AustLit

Bert Bailey reportedly came up with the idea of putting The Grafter and Jinker on the stage, and while Drew began the process it was not until he began to collaborate with the much more experienced theatre practitioner, Oswald Andeson, that the stories began to take shape as a piece of drama ('A New Australian Play,' p.17). Scottish tragedian, and by then Sydney-based theatre and elocution-teacher Walter Bentley was subsequently brought in to direct the eventual production.

According to Table Talk (Melbourne), Con Drew was already attempting to turn Jinker into a play 'for the management of the Bert Bailey Co' by September 1916. However, owing to the briefness of the company's Melbourne season and the 'possibility of On Our Selection running the whole of it,' the play would not be staged until early the following year ('On and Off the Stage,' 28 September 1916, p.19).

After Oswald Anderson was brought in to help with the dramatisation, both authors were determined to have the play produced in time for the Easter racing carnival season. It was eventually staged in Sydney because the only suitable venue available at that time was that city's Repertory Theatre ('A New Australian Play,' p.17)

Despite the novel's popularity and the engagement of some well-known actors, the season was not a financially successful one. Indeed, according to evidence given by Anderson during his application for bankruptcy in 1919 the Repertory Theatre season was an absolute disaster. The Sun newspaper further records:

Then it was transferred to the Theatre Royal for two weeks. The first week it paid its way, but the second week it was a failure. It was then taken to tho country. The author and witness [Drew] dramatised the story. His partner was not able to find his share, and he had to find the lot, which necessitated his borrowing £450 ('Musical Venture : Anderson's Limited.' 29 May 1919, 27).

In its review of the debut production an Australian Variety critic was positive about the play:

Mr Walter Bentley was responsible for the production and he was ably assisted by Gilbert Emery. Both gentlemen worked particularly hard to achieve the desired end, and much of the credit for a successful first performance goes to them. They certainly handled their little company well, and the success of Jinker was largely a matter of their knowledge of stage-craft.

However, sensing that it might struggle, the writer speculates that the venue's location on the other side of town was too far away for theatregoers. 'If those responsible are wise they will secure the Little Theatre for the remainder of the season... The show is certainly deserving of success as it is well-written and most capably interpreted' ('Jinker at the Repertory Theatre ,' n. pag.).

During the Theatre Royal season of Jinker the Grafter's Mate, Oswald Anderson announced that the play would later undertake a country and Australian tour. In his 1919 bankruptcy application he also stated that the country tour had taken place. However no details relating to either tour have yet been located using the National Library of Australia's digitised newspaper service, Trove. Given the losses sustained during the Sydney seasons it is unlikely that Anderson could have financed a country tour, and his 1919 statement must be treated with caution.