'Australia led the world in the achievement of woman's suffrage and the nation's cultural history reflects this ambitious and progressive atmosphere. The impressive achievements of suffrage feminists in Australian theatre, however, are an untold story, as is their contribution to the development of international women's theatre of the time. A Splendid Adventure brings these experiences and experiments to light through a group biography exploring the theatrical careers of Katharine Susannah Prichard, Stella Miles Franklin, and Inez Isabel Bensusan. Chosen because of their expatriate involvement in the women's movement, their international profile as enfranchised Australian women, and their exceptional contribution to both the development of Australian drama and international feminist theatre, these women embody the energies and passions of Australian suffrage playwrights. The biographies of these major figures are accompanied by the dramatic stories of the New Women playwrights, the theatrical endeavours of women university students, and a consideration of international feminist theatre on tour in Australia, including the work of migrant suffragette Adela Pankhurst. The volume also includes the full text of a play by each playwright. Australian suffrage playwrights emerge from this study as exceptional feminists, expatriates, and theatre workers, whose "splendid adventures" have considerable implications for international women's theatre, feminist dramatic criticism, and Australian theatre historiography.' (Publication summary)
'Suffrage dramatists were united against inequality for women. In A Splendid Adventure, the author argues that the contributions of Australian suffrage theatre were unique because, unlike their British and American counterparts, the dramatists were enfranchised women. They were able to look beyond the narrow question of the vote to consider democracy in the contemporary world and yet their work has been underestimated and overlooked in feminist theatre histories. Smith seeks to redress the balance by examining the works of Australian women writing for the theatre during the suffrage period timeframe of 1890–1920, concentrating principally on three dramatists: Katharine Susannah Prichard, Miles Franklin and Inez Bensusan. The full text of one play by each is reproduced, two of which have not previously been published.' (Introduction)
'Suffrage dramatists were united against inequality for women. In A Splendid Adventure, the author argues that the contributions of Australian suffrage theatre were unique because, unlike their British and American counterparts, the dramatists were enfranchised women. They were able to look beyond the narrow question of the vote to consider democracy in the contemporary world and yet their work has been underestimated and overlooked in feminist theatre histories. Smith seeks to redress the balance by examining the works of Australian women writing for the theatre during the suffrage period timeframe of 1890–1920, concentrating principally on three dramatists: Katharine Susannah Prichard, Miles Franklin and Inez Bensusan. The full text of one play by each is reproduced, two of which have not previously been published.' (Introduction)
