MS 5062
Records of The Australian National Playwrights Conference



Scope and Content Note

  • Records: 1972- 1994
  • 17.22m (95 boxes), plus 2 Folio boxes
  • Available for reference

Records

These records were donated to the Library by the organisation in a number of instalments between 1974-1985.

The files include playsripts, reader's reports, correspondence, minutes of meetings, funding applications, notes, press cuttings, photographs and printed material.

Historical Note

The Australian National Playwright Conference was established in 1972. The Conference aims to promote and develop script writing by Australian writers, to produce such plays by professional companies to offer critical and practical theatrical assistance to playwrights and rehearsed readings of selected playscripts.

Oral History Recordings

The National Library's Oral History Section holds recordings of some of the Conferences. For more information please contact the Oral History Officer on (02) 62621687.

Box List

Box 1

Correspondence, 1972-1973

Committee meetings: minutes and agenda, 1972-77

Box 2

1973 Conference: playscripts

De Groen, Alma The after-life of Arthur Cravan

Dickson, R.S. A new Mary Xmas

Lord, Robert It isn't cricket

Moorehead, Finola Horses

O'Connor, Mark Overture

Pullan, Ru The glass curtain

Seymour, Alan O grave thy victory

Box 3

1974 Conference: playscripts, publicity brochures, schedules and programs

Beedles, Tussell Apartment

Claridge, Berwyn Living business

Lewis (Claridge), Berwyn The world and some peacocks

O'Brien, David This little piggy

Rutherford, Mervyn A training run

Upton, John The mad scene

Von Sturmer, Lesma Who moved the winning post

Box 4

1975-77 Conferences: playscripts, information sheets and precis of sessions.

Atkinson, Michael Bloody Harry

Aronson, Linda The fall guy

Bradshaw, Richard Bananas

Colubriale, Craig Johnny Castillino

Elite, Barbara I sat with my love

Evans, Robert An epitaph for ants

Fitzpatrick, Tim Pawn to queens three

Giles, Mike The visit

Hewett, Dorothy The golden oldies

James, Vlad The trick cyclist

Matheson, Peter For these dead birds sigh a prayer

McKendry, Bryce In case of . . . .

Morrison, Sally Hag

Street, Marman The adullamites

Sykes, Geoff My playmate's got the blues

Box 5

1981 Conference: playscripts

Bowland, Kate The butterflies of Kalimantan

Cronin, Craig I've come about the suicide

DeGroen, Alma Vocations

Cage, Mary My name is Pablo Picasso

Gorman, Clem A night in the arms of Raelene

Herbert, Bob Sex and violets

Knight, David Porn, no rape trigger

Masters, Olga A working man's castle

McCuthcheon, Sandy The truce

McKimmie, Jacqueline Daring romance

McKone, Frank The death of Willy

Nash, Maxine Shrink age

Reade, Harry The naked gun

Reade, Harry You'll die laughing

Stone, Ken The bishop's boys and Lionel Ghandi

Box 6

1982 Conference: playscripts

Bath, Rob The big white ones

Brand, Mona Here comes Kisch

Clanchy, John By dreams of deceived

Cronin, Craige Music, Flynn and quiet goodbyes

Freundt, Michael Fancy

Goble, Ruth A shark in green water

Gow, Michael The kid

Halls, Julian Style

Herbert, Bob The last wake at Sheoak creek

McCutcheon, Sandy Dance in the ashes

O'Grady, Desmond The other side of the ocean

Radic, Len Now and then

Reade, Harry The execution of Steele Rudd

Van Arnstel, Pamela Are you lonesome tonight ?

Additions June 1993 and May 1984

Box 7

1983 Conferences: timetable, schedule and playscripts

Balodis, Janis Too young for ghosts

Buttrose, Larry The search for Jerry Bloomingdale

[Unknown] The clever men

Giles, Zeny The bargain

Mullins, Mike and

Carey, Peter Illusion

Reade, Harry Rainbow's end

Strachan, Tony State shock

Addition 31 October 1984

Box 8

Folders

1 - 2 Conference Reports and other papers, 1973-74

3 - 5 Minutes, 1974-75

6 1974 Conference: biographies

7 1974 Conference: schedules

8 Correspondence with interstate and overseas cultural bodies, 1974

9 1974 Conference: report and other papers

10 Production papers, 1974

Box 9

Folders

11 - 14 Financial papers including correspondence, accounts, receipts, 1975

15 Play selection, 1975

16 Forum discussion, 1975

17 Publicity papers and press cuttings, 1975

18 Programming, advertising, and other papers, 1975-77

Box 10

Folders

19 - 20 Submissions: correspondence, 1976

21 Play reading Committee: correspondence, 1976-77

22 Play reading Committee: correspondence, 1977

23 Reports and correspondence, 1976

24 Miscellaneous papers including criticisms of submitted plays and chairman's report, 1977

Box 11

Folders

25 - 27 Correspondence, 1979-80

28 Play reading Committee correspondence, 1978

29 Submissions, Sept. 1978

30 - 31 Organisation of 1978 conference

Box 12

Folders

32 - 34 Payment and receipt vouchers, Sept. 1979 - Nov. 1980

35 Seminar programs, rehearsal venues and correspondence, 1979-80

36 - 37 Correspondence, 1980-81

38 Call sheets, 1981

Box 13

Folder

39 - 45 Play readers' reports 1980 Conference (numbers 1 - 122)

Box 14

Folders

46 Briefing notes and other papers, 1980-81

47 Letters of agreement for Reading Panel, 1980-81

48 List of attendance and enrolment forms for 1980 Conference

49 List of overseas guests for 1980 conference and other papers

50 Brochures, 1975, 1980-81

51 Minutes, 1981 82

52 Minutes, 1982-84

Box 15

Folders

53 ANPC Committee: correspondence and other papers, 1974-75

54 ANPC Constitution

55 Grant applications - Theatre Board and Literature Board

56 Grant applications - New South Wales and Victoria

57 Grant applications - South Australia and Western Australia

58 Grant applications - Tasmania, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory

59 Theatre Australia - Tasman Theatre Exchange, correspondence, 1979-80

60 Theatre Australia - Sydney Theatre Company - company plans and brochures

61 Theatre Australia - Association of Community Theatres N.Z., brochures, advertising, literature

Box 16

Folders

62 Display material for Playwrights Exhibition, press clippings, photographs, programs, 1975-80

63 1974 Conference: press book, sketches and clippings

64 1975 Conference: press book

65 1976 Conference: press book and clippings

1983 Conference: playscripts

Bierwirth, Judy Transported

Coates, Irene Sweet Fanny Adams

Daly, Jim The Katyn project

Dyson, Geoffrey How the shit hit the fan

Edwards, Hazel I'm going to bed with Shakespeare

Evans, Ronald Traps

Giles, Zeny The bargain

Box 17

1983 Conference: playscripts

John, George Stallard

LLoyd, Pat Granma's house

McCart, Greg A bed of roses

McCowan, Ronald An act of settlement

Milgate, Rod Destiny's mill

Moss, Warwick Empty vessels

Olding, Judy and

Alex Borrie Friday

Paynter, Jennifer God's people

Radic, Stephen The fortunes of Doctor Belio

Wright, Stephen Did somebody say something about a drink of bourbon

Addition 8 August 1985

Where possible, the original arrangement of the files has been preserved by the Library.

Playscripts

Box

18 Playscripts, 1971-83

19 Playscripts, 1979-84

20 Playscripts, 1985-87

21 Playscripts, 1987

22 Playscripts, 1987-88, including E2A-E28

23 Playscripts, 1987-88, including 87/27-117 and 88/24-162

24 Playscripts, 1988

25 Playscripts, 1988-89

26 Playscripts, 1988-89, including E29-39

27 Playscripts, 1989, including 89/3-115

28 Playscripts, 1990

29 Playscripts: 90/1-17

30 Playscripts: 90/18-58

31 Playscripts: 90/59-100

32 Playscripts, 1990, including 90/101-110

33 Playscripts: A90/01617-01977

34 Playscripts: A90/02034-02154

35 Playscripts: A90/02202-02669

36 Playscripts: A90/02671-2913

37 Playscripts: 91/3-35

38 Playscripts: 91/37-69

39 Playscripts: 91/71-104

40 Playscripts: 91/107-130

41 Playscripts: 91/131-135 and unnumbered files, 1992

42 Playscripts: unnumbered files, 1991-92

43 Playscripts, 1992

44 Playscripts [n.d.]

Meetings of the General Committee, Board of Directors, Annual General Meeting and others. The records include minutes, agenda, notes and some correspondence.

Box

45 1973-84

46 1983-86

47 1984-87

48 1987-88

49 1989

50 1990-93

Subject files

Box

51 ABA (Australian Bi-centennial Authority) International Conference, 1988

Aborigines Arts Board, 1983-6

Actors' enquiries, 1989-90

Annual report, 1990

Applications for Adminitrative Coordinator (1987) and Artistic Director (1984)

Artistics Coordinator, 1989

52 Arts Law Centre of Australia, 1990

Assessnment: scripts, 1992-93 (See also Box 91)

Assessment running sheets, 1987-92

Assessors' file, 1984

Australia Council, n.d.

Austral-Asian Playwright Conference, 1992

Australian Capital Territory: general information, 1987-88

Australian Film Corporation, 1986

53 Australian National Playwright Register, 1982-83

Australian Writers' Theatre, 1984

Begging letters, 1985

Belvoir Street Theatre, 1987

Biographies of actors, directors and dramatists, including correspondence and photographs, 1990-92

Brenton, Howard, 1984

Brochures (See also Box 76)

Budget, 1984-86

Conference of Australian Professional Performing Arts Ltd (CAPPA), 1985

54 CAPPA, 1985-86

Chairman and Committee Action File, 1984

1982-86 Conference

55 1986-88 Conference

56 1988-90 Conference

57 1991 Conference agreements

58 1991-92 Conference (See also Box 82-83)

59 Constitution and Articles of Association

Contracts and letters of agreement, 1981-84

Correspondence, 1974-84

60 Correspondence, 1984-90

61 Correspondence, 1986

62 Correspondence, 1986-93 (See also Box 84-85)

63 Design Arts Board, 1986

Funding Applications: Literature Board, 1982-86

Funding Applications: Theatre Board, 1982-86

Funding Applications: Australian Capital Territory, 1983-87

Funding Applications: New South Wales, 1982-86

Funding Applications: Queensland, 1982-87

Funding Applications: South Australia, 1982-88

64 Funding Applications: Victoria, 1982-86

Funding Applications: Western Australia, 1982-87

Funding Applications: Bicentennial, 1986

Fundraising, 1985

History, 1978-83

65 Inti Illimani music possibilities: rejects, 1987

Kit, 1986-87

Mailing list, 1985-87

Media contact, n.d.

Media Information Kit, n.d.

Media releases, 1985

66 Memberships, 1983-86

Memberships: new, 1986-87

Memberships: renewals, 1985-87

Music Board, 1983-87

Music Theatre, 1986-87

67 NIDA, n.d.

National Multicultural Art Workers' Network, 1991

Other Festivals, 1985

Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theatre Centre, New York, 1983-85

Photographs (mostly unidentified and undated)

68-69 Playwright weekend, 1991

70 Press cuttings, 1985-86

Press releases/publicity, 1974 (See also Carton 90)

Programs, 1973-85

Proxy nomination forms, 1983

Questionaries, 1980-90

71 Registrations, 1986

Reports, including Chairman's, Artistic Director's and Administrators' Reports, 1983-92

Rotherwood Plan of Theatre Building of Australia Council, 1982

Salamanca Theatre Company, 1988

Scripts: submission and distribution, 1982

72 Students' play scripts: A-B

73 Students' play scripts: B

74 Students' play scripts: B-C

75 Sydney Writers Festival Committee, 1992

Sydney Theatre Company, 1988-89

Tasmania Arts Advisory Board, 1982

Tax, 1986-87

Theatre Board, 1982-85

Theatre Royal Strathford East, London, 1986

Timetable's Forum Agenda: 1985 Conference

Trade Union, 1987

Young Playwrights Weekend, 1993

Miscellaneous

Printed material

Box

76 Brochures and leaflets

77 ABSA Report, 1989

AFI Newsletter, 1988-89

AMC News, 1987

Act Junction News, 1987

Arts Industry, 1988-90

Australian National Association of Young Playwrights, 1986-88

Australian Theatre Record, 1987-90

78 Australian Theatre Record, 1990-91

The British Council, 1988-90

Canada Reports, 1990

Centre Stage, 1986-87

79 Community Arts File, 1986

Cracker, 1988

Coo-ee, 1989-91

Dialogue, 1992

The Dramatists Guild, 1987-89

Equity, 1988-89

Fellowship News, 1989

Film Victoria Newsletter, 1985

Fingerprint, 1987-89

Focus, 1988-89

Footscray Community Arts Centre Newsletter, 1990

Griffin News, 1989

Inter Theatre News Round Up, 1989-90

Lowdown, 1988-90

Manipulation, 1986

NIDA Newsletter, 1986-89

National Community Theatre Conference Report, 1987

The National Culture - Leisure Industry Statistical Framework, 1988

80 One More Time, 1987

Playlab Newsletter, 1989-91

Playmarket Directory of New Zealand Plays and Playwrights, 1985, 1988

Playrot, 1981

The Queensland Writer, 1989-91

Salamanca Report Script Resource Centre, 1986-89

Spectator Burns, 1987

Sounds Australian, 1987

Tasmanian Writers Union Newsletter, 1989-91

Theatrefest newsletter, 1989-90

Toga Festival (Japan), 1984

Train, 1987-89

The Trust News, 1988-89

81 Viewpoint, 1986-91

Volunteer Centre Newsletter, 1988-90

Waseda Sho-Gekijo (Japan)

Writer's News, 1988-90

Miscellaneous

Files in ring binders

Carton

82 1973-90 Conference

83 1993-94 Conference (See also Box 54-58)

84 Correspondence, 1986-90

85 Correspondence, 1991-92 (See also Box 59-62)

86 Copies of Dialogue, 1989-93 (See also Box 79)

87-89 Financial papers, 1985-92

90 Enquiries, 1989-90

Fund raising, 1986-87 (See also Box 64)

Invites and press releases, 1989 (See also Box 70)

Kureishi, Hanif (British writer), n.d.

91 Memberships, 1990 (See also Box 66)

School program, 1988

Script assessors, 1990-94

Multicultural theatrefest, 1989

92 Interplay, 1984-88

93-94 Readers' reports, 1986-92

95 Script entry forms, 1987-92

Folio items

Box

1 Scrapbooks of 1988 Conference and scrap album, n.d.

2 Posters