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y separately published work icon Colonial Experience single work   drama   humour   - Three acts
Issue Details: First known date: 1868... 1868 Colonial Experience
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Production Details

  • First produced at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, 4 July 1868.

  • Performed at the Prince of Wales Opera House, Sydney, December 1868; also produced by Twelfth Night Theatre Co., Brisbane, 29 August 1962.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1868
    • 1871 .
      Extent: [3], 93, [1] leavesp.
      Description: Photocopy.
      (Manuscript) assertion
      Note/s:
      • Three unnumbered leaves in front : Walter H. Cooper's signature (1st leaf) ; signature of D.J. Mitchels (2nd leaf) ; list of characters and players and scene description (3rd leaf).
      • One unnumbered leaf at back with note by author : "Written by W.H. Cooper. Altered and revised by R. Roberts. Dec. 1871. Theatre Royal, Melbourne".

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Local Id: H0318
    • 1871 .
      Extent: [1], 48 leavesp.
      Description: Typescript (carbon copy).
      (Manuscript) assertion
      Note/s:
      • Some manuscript annotations.
      • Stamped 'Twelfth Night Theatre'.
      • On title page: "Altered and revised by R. Roberts, December, 1971. Theatre Royal, Melbourne".

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Local Id: H0318A
    • Sydney, New South Wales,: Currency Press , 1979 .
      image of person or book cover 6928908109297385860.jpg
      This image has been sourced from AustralianPlays.org
      Extent: xlii, 77p.p.
      Description: illus., diag., port.
      Note/s:
      • Many of the illustrations are from Sydney Punch and Illustrated Sydney News.
      • Preface by Philip Parsons.
      ISBN: 0868190241 (pbk.), 0868190160 (corrected)
      Series: The National Theatre Currency Press (publisher), 1973 series - publisher
      .
      (Manuscript) assertion

      Holdings

      Held at: State Library of New South Wales State Library of NSW
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Works about this Work

A Currency Lad as Playwright Will Correy , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Margin , July/August no. 78 2009; (p. 17-26)
Squatters and New Chums : A Reading of Walter Cooper's 'Colonial Experience' Sophie Elias , 1985 single work criticism
— Appears in: Colonisations : Rencontres Australie-Canada 1985; (p. 57-66) Discussed Colonial Experience with regard to the image that late nineteenth century Australians had of British colonials and themselves, and the way the play may be interpreted to function in relation to contemporary Australian productions.
Three Australian Plays: From 1868 to 1979 May-Brit Akerholt , 1981 single work review
— Appears in: Kunapipi , vol. 3 no. 2 1981; (p. 144-148)
— Review of Colonial Experience Walter H. Cooper , 1868 single work drama ; Boy's Own McBeth : A Really Rotten Tragedy Grahame Bond , Jim Burnett , 1979 single work musical theatre ; Travelling North David Williamson , 1978 single work drama
Drama Terry Sturm , 1981 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Oxford History of Australian Literature 1981; (p. 175-267)
A Most Lively Resurrection Brian Hoad , 1981 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 17 February vol. 101 no. 5250 1981; (p. 72)
Three Australian Plays: From 1868 to 1979 May-Brit Akerholt , 1981 single work review
— Appears in: Kunapipi , vol. 3 no. 2 1981; (p. 144-148)
— Review of Colonial Experience Walter H. Cooper , 1868 single work drama ; Boy's Own McBeth : A Really Rotten Tragedy Grahame Bond , Jim Burnett , 1979 single work musical theatre ; Travelling North David Williamson , 1978 single work drama
[Review] Colonial Experience [and] Visions Delroy Oberg , 1980 single work review
— Appears in: Artlook , April vol. 6 no. 4 1980; (p. 39-40)
— Review of Colonial Experience Walter H. Cooper , 1868 single work drama ; Visions Louis Nowra , 1978 single work drama
A Merry Trifle Patricia Thompson , 1979 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 8 December 1979; (p. 18)
— Review of Colonial Experience Walter H. Cooper , 1868 single work drama ; The Man from Mukinupin : A Musical Play in Two Acts Dorothy Hewett , 1979 single work musical theatre
Theatrical Visions of the Colonies Anne Godfrey-Smith , 1980 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , February-March no. 18 1980; (p. 21)
— Review of Colonial Experience Walter H. Cooper , 1868 single work drama
Three Popular Plays Elizabeth Webby , 1980 single work review
— Appears in: The CRNLE Reviews Journal , May no. 1 1980; (p. 116-118)
— Review of The Ship's Whistle, or, Guns and Gallops, Glory and Gold : a play Barry Oakley , 1979 single work drama ; The Man from Mukinupin : A Musical Play in Two Acts Dorothy Hewett , 1979 single work musical theatre ; Colonial Experience Walter H. Cooper , 1868 single work drama
Squatters and New Chums : A Reading of Walter Cooper's 'Colonial Experience' Sophie Elias , 1985 single work criticism
— Appears in: Colonisations : Rencontres Australie-Canada 1985; (p. 57-66) Discussed Colonial Experience with regard to the image that late nineteenth century Australians had of British colonials and themselves, and the way the play may be interpreted to function in relation to contemporary Australian productions.
A Currency Lad as Playwright Will Correy , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Margin , July/August no. 78 2009; (p. 17-26)
Drama Terry Sturm , 1981 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Oxford History of Australian Literature 1981; (p. 175-267)
A Most Lively Resurrection Brian Hoad , 1981 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 17 February vol. 101 no. 5250 1981; (p. 72)
New Comedy 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Empire , 1 July no. 5184 1868; (p. 2)

The Empire provides an advance summary of Walter Cooper's comedy Colonial Experience, to be performed for the first time at the Royal Victoria Theatre on Saturday, 4 July 1868. The play is said to be 'illustrative of the varied and peculiar phases of Australian life' and the production 'seems likely to present a characteristic reflex of the mode and manner of colonial times'. The principal roles in the inaugural production were taken by William Hoskins (Captain Versatile Fluent) and Mr. Andrews (Joe Grudge); the remaining roles were performed by members of the Victoria Star Company.
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Last amended 29 Jul 2014 11:23:09
Subjects:
  • New South Wales,
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