Amy McGrath Theatre Collection, including papers concerning the Australian Theatre and the Mews Playhouse, 1970-1978

MLMSS 9131/Boxes 1-4
MLMSS 9131/Boxes 5X-6X

fonds

1970-1978

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Musical Sound Recordings, Moving Images, Clippings, Ephemera, Photographs, Posters

133074

1.25 metres of textual material and photographs (4 boxes and 2 outsize boxes)

Dr Amy McGrath, author of poetry, plays, musicals and books, was born Amy Cumpston in 1921. She obtained her Doctorate of Philosophy at the University of Sydney in 1975. She established the Mews Playhouse, seating 60, for play readings in an old coach house in the family backyard in Centennial Park, Sydney, and the Australian Theatre, seating 160, in Lennox St, Newtown, for public performance. Seven of her own plays, including two musicals – Eldorado and Crusade - were performed or read in these theatres. She has also written three epic novels and books on election fraud and food intolerances. In 1975 she was awarded the Order of Australia for services to theatre.

References:
Compiled from the collection
Amy McGrath http://www.amymcgrath.com.au (accessed 25 Sep 2013)

BOX 1
Folder of personal papers including copy of McGrath’s Doctor of Philosophy degree and correspondence, 1973-1978
Folder of personal papers including invitations and conference papers, 1977-1978
Folder of papers relating to the Australian Theatre including programmes, newsletters, press releases, 1972-1975
Folder of theatre programmes and periodicals, 1973-1978
Sydney Educational Drama Laboratory newsletters, 1975
Folder of travel ephemera, ca. 1977

BOXES 2-3
Typescript and printed play scripts by various playwrights, some annotated, 1974, no date

BOX 4
Newscuttings relating mainly to the Mews Playhouse and the Australian Theatre, 1970-1978

BOX 5X
Three scrapbooks of newscuttings, photographs and ephemera relating mainly to McGrath, the Mews Playhouse and the Australian Theatre, 1970-1977

BOX 6X
Black & white production photographs and proof sheets from the Australian Theatre and Mews Playhouse including ‘The cherry pickers’ by Kevin Gilbert (with script), 1971, no date
Black & white production photograph mounted on board of ‘The cherry pickers’ by Kevin Gilbert, no date

SOUND RECORDINGS
International Music Theatre Forum at the NSW Conservatorium of Music, January 1977 (8 audio tape reels)
SITAF lectures and panel discussions, January 1978 (15 audio tape reels)
Unidentified (3 audio tape reels)
Not to be issued - master tapes only. For access please contact the Curator of Oral History.

MOTION PICTURES
4 video recording reels titled ‘An evening with Lerner, Sondheim and Prince, 20/01/1977’ Tapes 1 and 2 and ‘An evening with Lerner, Sondheim and Prince, 07/02/1977’ Tapes 1 and 2
These motion pictures are housed separately from the records at MLMSS 9131. For enquiries about this material please contact the Manuscripts Section.

This collection includes 8 posters housed separately from the records at MLMSS 9131.
POSTERS 2525/1-6
1. Bunch of ratbags
2. "The Actor" : October 28th 8.pm : Opera House
3. Obstacles : a black comedy by Joseph Musaphia
4. The Crusade : a rock musical : Opera House Recording Hall
5. 'Variation', comedy - D.Freeman : 'Acis and Galatea', opera - Handel, Dir P. Seymour : 'Raleigh', music drama - A.McGrath
6. Bargain time : a comedy of the organising of a Jewish wedding, by Morry Swerdlin
POSTERS 2526
The 3rd Runnymede Pop Festival : March 13 & 14, 1175, Great Hall, Sydney University.
POSTERS 2527
The 6th Runnymede Pop Festival : March 30th & 31st, 1978, Great Hall, Sydney University, 8 p.m.

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights holders
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2013-2014