© ATOM 2012 A STUDY GUIDE BY KATY MARRINER http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN 978-1-74295-267-3 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au Raising the Curtain is a three-part television series celebrating the history of Australian theatre. ANDREW SAW, DIRECTOR ANDREW UPTON Commissioned by Studio, the series tells the story of how Australia has entertained and been entertained. From the entrepreneurial risk-takers that brought the first Australian plays to life, to the struggle to define an Australian voice on the worldwide stage, Raising the Curtain is an in-depth exploration of all that has JULIA PETERS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ALINE JACQUES, SERIES PRODUCER made Australian theatre what it is today. students undertaking Drama, English, » NEIL ARMFIELD is a director of Curriculum links History, Media and Theatre Studies. theatre, film and opera. He was appointed an Officer of the Order Studying theatre history and current In completing the tasks, students will of Australia for service to the arts, trends, allows students to engage have demonstrated the ability to: nationally and internationally, as a with theatre culture and develop an - discuss the historical, social and director of theatre, opera and film, appreciation for theatre as an art form. cultural significance of Australian and as a promoter of innovative Raising the Curtain offers students theatre; Australian productions including an opportunity to study: the nature, - observe, experience and write Australian Indigenous drama. diversity and characteristics of theatre about Australian theatre in an » MICHELLE ARROW is a historian, as an art form; how a country’s theatre analytical, critical and reflective writer, teacher and television pre- reflects and shape a sense of na- manner; senter. Her first book, Upstaged: tional identity; and a range of theatri- - analyse the construction of Raising Australian Women Dramatists in cal styles and traditions. The series the Curtain and comment on the the Limelight at Last was published provides students with an insight into ways it represents an interpretation in 2002. the people, places and events that of ideas and experiences; » ROBINA BEARD received her have contributed to the development - recognise ways in which an first professional contract with of Australian theatre. understanding of the history of J.C. Williamson’s to dance in the Australian theatre can influence musical Can-Can in 1955. Beard The information and activities in the and inform their own performance then became a regular performer, student guide for Raising the Curtain making; first at the Phillip Street Theatre have been developed to support stu- - create their own written and spo- and then on Australian television dents’ knowledge and understanding ken texts and performance works and stages. Her role as Madge the of the history of Australian theatre. The inspired by Raising the Curtain. Manicurist in a Palmolive detergent activities do not have to be under- commercial made her an Australian taken in the sequence in which they Curtain call television icon. appear in the guide. Teachers may » JOHN BELL is an Australian ac- choose from the activities according to Raising the Curtain is narrated by tor and theatre director who has 2012 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION what is appropriate for their students Ewen Leslie. James Waites interviewed been instrumental in shaping the and the subjects that their students Australian playwrights, directors, ac- Australian theatre industry. He is are undertaking. tors, historians and academics. Their best known for his role as founder comments, along with archival material, and artistic director of The Bell Raising the Curtain is suitable for tell the story of Australian theatre. Shakespeare Company. Bell is an For more information visit Raising the Curtain online at http://www.studiotv.com.au/highlights/raising-the-curtain/. 2 Officer of the Order of Australia and Indigenous theatre group at The in 1970 and established the the Order of the British Empire. Pram Factory in Melbourne. Melbourne Writers Theatre in 1983. » WENDY BLACKLOCK is a thea- » JOHN CLARK was director of » KEN HORLER is a theatrical tre actress and producer and NIDA for thirty-five years. During producer and director. Ken and television actress best known his time, NIDA became Australia’s his wife Lilian co-founded the for her long-running role of Edith largest and most comprehensive Nimrod Theatre in Sydney’s Kings MacDonald in the 1970s television centre of excellence for theatre, Cross with John Bell and Richard soap opera Number 96. film and television. Clark was Wherrett. » CATE BLANCHETT is currently the made a Member of the Order of » BARRY HUMPHRIES is an Co-Artistic Director and Co-CEO Australia in 1981. Australian comedian, satirist, of the Sydney Theatre Company » ALISON CROGGON is a poet, artist, and author. Humphries is with her husband Andrew Upton. playwright, novelist, and librettist. best known for his on-stage and A graduate of the National Institute She also edits the online writing television alter egos Dame Edna of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Blanchett is magazine Masthead and writes Everage and Sir Les Patterson. an internationally renowned actor. theatre criticism. » LIZ JONES is the artistic direc- » GRAEME BLUNDELL is an actor, » GALE EDWARDS is a theatre tor of La Mama. She has held the director, producer, writer and biog- director, who has also directed position since 1976. rapher. A founder of the Melbourne for television and film. a has » LALLY KATZ is an American theatre groups La Mama and been Associate Director of the dramatist now resident in Australia. Playbox, Blundell has worked in State Theatre Company of South Her postmodern and absurdist films, television and theatre. He Australia, Artistic Director of the plays have been recognised with a is well known for his role in the Melbourne Theatre Company and number of awards, both in the US Australian feature film Alvin Purple. has worked with every other major and Australia. » KATHARINE BRISBANE is an Australian theatre company. » DANIEL KEENE is a playwright Australian journalist and publisher. » WESLEY ENOCH is a playwright whose works have been performed Brisbane founded Currency Press and artistic director. A found- throughout Australia and overseas. with her husband Philip Parsons in ing member of the Bonzani » BARRIE KOSKY is a theatre and 1971. The first play that Currency Commedia Troupe, Enoch has opera director. Kosky’s first profes- published was Macquarie, a 1972 been Artistic Director of Kooemba sional production was Michael play by Alex Buzo. Brisbane is a Jdarra Indigenous Performing Tippett’s opera The Knot Garden, Member of the Order of Australia. Arts, an Associate Artist with the at the 1989 Melbourne Festival. He » BILLE BROWN is a stage, film and Queensland Theatre Company, is currently Chief Director at the television actor and playwright. He Resident Director with the Sydney Komische Oper in Berlin. began his career in the early 1970s Theatre Company, Artistic Director » JACQUELINE KOTT is an actress at Queensland Theatre Company, of Ilbijerri Aboriginal and Torres and a stalwart of the North Sydney working alongside Geoffrey Rush. Strait Islander Theatre Co- Independent Theatre Group. He was appointed a Member of Operative and Associate Artistic » EVELYN KRAPE joined the the Order of Australia in 2011. Director Company B Belvoir St. Australian Performing Group in » BETTY BURSTALL founded La » JON EWING is an Australian actor. 1970. As an actress she has per- Mama Theatre in an old shirt fac- » KATE FITZpaTRICK is a television, formed with every major Victorian tory in Faraday Street in Carlton film and theatre actress. In addition theatre company and toured with in 1967. She was determined to to being the first-ever female crick- her own one-woman shows. establish a performance space like et commentator, Fitzpatrick has » TONI LAMOND is an Australian the coffee house theatres she had contributed to numerous newspa- cabaret singer, stage and television seen in Greenwich Village in New pers and other publications. actor, dancer and comedienne. Her York. The theatre opened with a » JOHN FROST is one of Australia’s first stage performances were at production of Jack Hibberd’s play best-known theatrical produc- the Tivoli Theatre in Sydney. Three Old Friends. ers and managing director of the » RAY LAWLER is an Australian » PETER CARROLL is an Australian Gordon Frost Organisation. actor, dramatist and producer. His actor. Having appeared in over » MICHAEL GOW is a playwright most notable play is Summer of sixty Sydney Theatre Company and director best known for his the Seventeenth Doll which pre- productions, feature films and 1986 play Away. He has been the miered in Melbourne in 1955. television programs, Carroll was Artistic Director for Queensland » LEE LEWIS is artistic director of the recipient of an Equity Lifetime Theatre Company since 1999. Griffin Theatre Company. 2012 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION Achievement Award in 2010. » HARRY GRIFFITHS is an actor who » HILARY LINSTEAD is now retired » JACK CHARLES is an Australian worked with such legendary figures having forged a career as a theatri- Aboriginal actor, musician and as Jack Davey and Roy Rene. cal agent and producer. potter. Charles was involved in » JACK HIBBERD is an Australian » REG LIVERMORE is an Australian establishing Indigenous theatre in playwright best known for his play actor, singer, theatrical performer Australia. In 1971 he co-founded Dimboola. Hibberd co-founded and television presenter. He is Nindethana Australia’s first the Australian Performing Group best known for playing the parts of 3 Each Frank’n’Furter in Rocky Horror, Max actor. His early interest in the episode is Bialystock in The Producers and his theatre led to his stage debut EPISODE GUIDE 55 mins own creation Betty Blokk Buster at age twenty in Wrong Side of EPISODE 1: » CELESTINE MCDERMOTT is an the Moon with the Queensland ‘Movers And The Shakers’ author and academic with an inter- Theatre Company.