John Upton papers, ca. 1980-2005

MLMSS 11362

fonds

ca. 1980-2005

9638034

0.64 metres of textual material (4 boxes)

John Upton (1939-2017) was an award winning Sydney-based poet, playwright and television writer. A graduate of the Australian Film Television and Radio School, he had four plays professionally produced. His television credits include Palace of Dreams, Rafferty's Rules, Butterfly Island, Neighbours, Prisoner, Cop Shop, The Restless Years and Special Squad.
Starting his career as a journalist, Upton was arrested while reporting on Vietnam War protests in Martin Place. This led to a job offer at the Penrith Press, and it was his experiences here that inspired The Warhorse. While working for the Penrith Press Upton lived in Werrington. Seeing a lack of space for cultural groups in the area, he founded the Henry Lawson Club. The club, which is still in operation, made Upton a Life Member for his contribution. Upton later moved to Marrickville, where he took up a position at the New Theatre in Newtown.
John Upton was a significant Sydney playwright. He won several awards for his work including The Australian Bicentennial National Play Competition, Australian Writers Guild Award for Best New Play (AWGIE), and the New Theatre's 50th Anniversary Play Competition (jointly). He wrote for more than 20 TV series over a 27 year career and had four plays professionally produced. While living in Werrington he founded the Henry Lawson Club and while in Marrickville he worked at the New Theatre. As a television writer, he also contributed to popular culture, most notably as a writer for the long running soap opera Neighbours.
Reference: Library acquisition file

Literary papers of John Upton donated his sister-in-law Julie Nebauer.

John Upton literary papers, ca. 1980-2005. Comprising notes, research, ephemera, and drafts of Upton plays; Waiting for Rupert Murdoch, The Warhorse, Men of Honour and Machiavelli, Machiavelli. This collection comprises draft playscripts of four of Upton’s plays (under various titles as they changed over time), some published items, a small collection of correspondence, and some ephemera. A curiosity of this collection is that some of the notes appear to be written on the back of scripts from the television series 'Neighbours'.

BOX 1 - 1981-2005
1 folder ephemera
Waiting for Rupert Murdoch
6 scripts
Typescript with manuscript additions

BOX 2 - 1982-1984
Machiavelli, Machaivelli
5 scripts
Typescript with manuscript additions
Shakespeare and Son (early versions of Men of Honour)
1 script
1 notes

BOX 3 - 1980-1983
The Warhorse
5 scripts
Reincarnation of Ned Kelly’s Horse (possibly early version of the Warhorse?)
1 script
1980
The Master (early versions of Men of Honour)
6 scripts

BOX 4 - 2001
1 folder correspondence and notes
Men of honour
4 scripts

Copyright status:: In copyright – life of author(s) plus 70 years
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Contents list adapted from inventory supplied by donor.