''The Department'' is a 1974 play by David Williamson about political intrigue at a university department. It was based on Williamson's time as a lecturer at Swinburne Tech.
Williamson wrote it for the South Australian Theatre Company. It premiered in 1974 at the opening of a new playhouse, then transferred to Melbourne and Sydney.
TV Adaptation
The play was adapted into a TV movie in 1980 which was produced by
Noel Ferrier as part of the
Australian Theatre Festival.
Cast
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Peter Sumner as Robby
*
Richard Moir as Peter
*Grant Dodwell as John
*Barbara Stephens
*John Ewart
Reception
The ''Canberra Times'' called it "a poorly constructed exercise".
''The Age'' called it "a success... some remarkable goods." Another reviewer from that paper called it "an excellent production".
The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' critic said "it's a long time since I've seen a better sustained performance in a locally produced TV play."
Jack Hibberd
John Charles Hibberd (born 12 April 1940 in Warracknabeal, Victoria) is an Australian playwright and physician.
Biography
Hibberd studied medicine at the University of Melbourne and resided in Newman College. He worked as a registrar in th ...
, who play ''
A Toast of Melba
A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...
'' was also filmed as part of the Festival, called it 'dreary, mundane. Awesomely so. I'm not impressed by that 'slice of life' realism style. It's just theatrical journalism."
References
External links
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''The Department'' (1980 TV adaptation)at Screen Australia
Plays by David Williamson
1974 plays
Australian plays adapted into films
Films based on works by David Williamson
1980s English-language films
{{1970s-play-stub