Issue Details: First known date: 2007... 2007 Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'The prominence and vehemence of public debate about Hannie Rayson's Two Brothers has renewed the public interest in the power of contemporary Australian theatre. Not since the 1970s has there been such mainstream media attention on the work and role of Australian playwrights.

'Power Plays capitalises on this moment of renewed and heightened interest by investigating the why and the how of eight contemporary Australian playwrights: Andrew Bovell, Patricia Cornelius, Reg Cribb, Ben Ellis, Wesley Enoch, Hannie Rayson, Stephen Sewell and Katherine Thomson. These writers are passionate about the theatre as a forum for public discussion and they interrogate current issues in their work. Their plays reflect the passing show of cultural, political and economic life in Australia, telling audiences something critical about what is going on: this is the state of play, this is what we are. The author has conducted extensive interviews with these writers and offers an extended analysis of some of their recent plays.' (Publisher's blurb)

Notes

  • Dedication: To Bob, Josh and Tom. And for mother, Lotte.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Strawberry Hills, Inner Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales,: Currency Press , 2007 .
      Extent: x, 207p.p.
      Description: ill., ports.
      Note/s:
      • Includes bibliography (p.187-196) and index.
      ISBN: 9780868198156 (pbk.)

Works about this Work

The Life In Them Words Ben Brooker , 2016 single work essay
— Appears in: Sydney Review of Books , November 2016;
Untitled Brigitta Olubas , 2008 single work review
— Appears in: JASAL , no. 8 2008; (p. 182-184)

— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda Hilary Glow , 2007 single work criticism
Non-Fiction 2007-2008 Ronald Blaber , 2008 single work review
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 53 no. 2008; (p. 76-92)

— Review of The Rise and Rise of Kerry Packer Paul Barry , 1993 single work biography ; This Crazy Thing a Life : Australian Jewish Autobiography Richard Freadman , 2007 selected work criticism ; John Winston Howard Peter Van Onselen , Wayne Errington , 2007 single work biography ; Mudrooroo : A Likely Story : Identity and Belonging in Postcolonial Australia Maureen Clark , 2007 single work criticism ; A Matter of Conscience : Sir Ronald Wilson Antonio Buti , 2007 single work biography ; Contrary Rhetoric : Lectures on Landscape and Language John Kinsella , 2008 selected work criticism essay ; Australian Literature : Postcolonialism, Racism, Transnationalism Graham Huggan , 2007 single work criticism ; Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda Hilary Glow , 2007 single work criticism ; Heartsick for Country : Stories of Love, Spirit and Creation 2008 anthology life story ; Conversations With The Mob 2008 anthology life story ; Make It Australian: The Australian Performing Group, the Pram Factory and New Wave Theatre Gabrielle Wolf , 2008 single work criticism ; Stressing the Modern : Cultural Politics in Australian Women's Poetry Ann Vickery , 2007 selected work criticism
Fair Play Includes the Right to Fail Julian Meyrick , 2008 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Australian Literary Review , August vol. 3 no. 7 2008; (p. 22)
In light of the publication of Hilary Glow's Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda, and Louis Nowra's review of that work, Julian Meyrick undertakes his own dissection of late twentieth and early twenty-first century Australian drama. In Meyrick's view, 'the challenge is to resurrect from the thin soil of recent experience the native growth of a new, intelligent Australian drama. For this the playwrights themselves must take responsibility.... Money is important, as are skill and hard grind. But the main virtue required is courage: courage to seek the right form for what must be said, and not leave off the search until that purpose has been achieved..'
Self-Righteous on the Night Louis Nowra , 2008 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian Literary Review , July vol. 3 no. 6 2008; (p. 13, 18 p.)

— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda Hilary Glow , 2007 single work criticism
Non Fiction Fiona Capp , 2007 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 October 2007; (p. 24)

— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda Hilary Glow , 2007 single work criticism
Playwrights Challenge Australia's Sense of Direction Diane Stubbings , 2007 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 29 December 2007; (p. 10-11)

— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda Hilary Glow , 2007 single work criticism
Exit Left Michele Lee , 2008 single work review
— Appears in: Overland , Autumn no. 190 2008; (p. 86-87)

— Review of Class Act : Melbourne Workers Theatre 1987-2007 2007 anthology criticism ; Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda Hilary Glow , 2007 single work criticism ; Contemporary Australian Drama Leonard Radic , 2006 single work criticism
Self-Righteous on the Night Louis Nowra , 2008 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian Literary Review , July vol. 3 no. 6 2008; (p. 13, 18 p.)

— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda Hilary Glow , 2007 single work criticism
Playwrights Finger Reality Missed by Politicians Richard Flynn , 2007 single work review
— Appears in: Eureka Street , 18 October vol. 17 no. 20 2007; Eureka Street , 10 January vol. 18 no. 1 2008;

— Review of Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda Hilary Glow , 2007 single work criticism
The Follies Bizarre : Australia's Political Theatre Michael Connor , 2008 single work criticism
— Appears in: Quadrant , March vol. 52 no. 3 2008; (p. 22-28)
Fair Play Includes the Right to Fail Julian Meyrick , 2008 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Australian Literary Review , August vol. 3 no. 7 2008; (p. 22)
In light of the publication of Hilary Glow's Power Plays : Australian Theatre and the Public Agenda, and Louis Nowra's review of that work, Julian Meyrick undertakes his own dissection of late twentieth and early twenty-first century Australian drama. In Meyrick's view, 'the challenge is to resurrect from the thin soil of recent experience the native growth of a new, intelligent Australian drama. For this the playwrights themselves must take responsibility.... Money is important, as are skill and hard grind. But the main virtue required is courage: courage to seek the right form for what must be said, and not leave off the search until that purpose has been achieved..'
The Life In Them Words Ben Brooker , 2016 single work essay
— Appears in: Sydney Review of Books , November 2016;
Last amended 8 Apr 2010 16:07:19
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