''Best Australian One-Act Plays'' is a 1937 collection of Australian one-act plays. It was published at a time when Australian playwriting was relatively rare. Twenty one plays were selected out of 200 by William Moore and T. Inglis Moore. The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' called it an "important volume" and the plays "natural, sincere, and dramatically effective. They make pleasant reading, and should pave the way to an annual collection.'

Selected plays

*''Ancestors'' by

Vance Palmer Edward Vivian "Vance" Palmer (28 August 1885 – 15 July 1959) was an Australian novelist, dramatist, essayist and critic. Early life Vance Palmer was born in Bundaberg, Queensland, on 28 August 1885 and attended the Ipswich Grammar School. With ...

*''Andeganora'' by

Louis Esson Thomas Louis Buvelot Esson (10 August 1878 – 27 November 1943) was an Australian poet, journalist, critic and playwright. He was a co-founder of the Pioneer Players. His second wife, Hilda Esson (nee Bull), had a career in theatre besides work ...

*''Anzac reunion'' by Edgar Holt *''At dusk'' by

Millicent Armstrong Millicent Sylvia Armstrong (1 May 1888 – 18 November 1973) was an Australian playwright and farmer who wrote primarily about the experiences of country life in early 20th century Australia. Early life and education Armstrong was born in Wav ...

*''

Dampier's Ghost ''Dampier's Ghost'' is an Australian stage play by Henrietta Drake-Brockman. It was performed in Perth in November 1933 and in Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Austral ...

'' by

Henrietta Drake-Brockman Henrietta Drake-Brockman (27 July 1901 – 8 March 1968) was an Australian journalist and novelist. Early life Henrietta Frances York Jull was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1901 to public service commissioner Martin Edward Jull (1862–19 ...

*''Easter'' by

Dulcie Deamer Mary Elizabeth Kathleen Dulcie Deamer (13 December 1890 – 16 August 1972) was a New Zealand-born Australian novelist, poet, journalist and actor. She was a founder and committee member of the Fellowship of Australian Writers. Life Deamer was bo ...

*''The fourposter'' by

Dora Wilcox Dora Wilcox (born Mary Theodora Wilcox, 24 November 1873 – 14 December 1953), was a New Zealand and Australian poet and playwright. Biography Wilcox was born in Christchurch, New Zealand to William Henry Wilcox and his wife Mary Elizabeth, né ...

*''Garden Fantasia'' by John Wheeler *''Gib It 'Tshillin by

Montague Grover Montague Macgregor Grover (31 May 1870 – 7 March 1943), commonly referred to as "Monty Grover", was an Australian journalist, editor of the Sydney ''Sun''. History Grover was born in Melbourne, son of Harry (c. 1830–1918) and Jessie Grover ( ...

*'' Hester Siding'' by Alexander Turner *''Morning'' by Betty Roland *'' Murder in the Silo'' by

Edmund Barclay Edmund Piers Barclay (2 May 1898 – 26 August 1961) was an English-Australian writer known for his work in radio drama. Radio historian Richard Lane called him "Australian radio's first great writer and, many would say, Australian radio's gr ...

*''No Family'' by

Miles Franklin Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin (14 October 187919 September 1954), known as Miles Franklin, was an Australian writer and feminist who is best known for her novel ''My Brilliant Career'', published by Blackwoods of Edinburgh in 1901. While ...

*''Pioneers'' by

Katherine Susannah Prichard Katharine Susannah Prichard (4 December 18832 October 1969) was an Australian author and co-founding member of the Communist Party of Australia. Early life Prichard was born in Levuka, Fiji in 1883 to Australian parents. She spent her childhood ...

*''The Rustling of Voices'' by Lloyd Ross *''Searchlights'' by Sydney Tomholt *''Sending Grannie Off'' by Morris Hay Simpson *''Stampede'' by

Bernard Cronin Bernard Cronin (18 March 1884 – 9 June 1968) was an Australian author and journalist. With Gertrude Hart, he founded the Old Derelicts' Club in 1920 which later became the Society of Australian Authors. Life Cronin was born in Ealing, Midd ...

*''

The Sub-Editor's Room ''The Sub-Editor's Room'' is a 1956 Australian television play. It was produced and written by Leslie Rees. It was the first Australian-written television drama to air on Australian television. The word "slut" was spoken in dialogue several time ...

'' by Leslie Rees *''The trap'' by Stewart Macky *''Variations on a Printing Press'' by Charles Porter

References

{{reflist

External links

Best Australian One Act Plays
at AustLit 1930s Australian plays