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9638034
  • Title
    John Upton papers, ca. 1980-2005
  • Creator
  • Call number
    MLMSS 11362
  • Level of description
    fonds
  • Date

    ca. 1980-2005
  • Type of material
  • Reference code
    9638034
  • Physical Description
    0.64 metres of textual material (4 boxes)
  • ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

    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
  • Collection history
    Literary papers of John Upton donated his sister-in-law Julie Nebauer.
  • Scope and Content
    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
  • Copying Conditions
    Copyright status:: In copyright – life of author(s) plus 70 years
    Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
  • Description source

    Contents list adapted from inventory supplied by donor.
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