Previews - Drama

A History of the Sunnybank Repertory Company

Author: Guy Mott
ISBN: 0 646 27089 3
Publisher: Jacqui Mott
Address: PO Box 1198, Fitzroy North, Vic, 3068

Founded in 1954 by Len Parish, the Sunnybank Repertory Company evolved from a community based amateur company nurtured and supported by its rural population to one that after a hundred major performances was a well established company in the suburbs.

Its history from 1954 to 1988 tracks the history of the development of Brisbane, its encroachment into the surrounding countryside, the changing face of the workforce and the revolutions that occurred during these decades in entertainment.

It is perhaps ironic that Len Parish, after half his life spent on the professional stage, should devote his later years to founding and developing a purely amateur company. He was only too well aware of the difference but believed, as Shakespeare put it, "the play's the thing" and all other considerations are largely beside the point. Yet it was his earnest belief that an amateur company strive for high standards. He was clear about the limitations of an amateur company and strived for a programme that would be appropriate to the constraints of such a company. It was his vision that ensured the company achieved excellent notices and packed houses.

The Repertory continues to carry on in much the same way as its founder envisaged. Despite changed circumstances and the challenge of altered tastes in the community at large, it continues to carry the banner for traditional live theatre by presenting to its public well mounted productions by performers and directors who have learnt their craft within its ranks.

It is something of an achievement that the company has not only survived but has flourished.

Three Festival Plays

Author: Jane Bradhurst
ISBN: 0 646 26303 X
Publisher: Australis F Press
Address: PO Box 9, Deakin, ACT, 2600

A collection of plays by Jane Bradhurst, playwright, artist and scientist.

In "The Sunflowers are Mine" she traces the life of the artist, Vincent van Gogh, his art, and the women he sought to love. The play suggests it was rejection induced paranoia that was at the base of the artist's mental illness. Bradhurst explores the effect that being the second Vincent born to his mother following the death of his older brother Vincent had on the artist's emotional health.

"Fire Over Their Heads" concerns the notorious expedition of Burke and Wills in their attempt to be the first explorers to cross Australia from south to north. It posits that Murray Valley encephalitis was together with scurvy the likely cause of death for Stone, Purcell, Becker and later Wills and Gray.

"Cage II", a one act play, examines mother/son relationships and sibling rivalry.

Copies of the plays, at $9 plus postage, may be obtained from Australis F Press at the address above.

About Performance

Editor: Tim Fitzpatrick
ISSN: 1324-6089
Publisher: Centre for Performance Studies
Address: A20, University of Sydney, NSW, 2006

The introduction of this work takes us straight to the point. "Translation has been widely practised over the centuries in all European societies, the founding myths and holy texts of the dominant European religions are based on translations, and in literature, science, politics and commerce translation has been esssential to development and change. Yet the translators who make all this possible have traditionally been denied appropriate recognition and esteem."

Finally, in the last twenty years, Translation Studies has begun to emerge as an academic discipline in its own right. Given even just the rifts within the church and the resultant establishment of different churches that have littered the history of Christianity, it is astonishing that it has taken so long for the art and craft of translation to be taken seriously. Dangerously, the role of the translator in the construction and transmission of ideas has been and often continues to be largely ignored.

In recognition of the importance of translation in contemporary performance practice and the lack of critical and analytical studies of translation for the theatre, the Centre for Performance Studies in its 1993 teaching and research projects focused on questions of translation.

This collection of essays represents work in progress, all of them raise further questions, open further avenues of enquiry and suggest more projects. They demonstrate for translators and writers the intensity with which actors scrutinise the texts with which they are working and the impact that very small textual details can have on actors' bodily physical interpretations and on the overall meanings that are produced.

The issues raised are fascinating and complex.

In May-Brit Akerholt's essay " 'I had not better return with you to the croft then, Nils, had I?' The Text, The Whole Text, And Nothing But the Text in Translation", amongst other issues that are covered is the question of how to render a play in manner that would be as contemporary to audiences of today as it would have been to audiences a hundred years ago.

In his piece, "Translation for the Non-Translator/Performer" David Attrill explores how translation which has long been regarded as literature applies to the theatre, the basis of which is action, and argues that there is no such thing as a definitive translation.

Penny Gay looks at the issues that arise when Shakespeare is translated into French and German through an examination of several translataion of the trial scene from "The Merchant of Venice".

"The Merchant of Venice" is particularly interesting in the European context as it embodies one of the most persistent anxieties of Western culture: anxiety about the treatment of the alien and disenfranchised Jewish race by the dominant Christian society and cuture. In taking several translations as the basis for the project, several questions were immediately presented including:

* how important is Shakespeare's poetry to the effect of the scene? Can "The quality of mercy", for instance, be translated?

* does the history of anti-semitism in France and Germany make any difference to the translated text, or to its performance?

* do the modes and tones of address differ significantly from English when French and German still use tu/vous and du/Ihr to indicate the speaker's attitude and relation to the person addressed?

* does the rhythm and texture of the language in each translation dictate to the actors different body language and proxemics?

* what difference does the archaism or modernity of the translation make to the performance?

All in all, a significant and stimulating contribution to the understanding of the role of translation in performance of interest to actors, translators, writers, directors and audience alike.

Playing with Time

Author: Playworks
ISBN: 0 646 26020 0
Publisher: Playworks
Address: PO Box 1523, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010

That Australia has moved from a time when women playwrights were considered an oddity (if they were considered to exist at all) to a time when women are achieving some equality is demonstrated by the fact that writers such as Robyn Archer, Katherine Thomson and Hannie Rayson are as well known to the theatre going public as Louis Nowra and David Williamson.

Playworks is a national organisation committed to supporting and developing the work of women writers for theatre and performance. In its tenth year, it has, in "Playing with Time", assessed the experiences of Australian women playrights. The book presents an account of the working lives of ninety women writers in Australia in 1995. These women give their views, debate, discuss and plan for the future.

Despite her talent, good reviews, prodigious output and works performed overseas, with none of her work performed in mainstream theatre in Australia, Mona Brand wryly accepts the label of "an unknown well-known playwright". The future for Australian women writers now, fortunately, looks more promising, thanks to the work of writers such as Brand and organisations such as the Australia Council, the New Theatre, writers' organisations and in particular Playworks and the talent of the women writers whose work now appears in mainstream theatres.

That Playworks continues its fight for women writers is important for all women - it is an unhealthy society where its people see their culture reflected only by men.
A fascinating read.

L'Importanza D'essere Serii & Poesie

Author: Tina & Giacoma Barbalace
ISBN: 0 646 26171 1
Publisher: Tina Barbalace
Address: 15 William Street, Marrickville, NSW, 2204

"The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde, translated into Italian by Tina Barbalace.

This volume also includes poetry by Giacoma Barbalace.

The Trojans

Author: Hunter Matthews
ISBN: 0 646 25750 1
Publisher: Oberon Books
Address: 1/141 Oberon Street, Coogee, NSW, 2034

Seneca's masterpiece on war and sexism written by during the turbulent years of Nero's Rome by the Roman playwright who would profoundly influence Claudio Monteverdi and Bertolt Brecht. This translation is a theatrical one, designed for performance rather than reading. The edition of the Latin text is Zwierlein's, published by Oxford.

Some By Virtue Fall

A workshop approach to "Measure for Measure"

Author: Wayne Sawyer
ISBN: 0 949 898 63 5
Publisher: St Clair Press Pty Limited
Address: PO Box 287, Rozelle, NSW, 2039

A photocopiable teaching resource, "Some By Virtue Fall" is one of the teaching aids published within the Workshop Series that incorporates The Shakespeare Workshop Series (General Editor: Peter Jones), The Literature Workshop Series (General Editor: Peter Jones) and The Modern Drama Workshop Series (General Editor: Wayne Sawyer).

"Some By Virtue Fall" sets out approaches to studying this play and outlines workshops that range from character exploration, issues of interpretation, dramatic structure, analysis of plot and ideas and the history of the text.

Several sections outline workshops that use direction, costuming and staging of the play to explore characterisation and look at the ways that the play has been interpreted in performance through this century to explore the different ways in which the characters and themes in the play can be interpreted.

In all, "Some By Virture Fall" sets out 23 activities and provides a framework from which to examine this play in a stimulating, thought provoking and active manner.

Purchasers of this publication may make multiple copies for educational purposes.

Play Up

Editor: Regional Drama Committee
ISBN: 0 646 25095 7
Address: PO Box 450, Hornsby, NSW 2077

This book draws together a range of plays that could be useful to drama teachers in search of appropriate material: there are six short plays.

"Life After Advertising" is a ten minute play developed by John Musgrave with students from Manly High School. It is suitable for large junior secondary groups and can be used as a stimulus to look at the issues raised by advertising, or as extension work.

"The Body Shop" was developed by the students of Cheltenham Girls' High School as a group presentation. It is suitable for a large cast or a group where actors take more than one role. It uses a variety of forms and moves from humour to pathos.

"We Who Are Left" was originally written for use at an ANZAC day service. Developed by Cherrybrook Technology High School, it uses choral speaking as a dramatic form to develop speech skills. Decisions about using single voices can be made by the students, as can decisions about blocking, groupings and movement. The mime at the conclusion of the play can also be worked out by students.

"How to Remain a Space-age Witch" provides opportunities for large group movement or dance work and can be used with all age groups in primary school. It can also be performed as a pantomime piece for secondary students.

"Claude and Jasmine" provides opportunities for programming across the creative arts - as drama, music, dance and visual art can be involved. The dinosaurs can also be studed as a science or HSIE unit as well. The play involves many elements of drama - movement, timing, rhythm, focus - as well as voice and characterisation.

If you'd like to purchase a copy of one of the books listed above please contact the publisher directly. Their address is just under the title's listing.

Back to Previews index

Fast Books Home Page