Cirrus@Austlit

Nicholas (Nick) Enright was educated at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview in Sydney, and received a BA from the University of Sydney (1972), and an MFA from New York University School of Arts (1977). He began his professional career in the theatre for J. C. Williamson at the age of sixteen, and while still a student at NYU School of the Arts Enright began to teach acting to students in the dance program (1976-1977).

On returning to Australia, Enright took up a teaching role at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) (1978-1999) and was the Head of the Acting Course there between 1982 and 1984. From 1993-2000, Enright taught at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Edith Cowan University and was also the Adjunct Professor in the School of Dramatic Arts (1998-2000). From 2000-2003 he again taught acting at NIDA. Additionally, Enright was an occasional teacher at the Actors Centre, Sydney and a freelance dialogue coach on feature films. He was also engaged for various roles in the theatre world including Associate Director, State Theatre Company of South Australia.

Enright was a playwright, actor, director, screenwriter, lyricist, translator, adaptor, dramaturg, performer, compere, teacher and dialogue coach, and was one of Australia's most prolific writers. He came to playwriting through his work as an actor and director in regional theatres, devising, editing, adapting and translating works for children, community groups and regional theatres. Following his first professional production in 1978, his musicals, stage plays, radio plays, screenplays, translations, adaptations and collaborations were performed and broadcast constantly throughout Australia and internationally.

Enright reached an increasingly widening audience with his screenplay (written with George Miller) for the 1992 film Lorenzo's Oil for which he received an Academy Award nomination, and with his 1998 musical biography of singer Peter Allen, The Boy from Oz. His colloaboration with Justin Monjo on the theatrical adaptation of Tim Winton's novel Cloudstreet also received wide critical acclaim in Australia and overseas.

Enright's playscripts and screenplays were nominated for and received numerous awards ranging from Australian Writers' Guild (AWGIE) and Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards to NSW Premier's Literary Awards.

Following a re-diagnosis in 2002 with a malignant melanoma Enright attempted various treatments, but died in Sydney on the afternoon of 30 March 2003.

(Source: Biography prepared in conjunction with Wilgha Edwards, Australian Special Research Collection, UNSW@ADFA Academy Library. The 'Papers of Nicholas Enright' collection is held at the ADFA Library (MS 51) and a guide to the collection can be viewed at http://www.lib.adfa.edu.au/speccoll/finding_aids/enright_nick.html.)