David Keith Williamson
AO (born 24 February 1942) is an
Australian
Australian(s) may refer to:
Australia
* Australia, a country
* Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia
** European Australians
** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists
** Aboriginal Au ...
dramatist and
playwright
A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays.
Etymology
The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...
. He has also written
screenplay
''ScreenPlay'' is a television drama anthology series broadcast on BBC2 between 9 July 1986 and 27 October 1993.
Background
After single-play anthology series went off the air, the BBC introduced several showcases for made-for-television, fe ...
s and
teleplay
A teleplay is a screenplay or script used in the production of a scripted television program or series. In general usage, the term is most commonly seen in reference to a standalone production, such as a television film, a television play, or an ...
s.
Early life
David Williamson was born in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
,
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
, on 24 February 1942, and was brought up in
Bairnsdale
Bairnsdale () ( Ganai: ''Wy-yung'') is a city in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia in a region traditionally owned by the Tatungalung clan of the Gunaikurnai people.
The estimated population of Bairnsdale urban area was 15,411 at Ju ...
. He initially studied
mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, and ...
at the
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...
from 1960, but left and graduated from
Monash University
Monash University () is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Named for prominent World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. The university has a ...
with a
Bachelor of Engineering
A Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) or a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) is an academic undergraduate degree awarded to a student after three to five years of studying engineering at an accredited college or university.
In the UK, a Bache ...
degree in 1965. His early forays into the theatre were as an actor and writer of skits for the Engineers' Revue at Melbourne University's Union Theatre at lunchtime during the early 1960s, and as a satirical sketch writer for Monash University student reviews and the
Emerald Hill Theatre Company
The Emerald Hill Theatre was a theatre company and venue in Melbourne, Australia, which operated from 1962 to 1966. The 140-seat Emerald Hill Theatre was at 250 Dorcas St, South Melbourne, in a former church converted by architect Robin Boyd.
It ...
.
After a brief stint as
design engineer
A design engineer is an engineer focused on the engineering design process in any of the various engineering disciplines (including civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, textiles, aerospace, nuclear, manufacturing, systems, and structural /buil ...
for
GM Holden
Holden, formerly known as General Motors-Holden, was an Australian subsidiary company of General Motors. It was an Australian automobile manufacturer, importer, and exporter which sold cars under its own brand, marque in Australia. In its las ...
, Williamson became a lecturer in mechanical engineering and
thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that deals with heat, work, and temperature, and their relation to energy, entropy, and the physical properties of matter and radiation. The behavior of these quantities is governed by the four laws of the ...
at
Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology (often simply called Swinburne) is a public research university based in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1908 as the Eastern Suburbs Technical College by George Swinburne to serve those without access ...
(then Swinburne Technical College) in 1966 while studying
social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the real or imagined presence of other people or by social norms. Social psychologists typically explain human behavior as a result of the r ...
as a postgraduate part-time at the
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...
. He completed a
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
in Psychology in 1970, and then completed postgraduate research in social psychology. Williamson later lectured in social psychology at Swinburne, where he remained until 1972.
Career
Williamson first turned to writing and performing in plays in 1967 with
La Mama Theatre Company and
The Pram Factory
__NOTOC__
The Pram Factory was an Australian alternative theatre venue in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton from around 1970 until the 1981. It was home to the Australian Performing Group and Nindethana, Australia's first Aboriginal theatre group ...
, and rose to prominence in the early 1970s, with works such as ''
Don's Party
''Don's Party'' is a 1971 play by David Williamson set during the 1969 Australian federal election. The play opened on 11 August 1971 at The Pram Factory theatre in Carlton.
Plot
Don Henderson is a schoolteacher living with his wife Kath and ba ...
'' (later turned into a 1976 film), a comic drama set during the
1969 federal election; and ''
The Removalists
''The Removalists'' is a play written by Australian playwright David Williamson in 1971. The main issues the play addresses are violence, specifically domestic violence, and the abuse of power and authority. The story is supposed to be a microc ...
'' (1971). He also collaborated on the screenplays for ''
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles ...
'' (1981) and ''
The Year of Living Dangerously'' (1982). Williamson's work as a playwright focuses on themes of politics, loyalty and family in contemporary urban Australia, particularly in two of its major cities, Melbourne and Sydney.
Major stage works include ''
The Club'', ''
The Department
''The Department'' is a satirical comedy on BBC Radio 4 about a secret organisation with the power to influence every aspect of your life.
Chris Addison, John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman star as Research Team 32, an eccentric three-man think-tan ...
'', ''
Travelling North
''Travelling North'' is a 1987 Australian film directed by Carl Schultz and starring Leo McKern, Julia Blake, Graham Kennedy, and Henri Szeps. Based on an original 1979 play of the same name by David Williamson, it is one of Williamson's favourit ...
'', ''
The Perfectionist
''The Perfectionist'' is a 1981 play by David Williamson. It was adapted into a film for television directed by Chris Thomson in 1985. Plot
The plot revolves around an academic who is working on a PhD. His wife hires a Danish student to babysi ...
'', ''
Emerald City
The Emerald City (sometimes called the City of Emeralds) is the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books, first described in ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900).
Fictional description
Located in the center of the La ...
'', ''
Money and Friends'' and ''
Brilliant Lies
''Brilliant Lies'' is a 1996 Australian drama (film and television), drama film produced by Bayside Pictures and Beyond Films. It stars Gia Carides and Anthony LaPaglia. It was directed by Richard Franklin (director), Richard Franklin and produce ...
''.
Recent work has included ''
Dead White Males
The Western canon is the body of high culture literature, music, philosophy, and works of art that are highly valued in the West; works that have achieved the status of classics. However, not all these works originate in the Western world, an ...
'', a satirical approach to postmodernism and university ethics; ''
Up for Grabs'', which starred
Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
in its London premiere; and the ''Jack Manning Trilogy'' (''Face To Face'', ''Conversation'', ''Charitable Intent'') which take as their format community conferencing, a new form of restorative justice, in which Williamson became interested in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
In recent years he has alternated work between larger stages (including ''Soul Mates'', ''Amigos'' and ''Influence'' – all premiered with the
Sydney Theatre Company
Sydney Theatre Company (STC) is an Australian theatre company based in Sydney, New South Wales. The company performs in The Wharf Theatre at Dawes Point in The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Roslyn Packer Theatre (formerly Sydney Thea ...
) and smaller ones (including the Manning trilogy, ''Flatfoot'' and ''Operator'', which premiered at the
Ensemble Theatre
The Ensemble Theatre is an Australian theatre company and theatre, situated in the Sydney suburb of Kirribilli, New South Wales.
History
It is Australia's longest continuously running professional theatre group, having given its first performa ...
).
In 2005, he announced his retirement from main-stage productions, although he has continued to write new plays for the mainstage, many produced with the Ensemble Theatre. He had a serious health problem,
cardiac arrhythmia
Arrhythmias, also known as cardiac arrhythmias, heart arrhythmias, or dysrhythmias, are irregularities in the heartbeat, including when it is too fast or too slow. A resting heart rate that is too fast – above 100 beats per minute in adults ...
, which had required frequent hospitalisation. An operation resolved this issue, but then in 2009 he had a mild
stroke
A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...
, from which he recovered fully.
[
Williamson was instrumental in the founding of the Noosa Long Weekend Festival, a cultural festival in ]Noosa, Queensland
The Shire of Noosa is a Local government in Australia, local government area about north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sunshine Coast district of South East Queensland, Australia. The shire covers an area of . It existed as a ...
, where he lives.
In August 2006 Cate Molloy
Cathryn Molloy (born 11 May 1955) is a former Australian politician. She was a Labor and independent member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 2001 to 2006, representing the district of Noosa.
Molloy first entered Queensland state ...
, former Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party (ALP), also simply known as Labor, is the major centre-left political party in Australia, one of two major parties in Australian politics, along with the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. The party forms the f ...
member of the Queensland Parliament
The Parliament of Queensland is the legislature of Queensland, Australia. As provided under the Constitution of Queensland, the Parliament consists of the Monarch of Australia and the Legislative Assembly. It has been the only unicameral s ...
for Noosa
The Shire of Noosa is a local government area about north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast district of South East Queensland, Australia. The shire covers an area of . It existed as a local government entity from 1910 until 2008, when it was ...
, announced that Williamson would be her campaign manager as she sought to recontest her seat as an Independent.
In 2007 appeared ''Lotte's Gift'', a one-woman show starring Karin Schaupp
Karin Schaupp (born 1972) is a German-born Australian classical guitarist. She has won APRA Music Awards and ARIA Music Awards.
Early life
Karin Schaupp was born in Hofheim am Taunus, Germany, in 1972. Her mother, Isolde Schaupp, was a teacher ...
, which traced a journey through Schaupp's own life as well as those of her mother and grandmother (the Lotte of the title).
In 2021 his memoir, ''Home Truths'', was published by HarperCollins. Reviewing the book for ''The Sydney Morning Herald
''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...
'', Peter Craven
Peter Theodore Craven
, fansite biography by Jim Blanchard. (accessed 12 July 2006). (21 June 1934 – 2 ...
wrote "He comes across as a likeable, flawed fellow with no more blindness than people of lesser talent".
Personal life
Williamson is married to Kristin Williamson
Kristin Löfvén Williamson (born 1940) is an Australian journalist and author.
Life
Williamson was born in Melbourne, went to school in Geelong and trained as a teacher. On graduating she took up a scholarship at the University of Florence in ...
(sister of independent film
An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system, in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies (or, i ...
maker Chris Löfvén
Chris Löfvén (born 4 April 1948) is an Australian film maker. He is best known for directing the feature film '' Oz'' (1976) and for directing a number of video clips, including " Eagle Rock".
He started making films when he was about 12.
He ...
) who have homes in Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
and on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. They have five adult children and 11 grandchildren.Michael Shmith
Michael Shmith (born 7 July 1949) is an Australian journalist and writer.
He was born on 7 July 1949, the son of Athol Shmith and his wife Patricia "Bambi" ''née'' Tuckwell (they later divorced). He worked at ''The Age'' in Melbourne from 1981 ...
, "Lunch with David Williamson", ''The Age
''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...
'', 7 September 2013, Life&Style, p. 3 His stepson Felix Williamson
Felix Williamson is an Australian actor.
Early life
Williamson is the stepson of playwright David Williamson. From age 13–17, he trained at the Australian Theatre for Young People in Sydney, Australia, learning the foundations of acting.
Ca ...
and his son Rory Williamson
Rory is a given name of Gaelic origin. It is an anglicisation of the ga, Ruairí/''Ruaidhrí'' and gd, Ruairidh and is common to the Irish, Highland Scots and their diasporas. for the given name "Rory". The meaning of the name is "red king", ...
are both actors. Rory starred as Stork in the 2001 revival of ''The Coming of Stork
''The Coming of Stork'' was the first play written by David Williamson.
The cast for the original production included Alan Finney, Bruce Spence and Peter Cummins.
It was adapted into a feature film
A feature film or feature-length film is ...
'' at the Stables Theatre in Sydney, produced by Felix's company, the Bare Naked Theatre Company.
Honours and awards
* 1971 – British George Devine
George Alexander Cassady Devine (20 November 1910 – 20 January 1966) was an English theatrical manager, director, teacher, and actor based in London from the early 1930s until his death. He also worked in TV and film.
Early life and education
...
Award
* 1972 – Australian Writers Guild Awgie Award
The AWGIE Awards is an annual awards ceremony conducted by the Australian Writers' Guild, for excellence in screen, television, stage and radio writing. The awards began in 1967.
The awards are judged by over 50 writers, most of whom are previo ...
for best stage play and best script with ''The Removalists''
* 1983 – appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
* 1988 – Honorary Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters (D.Litt., Litt.D., Latin: ' or ') is a terminal degree in the humanities that, depending on the country, is a higher doctorate after the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree or equivalent to a higher doctorate, such as the Doctor ...
, University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...
* 1990 – Honorary Doctor of Letters, Monash University
Monash University () is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Named for prominent World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. The university has a ...
* 1995 – Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
The Australian Human Rights Commission is the national human rights institution of Australia, established in 1986 as the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) and renamed in 2008. It is a statutory body funded by, but opera ...
Drama Award for ''Sanctuary ''
* 1996 – chosen to deliver the inaugural Andrew Olle Media Lecture
The Andrew Olle Media Lecture was established in 1996 by the presenters and staff at 702 ABC Sydney (formerly 2BL) to honour the memory of ABC Radio and television broadcaster Andrew Olle, who died in 1995 of a brain tumour. It focuses on the role ...
* 1996 – Honorary Doctor of Letters, Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology (often simply called Swinburne) is a public research university based in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1908 as the Eastern Suburbs Technical College by George Swinburne to serve those without access ...
* 2004 – Honorary Doctor of Letters, University of Queensland
, mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work
, established =
, endowment = A$224.3 million
, budget = A$2.1 billion
, type = Public research university
, chancellor = Peter Varghese
, vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry
, city = B ...
* 2012 – Nominated Senior Australian of the Year
Australian Film Institute Awards
* 1977 – AFI Award
The Australian Film Institute (AFI) was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry. It is responsi ...
, Best Screenplay
Best or The Best may refer to:
People
* Best (surname), people with the surname Best
* Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer
Companies and organizations
* Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain
* Best Lock Corporatio ...
, Original or Adapted, ''Don's Party
''Don's Party'' is a 1971 play by David Williamson set during the 1969 Australian federal election. The play opened on 11 August 1971 at The Pram Factory theatre in Carlton.
Plot
Don Henderson is a schoolteacher living with his wife Kath and ba ...
''
* 1981 – AFI Award, Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted, ''Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles ...
''
* 1987 – AFI Award, Best Screenplay, Adapted, ''Travelling North
''Travelling North'' is a 1987 Australian film directed by Carl Schultz and starring Leo McKern, Julia Blake, Graham Kennedy, and Henri Szeps. Based on an original 1979 play of the same name by David Williamson, it is one of Williamson's favourit ...
''
* 2009 – AFI Award, Best Screenplay, Adapted, ''Balibo
Balibo is a town in East Timor situated approximately from the Indonesian border. It is located in the subdistrict of Balibo, Bobonaro District.
It was estimated by Human Rights Watch that 70 per cent of the town was destroyed during th ...
'' (shared with director Robert Connolly
Robert Connolly (born 1967) is an Australian film director, producer and screenwriter based in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria. He is best known as the director and writer of the feature films ''Balibo (film), Balibo'', ''Three Dollars' ...
)
Helpmann Awards
The Helpmann Awards
The Helpmann Awards are accolades for live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Live Performance Australia (LPA) since 2001.
The annual awards recognise achievements in the disciplines of musical t ...
is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group ''Live Performance Australia'' (LPA) since 2001. In 2005, Williamson received the JC Williamson Award
The JC Williamson Award (formally known as the James Cassius Williamson Award), is an lifetime achievement award presented annually as a sector of the Helpmann Awards, governed by Live Performance Australia.
The awards are named after the Ameri ...
, the LPA's highest honour, for their life's work in live performance.
, -
, 2005
File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; "Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris was discovered in ...
, , Himself , , JC Williamson Award
The JC Williamson Award (formally known as the James Cassius Williamson Award), is an lifetime achievement award presented annually as a sector of the Helpmann Awards, governed by Live Performance Australia.
The awards are named after the Ameri ...
, ,
, -
Writings
Plays
*'' The Indecent Exposure of Anthony East'' (1968)
*'' You've Got to Get on Jack'' (1970)
*''The Coming of Stork
''The Coming of Stork'' was the first play written by David Williamson.
The cast for the original production included Alan Finney, Bruce Spence and Peter Cummins.
It was adapted into a feature film
A feature film or feature-length film is ...
'' (1970)
*''The Removalists
''The Removalists'' is a play written by Australian playwright David Williamson in 1971. The main issues the play addresses are violence, specifically domestic violence, and the abuse of power and authority. The story is supposed to be a microc ...
'' (1971)
*''Don's Party
''Don's Party'' is a 1971 play by David Williamson set during the 1969 Australian federal election. The play opened on 11 August 1971 at The Pram Factory theatre in Carlton.
Plot
Don Henderson is a schoolteacher living with his wife Kath and ba ...
'' (1971)
*''Jugglers Three
''Juggler's Three'' is an Australian play by David Williamson. It was based on the breakup of his first marriage, when he left his pregnant wife for a woman who left her husband. Background
The play was commissioned by John Sumner of the Melbourn ...
'' (1972)
*'' What If You Died Tomorrow?'' (1973)
*''The Department
''The Department'' is a satirical comedy on BBC Radio 4 about a secret organisation with the power to influence every aspect of your life.
Chris Addison, John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman star as Research Team 32, an eccentric three-man think-tan ...
'' (1975)
*''A Handful of Friends
''A Handful of Friends'' is a 1976 play by David Williamson.
It was written for the South Australian Theatre Company.
Williamson said in an interview with Quadrant magazine that he had based one of the characters on Williamson's wife, Kristin, ...
'' (1976)
*'' The Club'' (1977)
*''Travelling North
''Travelling North'' is a 1987 Australian film directed by Carl Schultz and starring Leo McKern, Julia Blake, Graham Kennedy, and Henri Szeps. Based on an original 1979 play of the same name by David Williamson, it is one of Williamson's favourit ...
'' (1979)
*''Celluloid Heroes
"Celluloid Heroes" is a song performed by The Kinks and written by their lead vocalist and principal songwriter, Ray Davies. It debuted on their 1972 album ''Everybody's in Show-Biz''.
The song names several famous actors of 20th century film, ...
'' (1980)
*''The Perfectionist
''The Perfectionist'' is a 1981 play by David Williamson. It was adapted into a film for television directed by Chris Thomson in 1985. Plot
The plot revolves around an academic who is working on a PhD. His wife hires a Danish student to babysi ...
'' (1982)
*'' Sons of Cain'' (1985)
*''Emerald City
The Emerald City (sometimes called the City of Emeralds) is the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books, first described in ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900).
Fictional description
Located in the center of the La ...
'' (1987)
*'' Top Silk'' (1989)
*''Siren
Siren or sirens may refer to:
Common meanings
* Siren (alarm), a loud acoustic alarm used to alert people to emergencies
* Siren (mythology), an enchanting but dangerous monster in Greek mythology
Places
* Siren (town), Wisconsin
* Siren, Wisc ...
'' (1990)
*'' Money and Friends'' (1991)
*''Brilliant Lies
''Brilliant Lies'' is a 1996 Australian drama (film and television), drama film produced by Bayside Pictures and Beyond Films. It stars Gia Carides and Anthony LaPaglia. It was directed by Richard Franklin (director), Richard Franklin and produce ...
'' (1993)
*''Sanctuary
A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a saf ...
'' (1994)
*''Dead White Males
The Western canon is the body of high culture literature, music, philosophy, and works of art that are highly valued in the West; works that have achieved the status of classics. However, not all these works originate in the Western world, an ...
'' (1995)
*''Heretic
Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization. The term is usually used in reference to violations of important religi ...
'' (1996)
*'' Third World Blues'' (1997, adaptation of ''Jugglers Three'')
*'' After The Ball'' (1997)
*''Corporate Vibes
''Corporate Vibes'' is an Australian play by David Williamson. It is a satire of the corporate world. The first production was directed by Robyn Nevin
Robyn Anne Nevin (25 September 1942) is an Australian actress, director, and stage produc ...
'' (1999)
*'' Face to Face'' (2000)
*''The Great Man
''The Great Man'' is a 1956 American film noir drama film directed by and starring José Ferrer. The screenplay was written by Ferrer and Al Morgan, Morgan's novel of the same name the source material. It was loosely based on the controversial ...
'' (2000)
*'' Up for Grabs'' (2001)
*''A Conversation
''A Conversation'' is a play by the Australian author David Williamson
David Keith Williamson Officer of the Order of Australia, AO (born 24 February 1942) is an Australians, Australian dramatist and playwright. He has also written screenpl ...
'' (2001)
*''Charitable Intent
''Charitable Intent'' is a play by David Williamson
David Keith Williamson AO (born 24 February 1942) is an Australian dramatist and playwright. He has also written screenplays and teleplays.
Early life
David Williamson was born in Melb ...
'' (2001)
*'' Soulmates'' (2002)
*'' Flatfoot'' (2003)
*'' Birthrights'' (2003)
*'' Amigos'' (2004)
*'' Operator'' (2005)
*''Influence
Influence or influencer may refer to:
*Social influence, in social psychology, influence in interpersonal relationships
**Minority influence, when the minority affect the behavior or beliefs of the majority
*Influencer marketing, through individu ...
'' (2005)
*'' Lotte's Gift'' (2007) – also known as ''Strings Under My Fingers''
*''Scarlett O'Hara at the Crimson Parrot
''Scarlett O'Hara at the Crimson Parrot'' is a play by David Williamson. It was written as a vehicle for Caroline O'Connor.
It was the Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne, Victori ...
'' (2008)
*'' Let the Sunshine'' (2009)
*'' Don Parties On'' (2011)
*'' At Any Cost?'' (2011)
*'' Nothing Personal'' (2011)
*'' When Dad Married Fury'' (2011)
*'' Managing Carmen'' (2012)
*''Happiness
Happiness, in the context of Mental health, mental or emotional states, is positive or Pleasure, pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishin ...
'' (2013)
*'' Rupert'' (2013)
*''Cruise Control
Cruise control (also known as speed control, cruise command, autocruise, or tempomat) is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system is a servomechanism that takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a ste ...
'' (2014)
*''Dream Home
''Dream Home'' (維多利亞壹號 ''Wai dor lei ah yut ho'', literally ''Victoria No. 1'') is a 2010 Hong Kong slasher film directed and co-written by Pang Ho-cheung. The film is the story of Cheng Lai-sheung (Josie Ho) who saves up money to ...
'' (2015)
*''Jack of Hearts
The jack of hearts is a playing card in the standard 52-card deck.
Jack of Hearts may also refer to:
* Jack of Hearts (Marvel Comics) (Jack Hart), a fictional superhero appearing in Marvel Comics
* Jack of Hearts, a member of the Royal Flush Gang ...
'' (2016)
*''Credentials'' (2017)
*'' Sorting Out Rachel'' (2018)
*''Nearer the Gods
''Nearer the Gods'' is a 2018 Australian comedy play by David Williamson about Isaac Newton.
In October 2018 the play opened the newly refurbished Bille Brown Theatre for the Queensland Theatre Company.
Williamson said he was inspired to write t ...
'' (2018)''Nearer the Gods''
production details, Queensland Theatre Company
Queensland Theatre, formerly the Queensland Theatre Company and Royal Queensland Theatre Company, is a professional theatre company based in Brisbane, Australia. It regularly performs in its own Bille Browne Theatre and the Queensland Performi ...
*''
The Big Time'' (2019)
*''
Family Values
Family values, sometimes referred to as familial values, are traditional or cultural values that pertain to the family's structure, function, roles, beliefs, attitudes, and ideals.
In the social sciences and U.S. political discourse, the conventi ...
'' (2020)
*''
Crunch Time'' (2020)
Screenplays
*''
Stork
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family called Ciconiidae, and make up the order Ciconiiformes . Ciconiiformes previously included a number of other families, such as herons an ...
'' (1971) – based on his play
*''
Libido
Libido (; colloquial: sex drive) is a person's overall sexual drive or desire for sexual activity. Libido is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Biologically, the sex hormones and associated neurotransmitters that act up ...
'' (1972) – segment "The Family Man"
*''
Petersen
Petersen is a common Danish patronymic surname, meaning ''"son of Peter"''. There are other spellings. Petersen may refer to:
People In arts and entertainment
* Adolf Dahm-Petersen, Norwegian voice specialist
* Anja Petersen, German operatic ...
'' (1974)
*''
The Removalists
''The Removalists'' is a play written by Australian playwright David Williamson in 1971. The main issues the play addresses are violence, specifically domestic violence, and the abuse of power and authority. The story is supposed to be a microc ...
'' (1975) – based on his play
*''
Eliza Fraser
Eliza Anne Fraser (c.1798 – 1858) was a Scottish woman who was aboard a ship that wrecked at an island off the coast of Queensland, Australia, on 22 May 1836, and who claimed she was taken in by the Badtjala (Butchella) people. She later wrote ...
'' (1975)
*''
Don's Party
''Don's Party'' is a 1971 play by David Williamson set during the 1969 Australian federal election. The play opened on 11 August 1971 at The Pram Factory theatre in Carlton.
Plot
Don Henderson is a schoolteacher living with his wife Kath and ba ...
'' (1976) – based on his play
*''The Department'' (1980) (TV movie) – based on his play
*''
The Club'' (1980) – based on his play
*''
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles ...
'' (1981)
*''
Duet for Four
''Duet for Four'' is a 1982 film directed by Tim Burstall.
Plot
A middle aged man, Ray Martin, faces a series of problems – his wife is cheating on him, his mistress wants to get married and Americans want to take over his toy business.
Cast
...
'' (1982)
*''
The Year of Living Dangerously'' (1983)
*''
Phar Lap
Phar Lap (4 October 1926 – 5 April 1932) was a champion New Zealand–bred Thoroughbred racehorse who is widely regarded as New Zealand's greatest racehorse ever. Achieving incredible success during his distinguished career, his initial ...
'' (1983)
*''
The Last Bastion
''The Last Bastion'' is a television mini-series which aired in Australia in November 1984. It is a docudrama telling the story of Australia's involvement in World War II, and its often strained relations with its two main allies, Great Britain ...
'' (1984) (TV series) – also produced
*''
The Perfectionist
''The Perfectionist'' is a 1981 play by David Williamson. It was adapted into a film for television directed by Chris Thomson in 1985. Plot
The plot revolves around an academic who is working on a PhD. His wife hires a Danish student to babysi ...
'' (1987) (TV movie) – based on his play
*''
Emerald City
The Emerald City (sometimes called the City of Emeralds) is the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books, first described in ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900).
Fictional description
Located in the center of the La ...
'' (1987) – based on his play
*''Touch the Sun: Princess Kate'' (1988) (TV)
*''
A Dangerous Life
''The Four Day Revolution'' (broadcast in the Philippines as ''A Dangerous Life'') is a 1988 Australian television film directed by Robert Markowitz and written by David Williamson. The story is about the journey and the love affair of an America ...
'' (1988) (TV mini-series)
*''
The Four Minute Mile
''The Four Minute Mile'' is a television mini series about the race to run the four-minute mile, focusing on the rivalry between Roger Bannister and John Landy.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford University Press ...
'' (1988)
*''
Sanctuary
A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a saf ...
'' (1995) – based on his play
*''
Brilliant Lies
''Brilliant Lies'' is a 1996 Australian drama (film and television), drama film produced by Bayside Pictures and Beyond Films. It stars Gia Carides and Anthony LaPaglia. It was directed by Richard Franklin (director), Richard Franklin and produce ...
'' (1996) – based on his play
*''
Dog's Head Bay
''Dog's Head Bay'' is a 1999 Australian television series co-written by David Williamson on the ABC. It was about a criminal lawyer, Alex Santorini, who buys a house in the sleepy coastal town of Dog's Head Bay. One of the stars was Shane Withing ...
'' (1999) (TV series) – 13 episodes
*''
On the Beach'' (2000) (TV series)
*''
Balibo
Balibo is a town in East Timor situated approximately from the Indonesian border. It is located in the subdistrict of Balibo, Bobonaro District.
It was estimated by Human Rights Watch that 70 per cent of the town was destroyed during th ...
'' (2009)
*''
Face to Face'' (2011) – based on his play
References
External links
*
*
*
David Williamson playscripts Australian Script Centre
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williamson, David
1942 births
20th-century Australian dramatists and playwrights
20th-century Australian male writers
20th-century Australian non-fiction writers
20th-century Australian screenwriters
20th-century essayists
21st-century Australian dramatists and playwrights
21st-century Australian male writers
21st-century Australian non-fiction writers
21st-century Australian screenwriters
21st-century essayists
21st-century memoirists
Acting theorists
Australian essayists
Australian historical fiction writers
Australian male dramatists and playwrights
Australian male non-fiction writers
Australian male screenwriters
Australian memoirists
Australian satirists
Australian social commentators
Australian television writers
Critics of postmodernism
Cultural critics
Helpmann Award winners
Lecturers
Living people
Monash University alumni
Officers of the Order of Australia
People educated at University High School, Melbourne
People from Bairnsdale
Psychological fiction writers
Social critics
Swinburne University of Technology faculty
Theatre theorists
Theatrologists
Writers about activism and social change
Writers about theatre
Writers from Melbourne
Writers of historical fiction set in the Middle Ages
Writers of historical fiction set in the modern age