins 7pm, book launch 9pm at The Smith Auditorium, Shore School, William Street, North Sydney. Admission to concert $20 or $30 with after party. For more information and bookings call Sydney Eisteddfod on (02) 9261 8366.

Author Talks
Two authors of Currency’s Australian Screen Classics series will take part in events at Gleebooks in March: Henry Reynolds will talk about his book Drawing the Global Colour Line (published by MUP) with co-author Marylin Lake and Paul Kelly on Monday, 10 March at 6.30pm.
And Catherine Lumby will be in conversation with co-author Kath Albury and Linda Jaivin about her book The Porn Report on Tuesday, 11 March at 6.30pm. For bookings call Gleebooks at (02) 9660 2333.
Henry Reynolds is the author of The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, the eighth title in the Australian Screen Classics series, which will be published in April. For a preview, click here. Catherine Lumby is the author of Alvin Purple, the ninth title in the series, to be published in June this year.

Win one of five double passes to see Griffin Theatre's production of The Kid on Tuesday, 18 March. Be among the first five people to correctly answer this question: which other award-winning play by Michael Gow will be published by Currency in May 2008? Send an email to karin@currency.com.au with your answer in the subject line and your contact details in the email body. Only winners will be notified.

NSW

Michael Gow’s The Kid returns to the stage in a Griffin production at the Stables Theatre. Season runs from 14 March to 26 April. Check our Specials section for your chance to win one of five double passes. For bookings visit www.griffintheatre.com.au. Currency has released an updated edition of The Kid in conjunction with this production. Copies are available at the theatre. For more information on Michael Gow’s published plays or to order online, visit our website.

Kate Mulvany’s The Seed is currently playing at Belvoir St Theatre Upstairs, season ends 30 March. To book your tickets, visit belvoir.com.au. Copies of the play are available at the theatre, or you can order one from our website.

The Wharf Revue: Beware of the Dogma, written by Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott, opens at Glen Street Theatre on 25 March. For tickets go to www.glenstreet.com.au.
Jonathan Biggins’s essay on the Wharf Revue is available as part of Currency House’s Platform Papers series. For more information, 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 ends 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.

New Theatre’s production of Hamlet opens 13 March, in a sharp and edgy interpretation directed by Fiona Hallenen. For details and bookings visit www.ramin.com.au. To see all titles on Hamlet available through Currency, visit our website.

VIC

Kit Lazaroo’s Asylum is currently playing at La Mama in its second season, closing Saturday, 8 March. For more information on the production, visit lamama.com.au; to order your copy of the play, click here.

Jack Hibberd’s Dimboola returns to La Mama, where it premiered in 1969. Season goes from 26 March – 13 April. For more information and tickets go to lamama.com.au.
A collection of selected plays by Jack Hibberd, which includes Dimboola, is available from Currency Press. Click here for details.

Holding the Man is coming to Merlyn Theatre in an MTC production. Season goes from 14 March to 19 April. Tommy Murphy’s stage adaptation of Timothy Conigrave’s memoir is available from Currency Press in a double volume with Strangers in Between. For more information, visit our website.

Coming up at the Red Stitch Theatre is the Australian premiere of Jez Butterworth’s The Winterling. Season runs from 19 March to 19 April. For details and bookings visit redstich.net. The Winterling and other plays by Jez Butterworth are available through Currency Press. For more information, visit our website.

The Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of Love Song, by John Kolvenbach is currently playing at the Victorian Arts Centre. Season ends 19 April. For tickets and details visit www.mtc.com.au. Copies of the play are available through Currency Press, for more information, visit our website.

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 are available at the theatre or you can order one from our website.

The Danger Age by Kate Mulvany is currently showing in a La Boite production at the Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane. Season ends 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 is playing at Scott Theatre in a joint production of State Theatre Company of South Australia, Brink Productions and Adelaide Bank Festival. Season ends 15 March; for tickets visit statetheatrecompany.com.au.
For more information on Andrew Bovell’s 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 and is playing as part of the Adelaide Festival until 8 March 2008.
The production will then move to Sydney Theatre Company from 11 to 22 March.
To order your copy of Shakespeare’s most famous comedy, visit our website.