Alison Lyssa literary and personal papers, ca. 1979-1996

MLMSS 8746

fonds

ca. 1979-1992

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Photographs

153319

0.98 metres of textual material (6 boxes)

Alison Lyssa (1947-) freelance writer, playwright and daughter of Douglas Darby.
She has written a number of stage plays including ‘Where There’s a Will’ 1995, ‘The Boiling Frog’, at Nimrod theatre 1984 and published by Currency and Nimrod 1984, ‘The Hospital Half Hour’, commissioned by the Australian Hospital Association for their Annual Congress and performed by Theatre ACT in 1983, ‘Pinball’ performed at the Nimrod Theatre 1981 and published in Plays by Women Vol. IV edited by M. Wandor, Methuen London NY 1985, ‘The Year of the Migrant’ playreading at the Nimrod 1980, directed by Alan John.

Lyssa also wrote a number of screenplays including ‘The Silk’ an adaptation of a short story by Joy Cowley, Australian Film Television and Radio School 1993 and nominated for an AFI Award in 1994. She also involved in a number of community theatre projects including ‘Who’d’ve Thought?’ Women’s Theatre Project, Telopea Theatre Group, 1990 and nominated for AWGIE Award.

Lyssa was also a script assessor for the Performing Arts Board of The Australia Council, 1984-1995, Playworks 1994-1995 and for Redress Press. She was riter in residence and fellowships for Nimrod Theatre 1982, Varunda Writers Centre 1993 and New Writer’s Fellowship Arts Council of Australia 1973. She has written reviews for Belles Lettres: A review of books by Women, September/October 1986 and on Marjorie Pizer Selected Poems, 1963-1983, published in Refractory girl : a women's studies journal, 1986.

Short stories include ‘Crab of the City’ published in Refactory Girl, No. 42, 1992, ‘A Man of Promise’, Journal of the National Library of Australia, Vol. 1, No. 1, Autumn 1991, ‘I Tell Men Lies’, published im Hecate’s Daughters, ed. C. Ferrier, 1979. He has also written a number articles on feminist articles including ‘Who Owns Babies’, ‘I Tell Men Lie’s and ‘Why do fat chics have to die: a critical reading of Silence of the Lambs’, published in Shrieks : a horror anthology edited by Jillian Bartlett, Cathi Joseph, Anne Lawson Redress Press 1993.

Reference:
Library correspondence file

Includes draft manuscripts of plays inclduding records and correspondence and research papers relating to playwriting and theatre production:

BOX 1
Pinball, ca. 1980-1985:
Typescript drafts with revisions, ca. 1983-1984
Annotated working copy, notes and correspondence with cast and production team, 1983
Typescript drafts, October and November 1981
Typescript draft used for Troupe Theatre production, July 1981
Annotated typescript draft used for Nimrod production, September 1981
Annotated first, second third and fourth drafts, 1980-1981
Annotated Working copy with notes after third draft, 1980
Draft seven for September 1981 production
Printed book, Plays by Women Volume Four, Methuen Paperback, with published version of Pinball, 1985

BOX 2
Working seventh draft for September 1981 production with Chris Johnson
Working copy June-July 1981
Fifth draft and working copies for readings at Nimrod, February 1981
Working copy of fourth draft after custody case, no date

The Year of the Migrant, ca. 1980:
Original finished draft for reading at Nimrod directed by Alan John, September 1980
Annotated typescript draft, Shortcomings reworked, no date

Shortcomings, ca. 1979:
Typescript of final version, no date
Early drafts which later became Year of the Migrant and Pinball, ca. 1979. Scene 10 became key scen in Pinball and the rest became the Year of the Migrant

BOX 3
The Boiling Frog, ca. 1982-1984:
Drafts incorporating writers corrections and changes workshoped at Nimrod Women and Arts Festival, with Barry Plews in preparation for Troupe Theatre’s production and Margaret Davis for her production at the Riverina Theatre Company, ca. 1982-1984
Draft script prepared with Barry Plews, August 1984
Final manuscript drafts with revisions by the author at Troupe Theatre working with Barry Plews in preparation for Troupe’s production directed by Claire Dobbin, ca. 1982-1984
Draft commissioned by Nimrod and redraft, ca. 1983-1984
Draft used for Nimrod rehearsal, July 1984
Discards of research and production notes, ca. 1983-1987
Drafts from Nimrod workshop, September-October 1982
First draft of Scene 1, April 1982
Final drafts, April 1983

BOX 4
Notebook, ca. 1980-1990
Early drafts and notes compiled prior to the first draft, ca. 1982-1983
Research material, newscuttings and notes ca. 1980-1982
Published version, Currency Press & Nimrod Theatre Company, 1984

Telopea Archives, Women’s Theatre Project 1990, ‘Who’d’ve Thought?’:
Working copy of the script, various drafts and notes including first draft, ca. 1990
Two photographs, publicity material and programs, ca. 1990

BOX 5
Telopea Theatre group records and correspondence, newscuttings and draft notes, ca. 1990- 1992
Australian National Playwright Conference speech, 1982-1983
Association of Women Theatre Workers (S.A.) writing workshop notes, 1984
Correspondence, research material, drafts and notes for Short play for the stage, The Hospital Half Hour, commissioned by the Australian Hospital Association, ca. 1978-1984
Draft of play for ABC Radio sketch, When is He Having It?, 1982
Drafts of short screenplay, The Silk, 1992
Thesis on the Women and Theatre Project, 1981
Typescript Masters thesis, Alison Lyssa: A Feminist Playwright, by Manuela di Piramo, submitted to University of Sydney, ca. 1984-1986
Notes from Troupe Writers Workshop, 1983
Draft blurbs, photographs and reviews for The Boiling Frog, ca. 1983-1984
Correspondence and reviews relating to The Boiling Frog, 1983- 1992 includes notes made on King Lear and on Theatre while writer in residence of Nimrod 1982
Records and correspondence relating to Cygnet Tasmania production of the Boiling Frog, 1987
Correspondence with theatre companies relating to publication and production of Pinball, ca. 1982-1996
Correspondence and reviews relating to Nimrod and Troupe productions of Pinball, ca. 1981-1984

BOX 6
Correspondence with Troupe Theatre relating to Pinball, The Boiling Frog and Atomic Au Go Go, ca. 1982-1984
Notes for Nimrod production of The Boiling Frog, ca. 1982-1984
Reader reports relating to publication of Pinball for Redress Press, ca. 1983-1984
Drafts of short stories including Crab of the City and A Man of Promise and articles on Feminist Theatre, I Tell Men Lies and Why do fat chics have to die: a critical reading of Silence of the Lambs, ca. 1979-1993
Correspondence with Rosemary Curb, ca. 1984-1990 and printed periodical Belles Lettres: A review of books by Women, September/October 1986
Writings on child care published in Cauldron : a feminist journal, Vol. 1 No. 1 1974 includes some photographs, ca. 1974-1976
Reviews of Marjorie Pizer, Selected Poems, 1963-1983, published in Refractory girl : a women's studies journal, No. 29, May 1986, ca. 1984-1985
Poster for Riverina Theatre Company production of The Boiling Frog at the Hely Ave Theatre, 1984

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

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