Guide to the Papers of Alex Buzo, 1968-2004

Summary

Collection number:

MS 6383, MS Acc08.107

Creator:

Buzo, Alex (Alexander)

Extent:

(73 ms boxes + 6 medium folio boxes + 75 sound/av carriers + 46 digital carriers)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Alex Buzo, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Part available for research; part not available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

MS 6383 comprises papers relating to Buzo's career as a playwright and author. There are manuscript and typescript drafts of his plays and novels, newspaper cuttings, promotional material, which includes posters and programs, photographs and reviews of performances of his plays. The correspondence in the collection documents Buzo's friendships with many other writers. Correspondents include Peter Corris, Michael Costigan, Diana Day, Geoffrey Dutton, Sandy Gore, Jonathon Hales, David Hare, Jack Hibberd, Ray Lawler, Valerie Lawson, Kathy Lette, Robin Lovejoy, Bruce Mason, Roger Milliss, Stephen Murray-Smith, Louis Nowra, Harold Pinter, Robert Quentin and John Tranter.The collection includes an amount of working material on Buzo's plays, including scripts, drafts and sketches, correspondence with producers, and photographs of productions. Three plays have significant background material: Makassar Reef, Rooted and Coralie Lansdowne says no. There are also programs, publicity and newsclippings. Folder 10 includes photographs of Buzo (6 boxes).

Biographical Note:

Playwright and novelist. Buzo's best-known plays include Norm and Ahmed (1968), Rooted (1969), The Front Room Boys (1969) and Coralie Lansdowne says No (1974). In 1972, Buzo was awarded the Australian Literature Society's Gold Medal for his plays Macquarie (1971) and Tom (1975). Buzo also wrote novels, books and articles on sport, tautology, language and theatre, adapted his own and other works for film and television, and was writer-in-residence at many theatre companies, schools and universities.

Collection Retrieval Advice:

Please note: each consignment in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there are multiple Box 1's). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.

Provenance:

The papers were purchased by the Library in instalments in 1980 (MS 6383, Files 1-20), 1986 (MS 6383, Files 11-12), 1997 (MS 6383, Files 13-25); 2001 (MS 6383, Files 26-36 and Folios 1-4); and 2008 (MS Acc08.107).

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Performing arts

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2579815).

Conditions Governing Use:

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Alex Buzo, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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