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PAPERS OF MANNING CLARK - A history of Australia — the Musical, 1980-89  

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1. General correspondence, 1939-91
2. Diaries, 1938-91
3. Notebooks, 1937-77
4. Newspaper cuttings, 1938-54
5. University of Melbourne, 1937-49
6. Canberra University College, 1953-60
7. Australian National University, 1960-76
8. Harvard University, 1975-79
9. Australian Council for the Arts, 1973
10. Journeys, 1955-91
11. The ideal of Alexis de Tocqueville, 1938-50
12. Select documents in Australian history, 1948-56
13. Alexander Harris, Settlers and Convicts, 1952-64
14. Meeting Soviet Man, 1958-60
15. A short history of Australia, 1961-92
16.A history of Australia: drafts
17. A history of Australia: research materials, 1960-86
18. A history of Australia: correspondence and reviews, 1960-91
19. Short stories
20. The Boyer Lectures, 1975-88
21. In search of Henry Lawson, 1977-88
22. Occasional writings and speeches, 1979-81
23. A history of Australia — the Musical, 1980-89
24. The puzzles of childhood, 1907-91
25. The quest for grace, 1989-91
26. A historian’s apprenticeship, 1990-91
27. Manuscripts, 1931-91
28. Lectures, 1940-87
29. Subject files, 1936-91
30. Family correspondence, 1958-75
31. Miscellaneous papers, 1937-90
Appendix
Box List

Series 23 A history of Australia — the Musical, 1980-89

In 1983 a group of friends led by the historian Don Watson made an agreement with Clark and Melbourne University Press to devise a theatrical production based on A history of Australia. After four years of negotiations and writing, and with financial assistance from the Australian Bicentennial Authority, ‘A history of Australia — the Musical’ opened at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, on 16 January 1988. It was directed by John Bell, the script was written by Tim Robertson, John Romeril and Don Watson, and the music was written by Martin Armiger, George Dreyfus and David King. The reaction of audiences and critics were mixed and the company struggled to complete the six week season, incurring a large financial loss.

The papers in this series consist of correspondence, legal agreements, scripts, scene breakdowns, reviews and other newspaper cuttings, and programs, extending from 1983 to 1989. The correspondence documents not only the original conception of the production and the drafting of the script but also attempts to obtain sponsorship and suitable reviews and the reactions of critics and members of the audience. The correspondents include John Timlin, Don Watson, Tim Robertson, Tim Curnow and Peter Ryan.

The series also contains some papers about a proposal by Grundy Organisation Pty Ltd to produce a television mini-series based on A history of Australia. The series never eventuated.

Folder

1 Television rights, 1980

2-3 Theatre production, 1983-84

4 Proposed television series, 1985

5-6 Correspondence, 1984-87

7 Drafts and correspondence, 1986

8 Drafts and correspondence, 1987

9 Correspondence, 1987-88

10-11 Drafts

12 Draft

13 Draft

14 Draft, Sept. 1987

15 Comments and reviews, 1987-88

16-17 Reviews, 1988

18 Printed items