Dramatic works

 
Containers:
Box 102-110 (MS 4887)
Component identifier:
Series 17
Content Summary:

This series includes works written for the stage but not film, radio and television which are included in series 19, and not dramatisations of the author's major works which are allocated to the relevant series for the work concerned. The series contains two three act plays, 'Black diamonds' and 'Ringbolter', and various smaller productions. This series has been subdivided into three sections.

'Black diamonds' was originally shown at the New Theatre, Melbourne, in 1958. Papers include letters and correspondence written between 1958 and 1964 about the staging of the play and critical evaluations of it; hand and typewritten drafts; and pamphlets, notes and news cuttings about Cessnock, NSW, where a strike of coal miners in 1957 inspired Hardy to write the play.

'Ringbolter's' first public performance occurred at a reading at the Old Tote Theatre, Sydney, in 1964. It subsequently won the Dame Mary Gilmore Award in the same year. Papers include correspondence (1961-1967) to and from Melbourne and Sydney theatres and comments and criticism about the play by Mona Brand, Doris Fitton, John McCallum and others. Also included are hand and typewritten drafts, printed songs, a glossary of terms used in the play and miscellaneous notes.

Other theatrical productions which are represented in this series are 'Other Qualities' (1945); 'Nail on the wall' (1951); 'All these wees shall serve' (1956, 1958, 1965); 'The legend of Don Quince' (synopsis of a play); and 'Music while you work'. Correspondence in this section broadly covers 1946, 1955 and 1960-1972 including letters to and from Dorothy Hewett, Barry Oakley, Joan Littlewood, the New Theatre of East Sydney and the Theatre Council of Western Australia. Other papers include drafts of the plays, a glossary of terms and notes.

See also series 33 'Leap seven times in the air'.

Immediate source of acquisition:
The papers of the writer Frank Hardy were purchased by the Library in seven consignments between 1975 and 1988.

Access and use

Parent Restrictions:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2060293).
Parent Terms of Access:
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: