In Conversation with David Williamson
Wednesday 29 Jun 2022, 6–7pm
ANU/The Canberra Times Meet the Author series
Australia's legendary playwright and screenwriter, David Williamson will be in conversation with Alex Sloan, on his revealing and candid memoir Home Truths. The conversation will be followed by a screening of Travelling North (1987), one of Williamson's favourite movies based on his works, starring Leo McKern, Julia Blake, Graham Kennedy, and Henri Szeps.
Home Truths explores the life of David Williamson and the true stories and real lives that inspired his works. It reveals the story of the man behind the work: how a childhood defined by marital discord sparked a lifelong fascination with the power of drama to explore emotional conflict; how a mechanical engineering student became our most successful playwright; the anxiety that plagued him as he crafted his plays; the joy of connecting with an audience and the enduring sting of the critics; and the great love story that defined his personal life.
Fearless, candid and witty, Williamson also writes about the plethora of odd, interesting, caustic and brilliant people - actors, directors, writers, theatre critics, politicians - who have intersected with his life and work: from a young Jacki Weaver and Chris Haywood in the first Sydney production of The Removalists in 1971 to Nicole Kidman on the brink of stardom in the 1988 feature film of Emerald City and from Graham Kennedy in the 1976 film version of Don's Party through eventful overseas travels with Gareth Evans, Peter Carey and Tim Winton to a West End production of Up for Grabs starring Madonna.
David Williamson AO is widely recognised as Australia's most successful playwright. His plays have been performed throughout Australia and produced in Britain, United States, Canada and many European and Asian countries. David Williamson has been awarded honorary doctorates by four Australian universities and has won five Australian Film Institute awards
Alex Sloan AM, the 2017 Canberra Citizen of the Year, is a regular conversationalist for ANU Meet the Author events. Alex is a Director and Deputy Chair of Australia's progressive think-tank, The Australia Institute, Director of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and Director and Deputy Chair of ACT Writers.
Copies of Home Truths will be available for purchase and signing by David at the event through Harry Hartog Bookseller ANU. Book signings will commence at 5pm.
Location
Arc Cinema, National Film and Sound Archive
McCoy Circuit
Acton ACT 2601
Australia
