Griffin Theatre Company
Encyclopedia
Griffin Theatre Company is an Australia
n theatre specialising in new writing. It is the resident theatre company at the SBW Stables Theatre in Kings Cross
, Sydney
, Australia
. It is the only professional theatre company in Sydney entirely dedicated to the development and production of new Australian writing for the stage.
The Artistic Director is Sam Strong, who took up the position in 2010. Previous Artistic Directors include Nick Marchand
(2006–2010), David Berthold
(2003–06), Ros Horin (1992–2003), Ian Watson and the original Artistic Director Peter Kingston.
"It was in 1979 that Peter Carmody, Penny Cook, Rosemarie Lenzo and Robert Menzies banded together under the directorship of Jenny Laing-Peach to present the Irish play 'The Ginger Man' by J.P. Donleavy at the Kirk Gallery in Cleveland Street, Surry Hills. They made a profit and went on to produce two Australian plays by John Stone at the Orange Door in Oxford St. Paddington - 'Discovering Australia' and 'The Grand Finale of Rene Trouver', directed by Peter Kingston.
The name 'Griffin' derived from the name of the street in Surry Hills in which Jenny Laing-Peach lived. Slowly the group enlarged (incorporating quite a few NIDA graduates) and next presented Joe Orton's 'Ruffian on the Stair' at the ANU Canberra in March 1980. After talks with Bob Ellis and Anne Brooksbank, the owners of The Stables Theatre in Kings Cross, they were offered a lease. A month later 'Ruffian' played as a lunch-time and late-night programme with David Williamson's 'The Coming of Stork' in the main timeslot.
For the next two years a mixture of overseas and Australian plays were presented at The Stables. But more and more the Company was becoming aware of the amount of Australian writing talent available and in May 1981 after successful readings of four new plays, the decision was made to adopt an all-Australian policy.
Applications were made to both the New South Wales and Commonwealth funding bodies and small grants were obtained. In 1982 the Company kicked off with Grant Fraser's 'Cheap Thrills' and since then...Australian plays have been produced, most of which have been premieres. Writers represented are Stephen Sewell, Barry Dickins, Ron Blair, Steve J. Spears, Mil Perrin, Craig Cronin, Ingle Knight, Pamela Van Amstel, Ray Mathew, Clem Gorman, Ned Manning, Ross Lonnie, Doreen Clarke, Gordon Graham, Jennifer Paynter, Greg McCart, Mij Tanith, John Stone, Brett Murphy, Hannie Rayson and Michael Gow. For the 1984 season the Company was awarded 'The Sydney Critic's Circle Award' for the most significant contribution to theatre that year."
In 1986 Peter Kingston was appointed the Company's first ever Artistic Director. He was followed into that position by Ian Watson.
In 1999, The Sun Herald described Griffin as Australia's ‘Theatre of the Decade'.
Cate Blanchett
and Jacqueline McKenzie
began their professional careers at Griffin. The films Lantana
, The Boys, and The Heartbreak Kid
(which later spun off into the television series Heartbreak High
) were based on plays produced by Griffin. Away
, Australia's most produced contemporary play, also started at the company.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n theatre specialising in new writing. It is the resident theatre company at the SBW Stables Theatre in Kings Cross
Kings Cross, New South Wales
Kings Cross is an inner-city locality of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 2 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is the only professional theatre company in Sydney entirely dedicated to the development and production of new Australian writing for the stage.
The Artistic Director is Sam Strong, who took up the position in 2010. Previous Artistic Directors include Nick Marchand
Nick Marchand
Nick Marchand is an Australian theatre director. From 2006 to 2010, he was Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of Griffin Theatre Company. He was previously co-curator of Wharf 2 Blueprints at Sydney Theatre Company ....
(2006–2010), David Berthold
David Berthold
David Berthold is a leading Australian theatre director. He has directed for most of Australia's major theatre companies, as well as internationally. Since November 2008, he has been Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of La Boite Theatre Company...
(2003–06), Ros Horin (1992–2003), Ian Watson and the original Artistic Director Peter Kingston.
History
The following early History of Griffin is taken from the published history included in most early programmes, in this particular instance The Currency Press Current Theatre Series publication for 'Morning Sacrifice' by Dymphna Cusack (1986 Currency Press Pty Ltd):"It was in 1979 that Peter Carmody, Penny Cook, Rosemarie Lenzo and Robert Menzies banded together under the directorship of Jenny Laing-Peach to present the Irish play 'The Ginger Man' by J.P. Donleavy at the Kirk Gallery in Cleveland Street, Surry Hills. They made a profit and went on to produce two Australian plays by John Stone at the Orange Door in Oxford St. Paddington - 'Discovering Australia' and 'The Grand Finale of Rene Trouver', directed by Peter Kingston.
The name 'Griffin' derived from the name of the street in Surry Hills in which Jenny Laing-Peach lived. Slowly the group enlarged (incorporating quite a few NIDA graduates) and next presented Joe Orton's 'Ruffian on the Stair' at the ANU Canberra in March 1980. After talks with Bob Ellis and Anne Brooksbank, the owners of The Stables Theatre in Kings Cross, they were offered a lease. A month later 'Ruffian' played as a lunch-time and late-night programme with David Williamson's 'The Coming of Stork' in the main timeslot.
For the next two years a mixture of overseas and Australian plays were presented at The Stables. But more and more the Company was becoming aware of the amount of Australian writing talent available and in May 1981 after successful readings of four new plays, the decision was made to adopt an all-Australian policy.
Applications were made to both the New South Wales and Commonwealth funding bodies and small grants were obtained. In 1982 the Company kicked off with Grant Fraser's 'Cheap Thrills' and since then...Australian plays have been produced, most of which have been premieres. Writers represented are Stephen Sewell, Barry Dickins, Ron Blair, Steve J. Spears, Mil Perrin, Craig Cronin, Ingle Knight, Pamela Van Amstel, Ray Mathew, Clem Gorman, Ned Manning, Ross Lonnie, Doreen Clarke, Gordon Graham, Jennifer Paynter, Greg McCart, Mij Tanith, John Stone, Brett Murphy, Hannie Rayson and Michael Gow. For the 1984 season the Company was awarded 'The Sydney Critic's Circle Award' for the most significant contribution to theatre that year."
In 1986 Peter Kingston was appointed the Company's first ever Artistic Director. He was followed into that position by Ian Watson.
In 1999, The Sun Herald described Griffin as Australia's ‘Theatre of the Decade'.
Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett
Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress. She came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in the 1998 biopic film Elizabeth, for which she won British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Golden Globe Awards, and earned her first Academy Award...
and Jacqueline McKenzie
Jacqueline McKenzie
Jacqueline Susan McKenzie is an Australian actress.McKenzie made her film debut in the 1987 film Wordplay and on stage in Child Dancing for Griffin Theatre Company. She made a strong impression in Romper Stomper , and over the next couple of years came to be regarded as one of Australia's most...
began their professional careers at Griffin. The films Lantana
Lantana (film)
Lantana is a 2001 Australian film, directed by Ray Lawrence and featuring Anthony LaPaglia, Kerry Armstrong, Geoffrey Rush and Barbara Hershey. It is based on the play Speaking In Tongues by Andrew Bovell, which premiered at Sydney's Griffin Theatre Company...
, The Boys, and The Heartbreak Kid
The Heartbreak Kid (1993 film)
The Heartbreak Kid is a 1993 Australian film starring Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades, which was based on a play of the same name by Richard Barrett and first performed by Griffin Theatre Company...
(which later spun off into the television series Heartbreak High
Heartbreak High
Heartbreak High is an Australian television series that ran for seven years from 1994 to 1999. The series dealt with the students of Hartley High, a tough high school in a multi-racial area of Sydney, and proved to be a more gritty and fast-paced show than many of its contemporaries...
) were based on plays produced by Griffin. Away
Away
Away is a play written by the Australian playwright Michael Gow. First performed by the Griffin Theatre Company in 1986, it tells the story of three internally-conflicted families holidaying on the coast for Christmas, 1968...
, Australia's most produced contemporary play, also started at the company.
2010 season
- Graces - by Angus Cerini, Elise Hearst and Lachlan Philpott
- Love Me Tender - by Tom HollowayTom Holloway-Education:After attending University in Tasmania, Holloway studied playwriting at Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2001, as well as at London's Royal Court Theatre International Playwriting Studio in 2006.-Plays:...
- Like A Fishbone by Anthony Weigh
- Quack by Ian Wilding
- Angela's Kitchen by Paul CapsisPaul CapsisPaul Capsis is an Australian singer and actor, who is best known for his cabaret theatre roles. Capsis has Greek and Maltese heritage.Capsis has released two CDs called Paul Capsis Live and Everybody Wants To Touch Me...
and Julian Meyrick / Associate Writer Hilary BellHilary Bell (writer)-Biography:Bell is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, and the Juilliard Playwrights' Studio. She writes in many different areas including stage, fiction, radio, screen, and theatre...
2009 season
- The Fates - by Kamarra Bell-Wykes, Jonathan Ari Lander and Catherine Ryan (Script)
- Holiday - by Ranters Theatre (Script)
- Concussion by Ross Mueller (Script)
- The Call by Patricia CorneliusPatricia CorneliusPatricia Cornelius is an Australian playwright and co-founder of Melbourne Workers Theatre.-Plays:Cornelius has written more than 20 plays, which include Slut , The Call , Good, Do Not Go Gentle… , Boy Overboard , Love Patricia Cornelius is an Australian playwright and co-founder of Melbourne...
(Script)
- Savage River by Steve RodgersSteve RodgersSteven Gordon "Steve" Rodgers is a former Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2004, representing the seat of Burdekin....
(Script)
- Strange Attractor by Sue Smith (Script)
2008 season
- Seasons - by Nicki Bloom, Jonathan Gavin, Sue Smith and Rick Viede (Script)
- China - by William Yang (Script)
- The Kid by Michael GowMichael GowMichael Gow is an Australian playwright and director most famed for his 1986 work Away.As a student at Sydney University, Gow acted and directed with the Dramatic Society from 1973-1976. After graduation, Gow went on to act with Nimrod, Thalia and Sydney theatre companies.He has been the Artist...
(Script)
- Don't Say The Words by Tom HollowayTom Holloway-Education:After attending University in Tasmania, Holloway studied playwriting at Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2001, as well as at London's Royal Court Theatre International Playwriting Studio in 2006.-Plays:...
(Script)
- The Modern International Dead by Damien Millar (Script)
- Tender by Nicki Bloom (Script)
- Impractical Jokes by Charlie PickeringCharlie PickeringCharlie Pickering he grew up in Melbourne, Australia and attended an Independent Anglican Boys' School; Brighton Grammar...
2007 season
- Holding the ManHolding the ManHolding the Man is the best-selling memoir by the Australian writer, actor, and activist Timothy Conigrave. It was adapted for the stage by Tommy Murphy in 2006, and has become one of the most successful Australian stage productions in recent years.Holding the Man was published in February 1995 by...
- Adapted by Tommy Murphy from the book by Timothy ConigraveTimothy ConigraveTim Conigrave was an Australian actor, writer, and activist. He was born in Melbourne, and after attending the Jesuit Xavier College and Monash University he moved to Sydney to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Art , from which he graduated in 1984...
(Script)
- The Nightwatchman by Daniel Keene (Script)
- October by Ian Wilding (Script)
- The Story of the Miracles at Cookie's Table by Wesley EnochWesley EnochWesley Enoch is an Australian playwright and artistic director of Murri descent.- Life :The eldest son of Doug and Lyn Enoch from Stradbroke Island, Wesley Enoch grew up in Brisbane....
(Script)
- King Tide by Katherine ThomsonKatherine ThomsonKatherine Thomson is an Australian playwright and screenwriter.Katherine Thomson was born in Manly, New South Wales and began her theatrical involvement as a teenager with the Australian Theatre for Young People...
(Script)
- The Seven Needs by 7-ON (Donna Abela, Vanessa Bates, Hilary BellHilary Bell (writer)-Biography:Bell is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, and the Juilliard Playwrights' Studio. She writes in many different areas including stage, fiction, radio, screen, and theatre...
, Noëlle Janaczewska, Verity Laughton, Ned ManningNed ManningNed Manning is an Australian playwright, actor and teacher, whose film credits include the lead role in Dead End Drive-In and an appearance in the teen film Looking for Alibrandi . Manning's television credits include Bodyline, The Shiralee and Brides of Christ...
and Catherine Zimdahl) (Script)
Griffin Independent
Running since 2009, in parallel to Griffin 's own mainstage season of new Australian plays, Griffin Independent is an annual season of 5-6 new international plays presented by independent theatre companies. Plays presented by Griffin Independent include:- For A Better World by Roland Schimmelpfennig
- The Pigeons by David Gieselmann
- Bug by Tracy LettsTracy LettsTracy Letts is an American playwright and actor who received the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play August: Osage County.-Biography:...
- Way To Heaven by Juan Mayorga
- S-27 - by Sarah Grochala
- Orestes 2.0 - by Charles Mee
- Crestfall by Mark O'RoweMark O'Rowe- Personal Background :Mark O'Rowe was born in 1970 in Dublin, Ireland, to parents Hugh and Patricia O'Rowe. He grew up in Tallaght, a working class suburb just south of Dublin, and he claims that much of the violence in his work stems from watching and rewatching a tremendous amount of violent,...
- Shining City by Conor McphersonConor McPhersonConor McPherson is an Irish playwright and director.-Life and career:McPherson was born in Dublin, . He was educated at University College Dublin, McPherson began writing his first plays there as a member of UCD Dramsoc, the college's dramatic society, and went on to found Fly By Night Theatre...
- References To Salvador Dali Make Me Hot by José RiveraJosé Rivera (playwright)José Rivera is a playwright and the first Puerto Rican screenwriter to be nominated for an Oscar.-Early years:Rivera was born in the Santurce section of San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1955. He was raised in Arecibo where he lived until 1959. Rivera's family migrated from Puerto Rico when he was 4 years...
- Under Ice by Falk Richter
- Dealing With Clair by Martin CrimpMartin CrimpMartin Andrew Crimp is a British playwright.Sometimes described as a practitioner of the "in-yer-face" school of contemporary British drama, Crimp though rejects the label...
- The Distance From Here - by Neil LaButeNeil LaButeNeil N. LaBute is an American film director, screenwriter and playwright.-Early life:LaBute was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Marian, a hospital receptionist, and Richard LaBute, a long-haul truck driver. LaBute is of French Canadian, English and Irish ancestry, and was raised in Spokane,...
- Tattoo - by Dea Loher
Commissioned and Premiered Works
Playwrights whose work has premiered at Griffin include:- Glenda AdamsGlenda AdamsGlenda Emilie Adams was an Australian novelist and short story writer, probably best known as the winner of the 1987 Miles Franklin Award for Dancing on Coral...
- The Monkey Trap (1998) - Richard BarrettRichard BarrettRichard Barrett was an American lawyer, white nationalist, and self-proclaimed leader in the nationalist Skinheadz movement. Barrett was a speaker and editor of the All The Way monthly newsletter...
- The Heartbreak KidThe Heartbreak KidThe Heartbreak Kid may refer to:* The Heartbreak Kid , an American film starring Charles Grodin and Cybill Shepherd* The Heartbreak Kid , an Australian film starring Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades...
(1987) - Hilary BellHilary Bell (writer)-Biography:Bell is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, and the Juilliard Playwrights' Studio. She writes in many different areas including stage, fiction, radio, screen, and theatre...
- Wolf Lullaby (1996), The Falls (2000) - Andrew BovellAndrew BovellAndrew Bovell is an Australian writer for theatre, film and television.-Life:Bovell was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and until recently lived in Adelaide, South Australia before moving to New York. He has recently now moved back to the Adelaide Hills, South Australia...
- After Dinner (1989), Whisky on the Breath of a Drunk You Love (1992), Speaking in Tongues (1996), Ship of Fools (1999) - Brendan CowellBrendan CowellBrendan Cowell is an Australian actor, screenwriter and director. Cowell was born in Sydney. He stumbled upon acting by accident while waiting for his sister to come out of a rehearsal; he was then cast in a commercial at age 8...
- Rabbit (2003) - Timothy DalyTimothy DalyJames Timothy "Tim" Daly is an American stage, screen and voice actor, director and producer. He is best known for his television role as Joe Hackett on the NBC sitcom Wings and for his voice role as Superman/Clark Kent in Superman: The Animated Series, as well as his recurring role of the...
- Kafka Dances (1993), The Moonwalkers (1995), Private Visions of Gottfried Kellner (1999) - Wesley EnochWesley EnochWesley Enoch is an Australian playwright and artistic director of Murri descent.- Life :The eldest son of Doug and Lyn Enoch from Stradbroke Island, Wesley Enoch grew up in Brisbane....
- The Story of the Miracles at Cookie's Table (2007) - Gordon Graham - The Boys (1991)
- Michael GowMichael GowMichael Gow is an Australian playwright and director most famed for his 1986 work Away.As a student at Sydney University, Gow acted and directed with the Dramatic Society from 1973-1976. After graduation, Gow went on to act with Nimrod, Thalia and Sydney theatre companies.He has been the Artist...
- AwayAwayAway is a play written by the Australian playwright Michael Gow. First performed by the Griffin Theatre Company in 1986, it tells the story of three internally-conflicted families holidaying on the coast for Christmas, 1968...
(1986), Europe (1987), Live Acts on Stage (1996) - Noel HoddaNoel HoddaNoel Hodda is an Australian actor, writer, dramaturge, director and teacher.He is a graduate of The National Institute of Dramatic Art at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.-Stage Work:...
- The Secret House (1987), Half Safe (1990), - Ned ManningNed ManningNed Manning is an Australian playwright, actor and teacher, whose film credits include the lead role in Dead End Drive-In and an appearance in the teen film Looking for Alibrandi . Manning's television credits include Bodyline, The Shiralee and Brides of Christ...
- Us or Them (1984), Belonging (2007) - Tommy Murphy - Strangers in BetweenStrangers in BetweenStrangers in Between is a two-act Australian play by Tommy Murphy. It won the $15,000 2006 NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Best Play. It was first staged at Sydney's Griffin Theatre Company in February 2005, where it broke box office records....
(2005), Holding the ManHolding the ManHolding the Man is the best-selling memoir by the Australian writer, actor, and activist Timothy Conigrave. It was adapted for the stage by Tommy Murphy in 2006, and has become one of the most successful Australian stage productions in recent years.Holding the Man was published in February 1995 by...
(Adapted from the book by Timothy ConigraveTimothy ConigraveTim Conigrave was an Australian actor, writer, and activist. He was born in Melbourne, and after attending the Jesuit Xavier College and Monash University he moved to Sydney to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Art , from which he graduated in 1984...
, 2006) - Louis NowraLouis NowraLouis Nowra is an Australian writer, playwright, screenwriter and librettist.He is best known as one of Australia's leading playwrights...
- Death of Joe Orton, The Boyce Trilogy:The Woman with Dog's EyesThe Woman with Dog's EyesThe Woman with Dog's Eyes is a play by the Australian writer Louis Nowra. It is the first part of the Boyce trilogy written for the Griffin Theatre Company at the behest of its Artistic Director David Berthold. The other two plays are The Marvellous Boy and The Emperor of Sydney...
(2004), The Marvellous BoyThe Marvellous BoyThe Marvellous Boy is a play by Australian playwright Louis Nowra, the second part of the Boyce trilogy. It is set in Sydney, particularly in Kings Cross....
(2005), The Emperor of SydneyThe Emperor of SydneyThe Emperor of Sydney is a play by Australian playwright Louis Nowra, the third part of the Boyce trilogy following The Woman with Dog's Eyes and The Marvellous Boy...
(2006) - Debra OswaldDebra OswaldDebra Oswald is an Australian writer for film, television, stage, radio and children's fiction. In 2008 her Stories in the Dark won Best Play in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards. She is creator and head writer of the Channel 10 drama series Offspring, for which she won the 2011 NSW Premier's...
- Mr Bailey’s Minder (2004), The Peach SeasonThe Peach SeasonThe Peach Season is a play by the Australian playwright Debra Oswald. It premiered at Sydney's Griffin Theatre Company in March 2006.The play was short-listed for the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards....
(2006) - Stephen SewellStephen Sewell (writer)Stephen John Sewell is a highly acclaimed playwright, novelist and screenwriter who has produced some of Australia's most awarded plays and whose work has been widely performed both nationally and internationally....
-The Father We Loved On A Beach By The Sea (1981), In Stillness My Sister Speaks to Me (1990), The Secret Death of Salvador Dali (2004), Three Furies Scenes from the life of Francis Bacon (2005) - Katherine ThomsonKatherine ThomsonKatherine Thomson is an Australian playwright and screenwriter.Katherine Thomson was born in Manly, New South Wales and began her theatrical involvement as a teenager with the Australian Theatre for Young People...
- Wonderlands (2003), "King Tide" (2007) - Ian Wilding - Below (2000), Torrez (2004), "October" (2007)
- Catherine Zimdahl - Clark in Sarajevo (1998)
Griffin Award
Bestowed annually since 1998, the Griffin Award is offered to the most outstanding new work as read and judged by a panel appointed by Griffin. One stipulation on entry is that all works submitted have not been performed or produced prior.- 1998 - Catherine Zimdahl for Clark in Sarajevo
- 1999 - Neil ColeNeil ColeNeil Cole is an English television presenter, comedian, radio broadcaster and actor.-Early life:Cole was born in Bristol in 1972, and attended King Edward Grammar School in Chelmsford...
for Alive at Williamstown Pier - 2000 - Ian Wilding for Below
- 2001 - Verity Laughton for Burning
- 2002 - Noelle Janacsewska for Songket and Patrick Van der Werf for Presence
- 2003 - Brendan CowellBrendan CowellBrendan Cowell is an Australian actor, screenwriter and director. Cowell was born in Sydney. He stumbled upon acting by accident while waiting for his sister to come out of a rehearsal; he was then cast in a commercial at age 8...
for Rabbit - 2004 - Debra OswaldDebra OswaldDebra Oswald is an Australian writer for film, television, stage, radio and children's fiction. In 2008 her Stories in the Dark won Best Play in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards. She is creator and head writer of the Channel 10 drama series Offspring, for which she won the 2011 NSW Premier's...
for Mr Bailey's Minder - 2005 - Ian Wilding for The Carnivores
- 2006 - Mary Rachel Brown for Australian Gothic
- 2007 - Damien Millar for Emergency Sex and Other Desperate MeasuresEmergency Sex and Other Desperate MeasuresEmergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures, by Heidi Postlewait, Kenneth Cain and Doctor Andrew Thomson, is the memoir of three young people who join the United Nations in Cambodia with a dream of making the world a better place...
- 2008 - Rick Viede for Whore
- 2009 - Lachlan Philpott for Silent Disco