Series 1: Alison Summers papers and photographs

MLMSS 10517/Boxes 1-11
MLMSS 10517/Box 12X
ON 670

series

1942-2018

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Clippings

9658677

2.6 metres of textual material (11 boxes and one outsize box), includes some photographs
22 negatives - black and white

MLMSS 10517

A. FAMILY PAPERS, CORRESPONDENCE AND PHOTOGRAPHS; SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY AND THEATRE IN CANBERRA, 1942-2009
BOX 1
Folder 1: Original box listing, with contextual and biographical notes, compiled by Alison Summers.
Folder 2: Correspondence, including letters, postcards and facsimiles, between Alison Summers and her parents (Margaret and Stan Summers) and maternal grandparents, 1963-2009, undated. Also includes two letters from Peter Carey to Margaret and Stan Summers, 1986, and photocopied newsclippings relating to Peter Carey
Folder 3: Letters to Alison Summers’ sister, Diane Summers, and letters from Diane Summers’ family, 1985-2003, undated.
Folder 4: Family photographs 1942-1987, undated
Folder 5: Biographical information, family history research and writings by Alison Summers and Margaret Summers, approximately 1951-2009
Folder 6: Canberra Church of England Girls Grammar School, 1965-1970, 1997. Includes schoolwork, certificates, play programs, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve brochure featuring Summers, reunion invitation
Folder 7: Canberra theatre productions ‘Dirty work at the crossroads’ (Canberra Little Theatre), 1970; Act One Drama Festival, 1971; Australian Theatre Workshop, 1971-1981; Australian Playwrights Conference and Theatre Forum, 1981. Includes programs, flyers, photographs and clippings
Folder 8: Australian National University, 1975-1976. Includes academic transcripts, honours thesis and photographs of Burgmann College residents and activities, poets A. D. Hope and Alan Gould and graduation

B. MARRIAGE TO DAVID BROOKS; POSTGRADUATE STUDIES AND WORK IN TORONTO, 1972-1989
BOX 2
Folder 1: Personal photographs, 1972-1975. Includes photographs with Diane Summers and David Brooks
Folder 2: Wedding to David Brooks, 1975. Photographs, invitation
Folder 3: Correspondence with family, 1975-1980; photographs, 1976-1980, including trip to Niagara Falls with David Brooks, David Malouf, Craig Powell and Les Murray
Folder 4: Letters to David Brooks, 1982-1989; photographs with David Brooks, 1978-1981; application for dramaturg position at Murdoch University, 1982; Prism Books catalogue featuring ‘The cold front’ by David Brooks
Folder 5: MA and PhD studies at the University of Toronto, 1976-1982. Includes academic transcripts, essays, theses, curricula vitae and correspondence with Ron Bryden, her academic supervisor
Folder 6: Theatre productions, 1977-1980. Includes programs, photographs, reviews for productions directed, reviewed or publicised by Summers
Folder 7: Papers relating to John Romeril, 1979-1984. Includes article by Summers on his play ‘The floating world’, transcript of interview by Summers, photograph, copy of published interview in ‘Canadian Theatre Review’ Summer 1979, letter to Romeril

C. INTERVIEWS WITH BRITISH PLAYWRIGHTS AND PETER CAREY; LITERARY ARTICLES, 1979-1990
BOX 3
Folder 1: Interview with Trevor Griffiths, 1979-1984. Includes correspondence, interview transcripts, newspaper and journal articles based on the interviews, ‘The party’ playscript by Trevor Griffiths
Folder 2: Interview with David Hare, 1980. Photocopies of interview transcripts, correspondence
Folder 3: Interview with Howard Brenton, 1980-1984. Photocopies of interview transcripts, correspondence, clippings
Folder 4: Interview with David Edgar, 1981-1983. Photocopies of research notes, interview transcripts, newspaper and journal articles based on the interviews, correspondence
Folder 5: Interview with Peter Carey, 1985. Includes interview transcripts, clipping
Folder 6: Book reviews and other literary articles, with correspondence, 1987-1990

D. CORRESPONDENCE WITH FRIENDS, 1978-2004
BOX 4
Folder 1: Correspondence, 1978-1998. Correspondents include Ron Blair (1 letter), Katharine Brisbane, Bob Brissenden, Peter Carey (photocopies of 2 letters), Ralph Fiennes (1 letter), Shirley Hazzard (1 letter), A. D. Hope, Galway Kinnell (1 letter), Anthony Minghella (1 letter), Frank Moorhouse (1 letter), Brian Patten (1 letter), Judith Wright (1 letter)
Folder 2: Correspondence with Australian friends, 1981-2003
Folder 3: Correspondence with Canadian and American friends, 1981-1987, 1997
Folder 4: Correspondence with Canadian literary friends, 1980-1988. Correspondents include Carolyn Smart, Aviva Layton, P. K. Page, Greg Gatenby
Folder 5: Correspondence with David and Kristin Williamson, 1990-2004, with photographs, 1988-1998
Folder 6: Letters to Kathy Lette, 1989-1998, undated
Folder 7: Letters to Silvana Gardner, 1980-1985, with photographs, 1976-1978

E. WORK IN SYDNEY AT THE NIMROD AND TOE TRUCK THEATRES; TONY STRACHAN; PETER CAREY READINGS, 1982-2001
BOX 5
Folder 1: Nimrod Theatre, Sydney, 1982-1984. Correspondence, reports, curriculum vitae, job descriptions, clippings and theatre programs relating to Summers’ role as dramaturg
Folder 2: Nimrod Reading Series, 1983-1984. Correspondence, notes and flyers relating to the Sundays at Nimrod readings by writers in the Nimrod’s Downstairs Theatre
Folder 3: Correspondence with and regarding British playwrights, 1982-1985. Correspondents include Ned Chaillet, Louise Page, Alan Seymour (1 letter), Michelene Wandor
Folder 4: Correspondence with George Walker and his wife Susan Purdy, photographs, clippings of reviews for the Nimrod’s production of ‘Zastrozzi’, 1983-1988
Folder 5: Letters to Tony Strachan, photographs including tour of Europe with Strachan’s performance group Chrome, New York, camping and Nimrod picnic, 1982-1984
Folder 6: Letters, photographs and clippings relating to Peter Carey’s public readings of his works in Sydney, Toronto, Adelaide, Paris and Amsterdam, New York City mailing list, 1985-2001
Folder 7: Toe Truck Theatre, 1987-1989. Includes Summers’ application for position of artistic director, biographical information, correspondence, reports, clippings; photographs, clippings, flyers and other material relating to the productions ‘Peacemaker’ (1987), ‘State of shock’ (1987), ‘A sporting chance’ (1988), ‘Don’t tell anyone’ (1988, 1989), ‘Could do better’ (1989) and ‘Operation Holy Mountain’ (1989); letters from Kerry Walker, with letters of recommendation for Kerry Walker and Alison Summers

F. SYDNEY TO NEW YORK HOMES AND WORK; MARRIAGE TO PETER CAREY, 1984-1994
BOX 6
Folder 1: Sydney to New York City homes, 1984-1994. Photographs of Alison Summers and Peter Carey on holidays around Sydney, living at Elizabeth Bay from 1984-1986, at Birchgrove from 1986-1989, at Washington Square Village, New York in 1990 and at Bedford Street, New York from 1990, visits by Tom and Judith Keneally and David and Kristin Williamson
Folder 2: Wedding to Peter Carey, 16 March 1985. Invitation and photographs from Summers’ wedding to Peter Carey in Sydney
Folder 3: ‘The chance’ playscripts, 1986. 5 annotated typescript versions of playscript adapted by Peter Carey from his short story from 'War crimes' for a workshop at the Toe Truck Theatre
Folder 4: ‘The chance’ director’s notes, photographs taken during the workshop and a letter to the Performing Arts Board, 1986-1988, together with a notebook containing ‘The chance’ dramaturgical notes, ‘Punch me in the stomach’ rehearsal, production and script notes and notes on other scripts

G. BOOK EDITING, FILM AND TELEVISION WORK, 1984-2000
BOX 7
Folder 1: Editing of Peter Carey novels and other works: ‘A letter to our son’, 1984-1988, with 2 letters from Peter Carey and letter from Alison Summers' obstetrician; ‘Oscar and Lucinda’, 1985-1988; ‘The tax inspector’, 1991-1992; ‘The unusual life of Tristan Smith’, 1994; ‘Jack Maggs’, 1997-2005; ‘True history of the Kelly Gang’, 2001-2005. Chiefly clippings and printouts of reviews and author interviews, with photographs of Faber & Faber editor-in-chief Robert McCrum’s wedding, 1995, and annotated copy of 'The big bazoohley'
Folder 2: Editing of books written by other authors: ‘Tanglewood’ and ‘The jacaranda years’, by Kristin Williamson, 1992-1994; ‘How do you want me?’ by Ruby Wax, 2003; ‘Above suspicion’ by Lynda LaPlante, 2004. Chiefly correspondence with authors and agents
Folder 3: Film and television work, 1985-2000. Correspondence regarding various film and television script reading and production roles; ‘War crimes’ by Peter Carey and Bill Bennett, annotated playscript; ‘The tarot cards’ by Alison Summers, typescript article; ‘Until the end of the world’ (screenplay by Wim Wenders and Peter Carey) photographs of Wenders, Carey, Summers and Solveig Dommartin

H. NEW YORK THEATRE AND LITERARY WORK, 1981-2018
Folder 4: ‘Punch me in the stomach’ playscripts, contracts, correspondence, photographs, 1991-1995. [Co-authored and directed by Summers, co-authored and performed by Deb Filler.] 3 annotated playscripts (New York version, Australian/New Zealand version, Sydney stage manager’s copy)
Folder 5: ‘Punch me in the stomach’ typescript production history; programs, publicity material, clippings of reviews, 1991-1995
Folder 6: September 2001 terrorist attacks, 2001-2018. Includes writings by and interviews of Summers relating to her experiences during the September 2001 terrorist attack in New York; Summers’ article about Tania Head, a 9/11 imposter; clippings relating to the attack and the tenth anniversary; World Trade Center Health Program information

BOX 8
Folder 1: New York theatre general correspondence including congratulatory letters and cards, 1981-2003; résumés, 1992-2000; clippings of articles about Alison Summers, 1994-2001
Folders 2-5 contain correspondence, programs, flyers and other promotional material, notes, contact sheets, clippings of reviews, photographs relating to individual productions detailed in each folder
Folder 2: New York Theatre Workshop play readings, 1990-1994, includes 2 letters from David Williamson; Women’s Project & Productions rehearsed readings, 1991-2000; Circle Repertory Company play readings, 1992-1995; New York Stage & Film, 1994-1997; New Dramatists, various play readings, 1996-2004; Various play readings, 1994-2002
Folder 3: Individual plays directed by Alison Summers: ‘Two’ by Jim Cartwright, 1993; ‘I am yours’ by Judith Thompson, 1994; ‘Banner’ by Kathleen Clark, 1994; ‘Cinoman & Rebeck’ by Susan Cinoman and Theresa Rebeck, 1994; ‘Leaning towards infinity’ by Sue Woolfe, 1995-1996; ‘Whale music’ by Anthony Minghella, 1997-1998; ‘Phaedra in Delirium’ by Susan Yankowitz, 1997-1998;
Folder 4: Individual plays directed by Alison Summers: ‘Goldberg Variations’ by Marcy Kahan, 1998-1999; ‘Kidstuff’ (‘Enfantillages’) by Raymond Cousse, 1999; ‘Soulmates’ by David Williamson, 2000-2002; ‘Gin and bitters’ by Susan Cinoman, no date
Folder 5: Multiple plays directed by Alison Summers: Plays for festivals, 1994-1996; Lincoln Center Theater, as Director of Directors Lab, 1995-2004; PEN American Center, as Director of Literary Programs, 2002; HB Playwrights Foundation plays, no date
Folder 6: Company membership, contact lists and mailing lists for various New York theatre groups and productions, 1991-2000. Also includes biographical information on Marcy Kahan
Folder 7: Playscripts: ‘The collected works of Billy the Kid’ by Michael Ondaatje, typed playscript, with letter and postcard from Michael Ondaatje, photograph, 1980-1991; ‘Two new women’ by Jeff Daniels, typed playscript, with letter from Jeff Daniels, 1996-1998

I. SCREENPLAYS AND BOOK, 1996-2017
BOX 9
Folders 1-3: ‘The mathemagician’ typescript screenplay by Alison Summers, also variously titled ‘Jessie wins the war’ and ‘Cloak and dagger’, 6 drafts, 1996-1999
Folder 4: Correspondence and research material relating to ‘The mathemagician’, 1997-2017

BOX 10
Folders 1-4: ‘The fairy godfather’ typescript screenplay by Alison Summers, 9 drafts, some incomplete, some titled ‘Birds of a feather’, 1998-2000, undated
Folder 5: ‘A girl’s guide to the criminal mind: the survival guide’ by Alison Summers, printed proof copy, 2016

J. RESTRICTED CORRESPONDENCE
BOX 11 (RESTRICTED)
Folder 1: Letters from Diane Summers, 1984-1993, undated
Folder 2: Letters from David Brooks, 1980-1985, undated. Letter dated 7 July 1982 includes poems
Folder 3: Poems by David Brooks, 1982, undated
Folder 4: Letters from Tony Strachan, 1982-1984, undated
Folder 5: Letters from Silvana Gardner, 1977-1986, undated
Folder 6: Letters from Kathy Lette, 1990-2001, undated

K. OUTSIZE MATERIAL
BOX 12X
The Australian National University degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours awarded to Alison Margaret Summers, 24 April 1975
Framed montage of 5 black and white photographs with cover and contents page of ‘Lowdown’ magazine June/July 1988 featuring the Toe Truck Theatre production ‘Change of face’

ON 670
Childhood photographs of Alison Summers and her sister Diane. 22 black and white negatives

Partly restricted: Applies to MLMSS 10517/Box 11

This material is held in cold storage and requires 3 working days notice to retrieve. Please submit your request through Ask a Librarian - Applies to ON 670

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder