Drama Queens

Why do we see so few plays by Australian women?

Something, somewhere, in Australian theatre is not working. Are female playwrights not out there, or are they being denied opportunities? And if there is a problem, what’s being done? With calls of sexism and a push for the introduction of quotas, many Australian women playwrights are on the warpath. Playwrights Patricia Cornelius and Van Badham talk with Artistic Directors Marion Potts and Ralph Myers, moderated by Chris Mead from Playwriting Australia.

Presenters

Patricia Cornelius

Patricia Cornelius is a playwright, novelist, dramaturge and founding member of Melbourne Workers Theatre.

Chris Mead

Chris Mead is artistic director of PlayWriting Australia.

Ralph Myers

Ralph Myers is Artistic Director of Belvoir Street Theatre and one of Australia’s foremost set designers. He has designed for most of the country’s major theatre companies, including extensively for Belvoir and Sydney Theatre Company as well as Melbourne Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Griffin Theatre Company and Legs on The Wall.

Van Badham

Van Badham has been a playwright since she was 15. Her plays have appeared in Australia, the UK, Germany, the USA, Iceland, Slovenia, Austria and Switzerland.