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PlaysThe variety of works that have been produced at the University over the past 150 years is astounding. From monthly play readings in intimate spaces to musical productions with enormous casts and massive sets, the University has provided a space for the development of artistic diversity. Works from every genre imaginable have been produced and almost any playwright you could think of is likely to have had their work interpreted at some stage over the last 150 years. Most of the works of Shakespeare have been performed – from popular plays such as Macbeth and A Midsummer Nights Dream, to his more difficult works such as Troilus and Cressida. During the TAP years, authors such as J.B Priestley and Henrik Ibsen had almost all of their back catalogue of works performed both onstage and as rehearsed readings. In more recent years, the number and variety of works being produced by student theatre groups has exploded. Some groups focus on naturalistic dramas and perform works by the likes of Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams, Jean Anouilh and Anton Chekhov. During the 1960's and 1970's many students began to show a great interest in performing more experimental works by authors such as Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, Antonin Artaud and Bertolt Brecht. There are groups that devote themselves entirely to physical theatre and dance, others that focus on group devised works, The Chinese Theatre Group who performs plays in both Mandarin / Cantonese and English as well as many who produce works written by students. Theatre groups at the University have been important vehicles for some of our most revered local playwrights, whose first works were produced by student groups. Writers such as David Williamson, Jack Hibberd, Louis Nowra and Ray Lawler all had early works produced by student groups. There is a strong tradition of student playwrights at the University finding great success within the wider arts community and this has certainly been the case recently. In the last few years writers such as Lally Katz, Sivan Gabrielovitch and Angus Cerini have all won accolades and awards for plays written while they were still students of the University. |
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