Contemporary Australian Plays

Ron Elisha's first play, In Duty Bound (1979), was produced throughout Australia and since then he has had plays staged nationally and internationally. They include Einstein (1981), Pax Americana (1984), The Levine Comedy (1986), Safe House (1989), Esterhaz (1990), Impropriety (1993), Choice (1994) and The Goldberg Variations (2000). He also wrote a quartet for the stage entitled Affairs of the Heartless which won two AWGIE awards, bestowed by the Australian Writers' Guild. His other works include By My Own Authority, a film script which won the Gold Award for Best Screenplay at the Houston International Film Festival, the television screenplay Death Duties (SBS), the novels The Hangman's Table, Paris and Paper Cuts, and a one-man show entitled Pulpit Fiction. His play Two, which won the AWGIE for Best Stage Play and was produced across Australia, New Zealand, London, the State, Europe and Israel where it was the inaugural production of the Elisha Theatre Company, was published by Methuen Drama in 2001 in Contemporary Australian Plays. Wesley Enoch is the eldest son of Doug and Lyn Enoch, who hail from Stradbroke Island. He was Artistic Director of Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts from 1994-1997. Wesley has been an Associate Artist with the Queensland Theatre Company, who in 1999 commissioned him to write and direct The Sunshine Club, which was subsequently mounted by Sydney Theatre Company, in association with the 2000 Sydney Festival and the Sydney Opera House Trust. Wesley's recent directing credits include Fountains Beyond for the Queensland Theatre Company, Stolen, which premiered at Playbox and has subsequently toured both nationally and internationally; and Romeo and Juliet for the Bell Shakespeare Company. His The 7 Stages of Grieving, cowritten with Deborah Mailman, is published by Methuen Drama in Contemporary Australian Plays (2001). Deborah Mailman is an Australian television and film actress, originally from Queensland. Well known for her part in Australian drama The Secret Life of Us, she has worked extensively in Australian theatre and overseas, taking her one-woman show, The 7 Stages of Grieving (co-written with playwright Wesley Enoch) to the London International Festival of Theatre and Zurich Arts Festival. The 7 Stages of Grieving consists of a series of theatrical episodes that follow the journey of an Aboriginal 'Everywoman' as she tells poignant and humorous stories of grief and reconciliation. Australian playwright Hannie Rayson is a graduate of Melbourne University and has an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from La Trobe University. She is a Fellow of the Australian Centre at the University of Melbourne. Her plays include Please Return to Sender; Mary; Leave It Till Monday; Room to Move; Hotel Sorrento; Falling From Grace; Competitive Tenderness; Life After George (the first play to be nominated for the Miles Franklin Award); Inheritance; and Two Brothers. She has received two Australian Writers' Guild Awards, four Helpmann Awards, two NSW Premier's Literary Awards, and a Victorian Premier's Literary Award, as well as the Age Performing Arts Award. Tony Taylor was a member of the Pram Factory in Carlton from 1970 to 1978. There he cocreated Back to Bourke St, How Grey was my Nurse and The Hills Family Show. His other cowriting credits include You and the Night and the Housewine, There's a Ghost on Clark Island, Elegance... the Lost Jane Austen Novel, Jingle Belrose, Popular Mechanicals and its companion piece Pop Mex 2. He was awarded the Green Room Award for his portrayal of Smike in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. David Williamson is one of Australia's most successful playwrights. He has written over thirty plays, many of which have been produced throughout Australia and internationally. A number have been adapted for the screen, including The Removalists, Don's Party, The Club, Travelling North, Emerald City, Sanctuary and Brilliant Lies.

• The Hotel Sorrento; Dead White Males; Two; The 7 Stages of Grieving; The Popular Mechanicals

"Hotel Sorrento: 'Has a moody, evocative, literary sweep and scope to it' Sydney Morning Herald Dead White Males: 'Triumphant... The neatly lined up ducks of academic absolutism are ruthlessly, and hilariously, assassinated' Sydney Morning Herald 'Swain is a wonderful creation' Guardian Two: In 1948, in a German town, Anna comes to Rabbi Chalm Levi for Hebrew lessons. As the two study the language, their stories are gradually revealed, raising fundamental moral questions as they try to reconcile their tormented pasts and accept and renew their lives. The 7 Stages of Dreaming: 'A subtle and complex invitation to experience something of the depth of Aboriginal grieving' Melbourne Age. The Popular Mechanicals: 'One of the most rollickingly entertaining nights in the theatre' Sydney Morning Herald"