Guide to the Papers of Ruth Cracknell, 1943-1998

Summary

Collection number:

MS 9848

Creator:

Cracknell, Ruth, 1925-2002

Extent:

(24 ms boxes + 1 large folio-box)

Language:

English and English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Ruth Cracknell, National Library of Australia, MS 9848, [series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Part available for research; part permission required for research for 75 years from year of creation of records. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The collection very much reflects Ruth Cracknell's public persona, comprising papers relating specifically to her career as an actor, with very little of her private life. There are scripts, programs and photographs of many of the productions in which she appeared, together with newspaper cuttings and printed material containing reviews of shows or interviews with Cracknell. The correspondence in the collection comprises a large number of congratulatory letters, notes, cards and telegrams, mostly from the public, but some from other performers and friends. There is a small amount of general business correspondence.

Cracknell was elected to the Board of the Sydney Theatre Company in 1980 and remained a member until 1995. There are minutes of meetings, budgets, financial reports, reviews of productions, general correspondence and annual reports of the Company.

Biographical Note:

Ruth Winifred Cracknell's career as an actor on radio and in theatre, film and television spanned more than 55 years. She was born in Maitland, New South Wales, on 6 July 1925, the daughter of Charles Cracknell and Winifred Goddard (née Watts). She was educated at North Sydney Girls High School. After she left school, Cracknell worked briefly in the office of Farmers Department Store in Sydney and then as a stenographer with the Ku-ring-gai Council. She resigned from this position in 1945 to become a professional actress on radio at the AWA Recording Studio. In 1957 Cracknell married Eric Charles Harry Phillips, an engineer, with whom she had three children.

In 1943 Cracknell enrolled with the Modern Theatre Players, run by Edna Spilsbury, and undertook lessons in every aspect of theatre - from voice to mime. In 1945 she joined the Independent Theatre and Drama School and in 1948 was asked to become a member of the John Alden Shakespeare Company. This company performed at the St. James Theatre, Sydney, and the actors received no wages, earning their living through radio work. Her first major role was as Goneril in 'King Lear'. She went on to perform at the same theatre when it became the Mercury under the direction of John Kay, playing in Strindberg's 'The Father' opposite Alexander Archdale.

In 1952 Cracknell travelled to England to gain experience in order to become a 'serious theatre actress', something she felt she would be unable to achieve in Australia. She did a number of plays for the BBC, and auditioned for the Old Vic Theatre Company. After being invited to join them, she was compelled to return to Australia following the death of her brother-in-law in a plane crash.

Cracknell's first comic role was in 'The Duenna' in 1956. It proved to be a turning point in her career and marked the beginning of a long association with the Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney, where she performed in a number of memorable comic roles.

In 1960, Cracknell performed in 'Murder in the Cathedral' at the first Adelaide Arts Festival. This was the beginning of a long professional partnership with Ron Haddrick and the first of many plays in which they worked together, culminating ten years later with 'King Oedipus' for the Old Tote Company.

In 1977 Cracknell spent a year in Adelaide, performing as a full-time member of the State Theatre Company's ensemble. Performances that year included Just Ruth, a one-woman revue created for her by David Williamson and Alex Buzo.

Cracknell's long stage career included appearances with all the major Sydney theatre companies and there is an extensive list of credits to her name. Her career was synonymous with the growth of the Australian theatre and she spoke often about the need for government support of the industry.

Cracknell's first film appearance was in 1958 in Smiley gets a gun. She went on to appear in 15 films including The singer and the dancer (1977); The chant of Jimmy Blacksmith (1978) for which she won a Sammy Award for best supporting actress; The night the prowler (1978); Emerald City (1988); Kokoda Crescent (1989); Spider and Rose (1994); Lillian's story (1995) and Joey(1997).

One of Cracknell's early television appearances was on the ABC in late 1950s in a show she conceived herself entitled Gracious living. It consisted of a series of five-minute sketches satirising the ubiquitous home-products demonstrators appearing on television at that time. Occasional television appearances followed over the years until in 1983 she took on the role of Maggie Beare for the ABC series Mother and son. The series ran for ten years and her portrayal of the lovable but exasperating character revealed her wonderful comic abilities to the wider television audience and established her as a national figure.

In 1980, Cracknell was approached by director Richard Wherrett to become a board member of the newly formed Sydney Theatre Company. Over the next 22 years she appeared in 18 productions and when she retired from the Company in 1994 she was invited to become the inaugural patron. She was also patron of the Australian Theatre for Young People.

Recognition of Cracknell's distinguished career included being appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for her services to the Performing Arts in 1980, receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Sydney University in 1985 and subsequent doctorates from the Queensland University of Technology and the University of Western Sydney. Cracknell won a number of television awards, including the Silver Logie for the most popular comedy personality and for most outstanding actress. In 1999 she received the James Cassius Award for her outstanding contribution to the performing arts and was admitted to the Gold Logie Hall of Fame.

In 1997 Cracknell was named an Australian Achiever for her contribution to Australian Arts, part of the Australian of the Year award ceremony. In 1998 she was named by the National Trust as one of Australia's Living National Treasures, alongside the likes of Sir Donald Bradman.

Cracknell published her autobiography, entitled A biased memoir, in 1997 and a compelling account of the death of her husband entitled A journey from Venice in 2000.

Ruth Cracknell died in Sydney on 13 May 2002, after a long illness.

Provenance:

The papers were donated by Ruth Cracknell in 1999, under the Cultural Gifts Program.

Indexed terms

Names:

Cracknell, Ruth, 1925-2002

Conditions Governing Access:

Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/769473

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 Ruth Cracknell, National Library of Australia, MS 9848, [series and/or file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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