Australian Theatre of the Deaf records, 1976-1996

MLMSS 8901

fonds

1976-1996

Textual Records, Manuscript Notated Music, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Ephemera, Photographs, Posters

153475

1.99 metres of textual material (12 boxes)

In the early 1970s a theatre was formed in Sydney by a group of deaf people interested both in entertaining the deaf community and offering its members an opportunity to express themselves creatively. The company's first major public production was 'King Lear' in 1976. 1979 saw a change of focus when the company was launched professionally as the New South Wales Theatre of the Deaf, to cater for both hearing and deaf audiences. The company later became known as the Theatre of the Deaf, and in 1995 was renamed Australian Theatre of the Deaf. It remains Australia's only professional deaf theatre company. (Similar companies which commenced in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne remain amateur groups). The company produces education shows for school children, interpreted and mainstage theatre. Performing in a variety of styles and techniques, including visual theatre, visual vernacular, sign singing, shadow interpreting and mime, the company has toured throughout Australia and to the USA, Japan, New Zealand, Austria and Singapore. In 1991 it was chosen as one of the most successful theatre companies performing at the World Federation of Deaf Companies held in Tokyo, Japan.

For further information about the establishment of the company see: Nola Colefax, Signs of change: my autobiography and the history of Australian Theatre of the Deaf 1973-83 (Parramatta, Deafness Resources Australia, 1999).

The collection comprises administrative, financial and production records of the Australian Theatre of the Deaf, reflecting its activities in the areas of entertainment and education.

BOXES 1-2
Administrative files relating to grant applications and funding, the New Writers Project, tours, venues, marketing, employment contracts, conferences and workshops, 1982-1992

BOX 3
Administrative files relating to the Planning Committee, other Theatre of the Deaf companies, Theatre Proprietors’ and Entrepreneurs’ Association, royalties, Deaf Way Festival 1989, workshops, Auslan classes and video tape, public relations, 1988 and 1989 Summer Schools, 1985-1989

BOX 4
General information including objectives, proposed activities, budgets, résumés, 1988-1990
Hilary Linstead & Associates folder containing actors’ résumés and correspondence, 1988-1989
Work experience reports, 1988
Administrative file containing correspondence, reports including ‘Australian delegation visit to China in the area of deafness’ 1988, budgets and funding applications, 1982-1990
Victorian tour 1989 file
Western Australia tour 1992 file
‘Shape up’ Queensland tour 1993 file

BOX 5
Director’s reports, 1986
General correspondence, 1987
General correspondence inward and outward, 1987-1992
Letters, cards and drawings received, ca. 1980-1987
Internal memoranda, 1989-1990
Management reports including meeting notes, 1988

BOX 6
‘Alphabits and crackers’ 1983 play script, publicity photographs
‘Fingerpainting’ 1982 play scripts, publicity photographs
‘Five little wishes’ 1982 play script
‘The communication show’ 1982 play script, music manuscripts
‘Signposts in history’ 1982 play script, publicity photographs, music manuscripts
‘Pictures words and other signs’ 1981 play scripts, reviews, poster
‘The threepenny opera’ 1980 play script, publicity photographs, music manuscripts, publicity file
‘Theodore’ (later ‘Theodora’) 1981 play script, music manuscripts, poster
‘The Australian National Deaf Theatre: A profile’ 1980 play script
‘The shshsh journey’ 1980 play script, publicity photographs, music manuscripts
‘Alex . . . or the automatic trial’ 1979 play script, publicity photographs, newscuttings
‘Double act’ 1979 programme
‘A history in six sides’ 1979 play script, publicity photographs, poster
‘Actions speak louder than words’ 1979 play script, publicity photographs
‘My home is your garbage bin’ 1979 play script, publicity photographs
‘Five flights to freedom’ 1978 play script, publicity photographs, rehearsal schedule, set plans, programme, biographies
‘Of rogues & clowns’ 1977 programme, publicity photographs, poster
‘King Lear’ 1976 booking form, newscutting
‘The unheard world of Jasper Lawson’ 1981 play script, publicity photographs, music manuscripts
‘The winter’s tale’ 1981 play scripts, poster
‘Hooligan’s hands’ 1983 play script
‘How’ 1984 play script
‘I live here’ 1984 play script

BOX 7
‘Man equals man’ 1985 play script, tickets, programmes, cast list, promotional material, correspondence, box office and financial records, reviews
‘Good sports’ 1985 play script
‘The bundle of sticks’ 1985 play script
‘Odd bods’ 1985 play script
‘The invaders’ 1985 play script
‘Silent video’ 1986 play script
‘Waiting for Godot’ 1986 play script, production file, newscuttings

BOX 8
‘Don Quixote’ 1987 play scripts, production file
‘Behind the window’ 1987 play script
‘Signposts’ 1988 play script, music manuscripts
‘Signarelle’ and ‘The lady of Larkspur Lotion’ 1988 play scripts

BOX 9
‘Wolfmoon’ 1989 promotional material, newscuttings
‘The eye’ 1990 resource booklet, programmes
‘Here’ (‘Lotsa’, ‘Rainshadow’) 1991 outlines, play scripts, notes, correspondence
‘Rainshadow’ 1991 production file
‘Shape up!’ 1992 correspondence, schedules, teachers’ notes, children’s drawings
‘Tick-a-box’ 1992 correspondence, teachers’ notes, flyers
‘Savant’ 1993 production file, promotional material, newscuttings
‘Sing ‘n’ sign’ and ‘Castles in the air’ 1993 correspondence, invitations, receipts, programmes

BOX 10
Newscuttings relating to the Theatre of the Deaf and other companies, 1979-1988

BOX 11
Newscuttings (unsorted), 1980-1991
Serials and printed material from other organisations including 1990-1993 issues of ‘Sound news’, 1973-1993

BOX 12
Promotional material for Theatre of the Deaf and its productions, including programmes, flyers, invitations, posters, 1976-1996

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

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2012-2013

Additional contents list supplied by donor