Jump to content

Down Under (play)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
Down Under
Written byBob Ellis
Anne Brooksbank
Date premieredSeptember 4, 1975 (1975-09-04) [1]
Place premieredStables Theatre, Sydney
Original languageEnglish
SubjectAustralian life
Genrecomedy
SettingSydney, Australia

Down Under is a 1975 Australian play by Bob Ellis and Anne Brooksbank.

The original production had a cast that included Carmen Duncan and Bill Hunter.[2][3][4]

The Sydney Morning Herald critic said "this may be the best and bitchiest play since Don's Party."[5] The Bulletin said the writers "have skilfully constructed a good solid three-acter which accurately and entertainingly reflects -the times, yet in its emotional sterility goes no further."[6]

Towards the end of the play's run at the Nimrod, Ellis and Brooksbank bought the theatre.[7] Ellis later said they bought it when Down Under was "under threat of eviction".[8]

The play was published by Currency Press.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Advertising". Tharunka. Vol. 21, no. 20. New South Wales, Australia. 3 September 1975. p. 17. Retrieved 3 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "DOWN UNDER". Tharunka. Vol. 21, no. 22. New South Wales, Australia. 17 September 1975. p. 17. Retrieved 3 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "'Down Under'". The Australian Jewish Times. Vol. 83, no. 28. New South Wales, Australia. 25 March 1976. p. 23. Retrieved 3 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Advertising". Tharunka. Vol. 21, no. 23. New South Wales, Australia. 24 September 1975. p. 20. Retrieved 3 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ Walford, Leslie (14 September 1975). "A cry of failure in the suburbs". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 122.
  6. ^ "THEATRE A voyage of POW trauma", The Bulletin, John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues)., 097 (4976), Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald (published 1880), 27 Sep 1975, ISSN 0007-4039, nla.obj-1647225908, retrieved 3 July 2023 – via Trove
  7. ^ "Authors buy own theatre for $45,000". The Age. 1 April 1976. p. 10.
  8. ^ "Characters in audience". Sydney Morning Herald. 9 December 1980. p. 8.
  9. ^ "AUSTRALIAN GODOT AWAITED". The Canberra Times. Vol. 52, no. 15, 686. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 September 1978. p. 15. Retrieved 3 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.