Swamp Creatures
Swamp Creatures was a play by the Australian author Alan Seymour. He wrote it for radio, stage and TV. It was Seymour's first produced play.
1957 Theatre Production
| Swamp Creatures | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Alan Seymour |
| Date premiered | 1 November 1957 |
| Place premiered | Canberra |
| Original language | English |
The play was written in 1955-56. In 1956 it was the runner-up in a play competition held by the Journalists' Club and judged by the Playwrights' Advisory Board. In 1957 it was one of the twenty-five finalists in the play competition held by the London Observer.[1]
It was first performed by the Canberra Repertory Society in 1957.[2][3][4]
Cast of original production
- Joyce Goodes as Constance
- Barbara Shanahan as Amy
- Michael Dennis as Christian
- Harry Schmidt as Mr Fall
- Daphne Curtis as Mrs Fall
Background
The play was based on a true story about an old woman who lived near a swamp and disappeared.[5]
1958 Radio Adaptation
The play was adapted for radio by the ABC in 1958.
1960 TV Adaptation
| Swamp Creatures | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Raymond Menmuir |
| Written by | Alan Seymour |
| Distributed by | ABC |
Release date | 9 July 1960 |
Running time | 75 mins |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
It was filmed for TV by the ABC in 1960.[6][7] It was repeated in 1962[8]
Cast
- Graham Hill as Christian
- Marion Johns as Mrs Fall
- Jacqueline Kott as Caroline
- Lynne Murphy as Amy
- Frank Waters as Mr Fall
Production
Floor assistant David Twiby recalled that during the making of the show, the smoke machine caused a stage hand to nearly die during the broadcast.[9]
Reception
The Sydney Morning Herald critic called it "one of the finest drama efforts I have seen done here."[10]
See also
References
- ^ "NEW REP. PLAY WILL BE WORLD PREMIERE". The Canberra Times. Vol. 31, , no. 9, 310. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 26 October 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 9 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ Alan Seymour obituary
- ^ "New Repertory Play Soon". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 25 October 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- ^ "Repertory Does Full Justice To Excellent Play". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 2 November 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- ^ "NEW REP. PLAY WILL BE WORLD PREMIERE". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 26 October 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- ^ 1980 TV production details at Ausstage
- ^ "Advertising". The Canberra Times. Vol. 35, , no. 9, 746. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 31 October 1960. p. 11. Retrieved 8 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ "LIVE DRAMA AND MUSIC ON ABC TELEVISION". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 11 December 1962. p. 27. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- ^ http://www.abctvgorehill.com.au/assets/contributions/david_twiby_2E.htm
- ^ Marshall, Valda. 'TV Merry-go-round', Sydney Morning Herald, 17 July 1960, p.45