Dennis Watkins Dennis Watkins i(A12485 works by)
Gender: Male
Heritage: English
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BiographyHistory

Writer, producer, director, broadcaster, and actor, regarded as one of Australia's most celebrated librettists.

In 1995-1997, Watkins was artistic director of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. He served on the board of theatre company Company B at Belvoir Street, and was associate director at the Sydney Theatre Company and commissioning editor at Radio National.

For ten years, Watkins was a part-time tour guide at the Sydney Opera House and its history continued to fascinate him. He studied Arts and Law at the University of Sydney and between 1974 and 1978 was heavily involved in SUDS (Sydney University Dramatic Society). He produced 'Stalin - The Musical', a send-up of the Marxist dictator, and 'The Iceberg Cometh', about the Titanic being raised in Sydney Harbour and going down again. In 1979, he visited England, which confirmed his desire to write and produce shows for Australians, 'people I understood.'

(Source: Miriam Cosic, 'Watkins the Wonder Boy', The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 September 1995, p.15).

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon The Eighth Wonder : Opera in Fifteen Scenes Sydney : Pellinor , 1995 Z860162 1995 single work musical theatre opera The Eighth Wonder tells the story of the Opera House from Mr. Utzon's winning of a contest in 1956 to his eventual dismissal by a state concerned about expanding costs and the architect's uncompromising nature.
2001 winner Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia — Best Opera
y separately published work icon Beach Blanket Tempest 1984 (Manuscript version)x400603 Z853373 1984 single work musical theatre In 'Beach Blanket Tempest', however, the central character is Vince Prospero, the duke of rock 'n' roll in Elvis-like proportions. He too is marooned on an island with his daughter, but their spirit is from a bottle and not a tree and her name is Gidget. She wants to be free and to ride the wild surf. Bleach Blanket is filled with catchy ballads, love duets, '60s rock 'n' roll and even a visit from the Supreme Beings as the spirits of earth, wind and fire. (Scott Howlett, 'Tempest Gets Funky', Hills Shire Times (12 February 2002): 40).
1985 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Dramatic Presentation
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Last amended 17 Feb 2011 12:56:50
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