AustLit

Author's note:

"When this play was first performed it was in the process of being written. Bits of it were being tried out with an Evening Institute Group under the auspices of the London Court Council. The students informed me during one of the rehearsals that there was going to be a drama festival at Hammersmith. They would like to enter a play for it, they said, and wanted it to be the one on which they were working. Could they? Did I consent?

I protested that "The Speaking Leaves," as it was called, was decidedly untried material, and might prove to be worthless. It could let them down badly. They had confidence in it, they insisted, and felt they were getting somewhere with it. So on March 18, 1955 at the Fourth Annual Hammersmith Drama Festival the play was presented, with the title changed to "Canberra Road."

In his summing-up at the end of the programme, the adjudicator had some kind things to say. "Canberra Road" was a welcome change from the usual drama-festival fare, he assured the audience. It was different and had substance. He looked forwards to more plays from this group and their author-producer. 

Immediately after this the Metropolitan borough of Fulham began its Civic Recreation Winter Season. For this – on March 22 and 24 – two more performances of "Canberra Road" were done. Other short plays were on the same programme. The audience was packed and attentive, applauding everything without clearly indicating any preference. 

Then, on March 25, that is, straight after the Fulham effort, the play was done yet again at the Eighth Annual Wimbledon Drama Festival. This was a more gruelling test than the others, for the Wimbledon Drama Festival was large and important, and the Wimbledon Townhall was so huge that it held, if I remember rightly, eight or nine thousand people. Moreover, drama groups wishing to be represented at this festival had to submit the scripts of two or three plays they were prepared to do. This procedure was duly followed. "Canberra Road" was the one the Selection Committee chose. 

However, this time it was evident that the adjudicator had not liked "Canberra Road" at all. It was unsuitable for a drama festival, he told that enormous audience, waiting to hear his judgements and comments. A play of this kind should never have been done! Naturally the cast and myself were unhappy about this. Such a criticism gave no indication of the worth of the play as a play, and was really a reflection on the Selection Committee more than on us, we decided. 

Since then, and as a result of these performances and the passing of time, the play has had a few minor changes. Its present title, "That Day of The Speaking Leaves," is almost a return to the original one, and is perhaps more in keeping with the atmosphere of the play than the somewhat prosaic "Canberra Road." The avenue with the memorial tablets actually exists. Many Australians will have seen it – as I have. One does not easily forget it."

K.B

Gastouri,
Corfu,
Sep. 1981.