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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'The prominence and vehemence of public debate about Hannie Rayson's Two Brothers has renewed the public interest in the power of contemporary Australian theatre. Not since the 1970s has there been such mainstream media attention on the work and role of Australian playwrights.
'Power Plays capitalises on this moment of renewed and heightened interest by investigating the why and the how of eight contemporary Australian playwrights: Andrew Bovell, Patricia Cornelius, Reg Cribb, Ben Ellis, Wesley Enoch, Hannie Rayson, Stephen Sewell and Katherine Thomson. These writers are passionate about the theatre as a forum for public discussion and they interrogate current issues in their work. Their plays reflect the passing show of cultural, political and economic life in Australia, telling audiences something critical about what is going on: this is the state of play, this is what we are. The author has conducted extensive interviews with these writers and offers an extended analysis of some of their recent plays.' (Publisher's blurb)
Notes
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Dedication: To Bob, Josh and Tom. And for mother, Lotte.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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The Life In Them Words
2016
single work
essay
— Appears in: Sydney Review of Books , November 2016; -
Untitled
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: JASAL , no. 8 2008; (p. 182-184)
— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda 2007 single work criticism -
Non-Fiction 2007-2008
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 53 no. 2008; (p. 76-92)
— Review of The Rise and Rise of Kerry Packer 1993 single work biography ; This Crazy Thing a Life : Australian Jewish Autobiography 2007 selected work criticism ; John Winston Howard 2007 single work biography ; Mudrooroo : A Likely Story : Identity and Belonging in Postcolonial Australia 2007 single work criticism ; A Matter of Conscience : Sir Ronald Wilson 2007 single work biography ; Contrary Rhetoric : Lectures on Landscape and Language 2008 selected work criticism essay ; Australian Literature : Postcolonialism, Racism, Transnationalism 2007 single work criticism ; Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda 2007 single work criticism ; Heartsick for Country : Stories of Love, Spirit and Creation 2008 anthology life story ; Conversations With The Mob 2008 anthology life story ; Make It Australian: The Australian Performing Group, the Pram Factory and New Wave Theatre 2008 single work criticism ; Stressing the Modern : Cultural Politics in Australian Women's Poetry 2007 selected work criticism -
Fair Play Includes the Right to Fail
2008
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Australian Literary Review , August vol. 3 no. 7 2008; (p. 22) In light of the publication of Hilary Glow's Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda, and Louis Nowra's review of that work, Julian Meyrick undertakes his own dissection of late twentieth and early twenty-first century Australian drama. In Meyrick's view, 'the challenge is to resurrect from the thin soil of recent experience the native growth of a new, intelligent Australian drama. For this the playwrights themselves must take responsibility.... Money is important, as are skill and hard grind. But the main virtue required is courage: courage to seek the right form for what must be said, and not leave off the search until that purpose has been achieved..' -
Self-Righteous on the Night
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian Literary Review , July vol. 3 no. 6 2008; (p. 13, 18 p.)
— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda 2007 single work criticism
-
Non Fiction
2007
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 October 2007; (p. 24)
— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda 2007 single work criticism -
Playwrights Challenge Australia's Sense of Direction
2007
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 29 December 2007; (p. 10-11)
— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda 2007 single work criticism -
Exit Left
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: Overland , Autumn no. 190 2008; (p. 86-87)
— Review of Class Act : Melbourne Workers Theatre 1987-2007 2007 anthology criticism ; Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda 2007 single work criticism ; Contemporary Australian Drama 2006 single work criticism -
Self-Righteous on the Night
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian Literary Review , July vol. 3 no. 6 2008; (p. 13, 18 p.)
— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda 2007 single work criticism -
Playwrights Finger Reality Missed by Politicians
2007
single work
review
— Appears in: Eureka Street , 18 October vol. 17 no. 20 2007; Eureka Street , 10 January vol. 18 no. 1 2008;
— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda 2007 single work criticism -
The Follies Bizarre : Australia's Political Theatre
2008
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Quadrant , March vol. 52 no. 3 2008; (p. 22-28) -
Fair Play Includes the Right to Fail
2008
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Australian Literary Review , August vol. 3 no. 7 2008; (p. 22) In light of the publication of Hilary Glow's Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda, and Louis Nowra's review of that work, Julian Meyrick undertakes his own dissection of late twentieth and early twenty-first century Australian drama. In Meyrick's view, 'the challenge is to resurrect from the thin soil of recent experience the native growth of a new, intelligent Australian drama. For this the playwrights themselves must take responsibility.... Money is important, as are skill and hard grind. But the main virtue required is courage: courage to seek the right form for what must be said, and not leave off the search until that purpose has been achieved..' -
The Life In Them Words
2016
single work
essay
— Appears in: Sydney Review of Books , November 2016;