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{{Unreferenced|date=April 2009}}
{{Unreferenced|date=April 2009}}
{{Auculture}}
{{Auculture}}
European style '''theatre of Australia''' came with the first European settlers in the 1780s. It has had a significant impact on Australian life, with a number of important [[playwright]]s, such as [[David Williamson]] capturing aspects of the [[culture of Australia]] for Australian and global entertainment. There are a number of publishers of [[Australian playscripts]]. Publishers include the non-profit [[Australian Script Centre]], the well-known Currency Press, Playlab Press and Full Dress Publishing. The Australian government supports a website (australianplays.org [http://www.australianplays.org]) that aims to combine playwright biographies and script information. Scripts are also available there. There are a theatrical or dramatic aspects to a number of [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous Australian]] ceremonies such as the [[corroboree]].
European style '''theatre of Australia''' came with the first European settlers in the 1780s. It has had a significant impact on Australian life, with a number of important [[playwright]]s, such as [[David Williamson]] capturing aspects of the [[culture of Australia]] for Australian and global entertainment. There are a theatrical or dramatic aspects to a number of [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous Australian]] ceremonies such as the [[corroboree]].


==History==
The oldest purpose built [[theatre]] in Australia is the Theatre Royal, 29 Campbell St. [[Hobart]]. Construction of this theatre commenced in 1834 and was completed in 1837. The builders were [[Peter Degraves]] and his son Henry. Peter , a civil engineer by profession also founded Cascade, Australia's oldest brewery. Both the Theatre Royal and the Cascade brewery continue in operation today.
[[File:TheBoyfromOz.png|thumb|150px|[[Hugh Jackman]] in ''[[The Boy From Oz]]''.]]
The oldest purpose built [[theatre]] on mainland Australia is the Queen's Theatre in Playhouse Lane, [[Adelaide]]. This theatre was built in late 1840 and it was built by the Solomon Brothers and the first production was "Othello" in January 1841.

{{Main|Theatre in Australia}}

The ceremonial dances of [[indigenous Australians]] which recount the stories of the [[Dreamtime]], comprise theatrical aspects and have been performed at [[coroboree]]s since time immemorial.<ref>http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/indigenous/ceremony/</ref> European traditions came to Australia with the [[First Fleet]] in 1788, with the first production being performed in 1789 by convicts.<ref name="olioweb.me.uk">http://www.olioweb.me.uk/plays/</ref> Two centuries later, the extraordinary circumstances of the foundations of Australian theatre were recounted in ''Our Country's Good'' by [[Timberlake Wertenbaker]]: the participants were prisoners watched by sadistic guards and the leading lady was under threat of the death penalty.<ref name="olioweb.me.uk"/>

The [[Theatre Royal, Hobart]], opened in 1837 and it remains the oldest theatre in Australia.<ref>http://www.theatreroyal.com.au/history.html</ref> The [[Australian gold rushes]] beginning in the 1850s provided funds for the construction of grand theatres in the Victorian style. A theatre was built on the present site of Melbourne's [[Princess Theatre, Melbourne|Princess Theatre]] in 1854. The present building now hosts major international productions as well as live performance events such as the [[Melbourne International Comedy Festival]].<ref>http://www.marrinertheatres.com.au/venue_princess.jsp</ref>

The [[Melbourne Athenaeum]] was built during this period and later became Australia's first cinema, screening ''[[The Story of the Kelly Gang]]'', the world's first feature film in 1906. [[Mark Twain]], [[Nellie Melba]], [[Lawrence Olivier]] and [[Barry Humphries]] have all performed on this historic stage.<ref>http://www.melbourneathenaeum.org.au/content/view/20/37/</ref> The [[Queen's Theatre, Adelaide]] opened with [[Shakespeare]] in 1841 and is today the oldest theatre on the mainland.<ref>http://www.history.sa.gov.au/queens/about.htm</ref>

After Federation in 1901, theatre productions evidenced the new sense of national identity. ''On Our Selection'' (1912) by [[Steele Rudd]], told of the adventures of a pioneer farming family and became immensely popular. Sydney's grand [[Capitol Theatre, Sydney|Capitol Theatre]] opened in 1928 and after restoration remains one of the nation's finest auditoriums.<ref>http://www.capitoltheatre.com.au/explore.htm</ref>

In 1955, ''[[Summer of the Seventeenth Doll]]'' by [[Ray Lawler]] portrayed resolutely Australian characters and went on to international acclaim. The [[National Institute of Dramatic Art]] was created in Sydney in 1958. This institute has since produced a list of famous alumni including [[Cate Blanchett]], [[Mel Gibson]] and [[Baz Luhrmann]].<ref>http://www.nida.edu.au/default.aspx?FolderID=15</ref>

Construction of the [[Adelaide Festival Centre]] began in 1970 and South Australia's Sir [[Robert Helpmann]] became director of the Adelaide Festiavl of Arts.<ref>http://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/afc/history.php</ref><ref>http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/default.aspx?s=sir_robert_helpmann</ref> The new wave{{Clarify|date=September 2010}} of Australian theatre debuted in the 1970s. The [[Belvoir St Theatre]] presented works by [[Nick Enright]] and [[David Williamson]]. In 1973, the [[Sydney Opera House]] was inaugurated in Sydney - becoming perhaps{{Weasel-inline|date=September 2010}} the most famous theatre building in the world.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} [[Opera Australia]] made its home in the building and its reputation was enhanced by the presence of the diva [[Joan Sutherland]].

The [[Sydney Theatre Company]] was founded 1978 becoming one of Australia's foremost theatre companies.<ref>http://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/about</ref> The [[Bell Shakespeare Company]] was created in 1990. A period of success for Australian musical theatre came in the 1990s with the debut of musical biographies of Australian music singers [[Peter Allen]] (''[[The Boy From Oz]]'' in 1998) and [[Johnny O'Keefe]] (''[[Shout! The Legend of The Wild One]]'').

In ''The One Day of the Year'', [[Alan Seymour]] studied the paradoxical nature of the [[ANZAC Day]] commemoration by Australians of the defeat of the [[Battle of Gallipoli]]. ''Ngapartji Ngapartji'', by [[Scott Rankin]] and Trevor Jamieson, recounts the story of the effects on the [[Pitjantjatjara]] people of nuclear testing in the Western Desert during the [[Cold War]]. It is an example of the contemporary fusion of traditions of drama in Australia with Pitjantjatjara actors being supported by a multicultural cast of Greek, Afghan, Japanese and New Zealand heritage.<ref>http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/review-ngapartji-ngapartji/story-e6frev39-1111115327660</ref>

There are a number of publishers of [[Australian playscripts]]. Publishers include the non-profit [[Australian Script Centre]], the well-known Currency Press, Playlab Press and Full Dress Publishing. The Australian government supports a website (australianplays.org [http://www.australianplays.org]) that aims to combine playwright biographies and script information. Scripts are also available there.


There are a range of amateur and professional theatre groups throughout the country, as well as a vibrant independent and [[fringe theatre]] community, largely concentrated in [[Melbourne]], home of [[La Mama Theatre (Melbourne)|La Mama]].
There are a range of amateur and professional theatre groups throughout the country, as well as a vibrant independent and [[fringe theatre]] community, largely concentrated in [[Melbourne]], home of [[La Mama Theatre (Melbourne)|La Mama]].
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*[http://www.realtimearts.net/ RealTime - Australian contemporary arts magazine covering dance, performance, sound/music, visual arts, film and media art]
*[http://www.realtimearts.net/ RealTime - Australian contemporary arts magazine covering dance, performance, sound/music, visual arts, film and media art]
*[http://www.ausstage.edu.au/default.jsp?xcid=27 Ausstage, Australian Performing Arts Database]
*[http://www.ausstage.edu.au/default.jsp?xcid=27 Ausstage, Australian Performing Arts Database]

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{Oceania topic|Theatre of}}
{{Oceania topic|Theatre of}}

Revision as of 15:09, 13 October 2010

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European style theatre of Australia came with the first European settlers in the 1780s. It has had a significant impact on Australian life, with a number of important playwrights, such as David Williamson capturing aspects of the culture of Australia for Australian and global entertainment. There are a theatrical or dramatic aspects to a number of Indigenous Australian ceremonies such as the corroboree.

History

File:TheBoyfromOz.png
Hugh Jackman in The Boy From Oz.
Main article: Theatre in Australia

The ceremonial dances of indigenous Australians which recount the stories of the Dreamtime, comprise theatrical aspects and have been performed at coroborees since time immemorial.[1] European traditions came to Australia with the First Fleet in 1788, with the first production being performed in 1789 by convicts.[2] Two centuries later, the extraordinary circumstances of the foundations of Australian theatre were recounted in Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker: the participants were prisoners watched by sadistic guards and the leading lady was under threat of the death penalty.[2]

The Theatre Royal, Hobart, opened in 1837 and it remains the oldest theatre in Australia.[3] The Australian gold rushes beginning in the 1850s provided funds for the construction of grand theatres in the Victorian style. A theatre was built on the present site of Melbourne's Princess Theatre in 1854. The present building now hosts major international productions as well as live performance events such as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.[4]

The Melbourne Athenaeum was built during this period and later became Australia's first cinema, screening The Story of the Kelly Gang, the world's first feature film in 1906. Mark Twain, Nellie Melba, Lawrence Olivier and Barry Humphries have all performed on this historic stage.[5] The Queen's Theatre, Adelaide opened with Shakespeare in 1841 and is today the oldest theatre on the mainland.[6]

After Federation in 1901, theatre productions evidenced the new sense of national identity. On Our Selection (1912) by Steele Rudd, told of the adventures of a pioneer farming family and became immensely popular. Sydney's grand Capitol Theatre opened in 1928 and after restoration remains one of the nation's finest auditoriums.[7]

In 1955, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler portrayed resolutely Australian characters and went on to international acclaim. The National Institute of Dramatic Art was created in Sydney in 1958. This institute has since produced a list of famous alumni including Cate Blanchett, Mel Gibson and Baz Luhrmann.[8]

Construction of the Adelaide Festival Centre began in 1970 and South Australia's Sir Robert Helpmann became director of the Adelaide Festiavl of Arts.[9][10] The new wave[clarification needed] of Australian theatre debuted in the 1970s. The Belvoir St Theatre presented works by Nick Enright and David Williamson. In 1973, the Sydney Opera House was inaugurated in Sydney - becoming perhaps[weasel words] the most famous theatre building in the world.[citation needed] Opera Australia made its home in the building and its reputation was enhanced by the presence of the diva Joan Sutherland.

The Sydney Theatre Company was founded 1978 becoming one of Australia's foremost theatre companies.[11] The Bell Shakespeare Company was created in 1990. A period of success for Australian musical theatre came in the 1990s with the debut of musical biographies of Australian music singers Peter Allen (The Boy From Oz in 1998) and Johnny O'Keefe (Shout! The Legend of The Wild One).

In The One Day of the Year, Alan Seymour studied the paradoxical nature of the ANZAC Day commemoration by Australians of the defeat of the Battle of Gallipoli. Ngapartji Ngapartji, by Scott Rankin and Trevor Jamieson, recounts the story of the effects on the Pitjantjatjara people of nuclear testing in the Western Desert during the Cold War. It is an example of the contemporary fusion of traditions of drama in Australia with Pitjantjatjara actors being supported by a multicultural cast of Greek, Afghan, Japanese and New Zealand heritage.[12]

There are a number of publishers of Australian playscripts. Publishers include the non-profit Australian Script Centre, the well-known Currency Press, Playlab Press and Full Dress Publishing. The Australian government supports a website (australianplays.org [1]) that aims to combine playwright biographies and script information. Scripts are also available there.

There are a range of amateur and professional theatre groups throughout the country, as well as a vibrant independent and fringe theatre community, largely concentrated in Melbourne, home of La Mama.

Theatre companies

Professional

Independent

Amateur

Musical theatre

Physical theatre

Opera companies

Theatre education

Awards and competitions

Performing Arts Publishers

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/indigenous/ceremony/
  2. ^ a b http://www.olioweb.me.uk/plays/
  3. ^ http://www.theatreroyal.com.au/history.html
  4. ^ http://www.marrinertheatres.com.au/venue_princess.jsp
  5. ^ http://www.melbourneathenaeum.org.au/content/view/20/37/
  6. ^ http://www.history.sa.gov.au/queens/about.htm
  7. ^ http://www.capitoltheatre.com.au/explore.htm
  8. ^ http://www.nida.edu.au/default.aspx?FolderID=15
  9. ^ http://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/afc/history.php
  10. ^ http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/default.aspx?s=sir_robert_helpmann
  11. ^ http://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/about
  12. ^ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/review-ngapartji-ngapartji/story-e6frev39-1111115327660


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