Belonging: Australian Playwriting in the 20th Century

by John McCallum (Editor)

John McCallum s new history explores the relationship between 20th century Australian drama and a developing concept of nation. The book focuses on the creative tension sparked by dueling impulses between nationalism and cosmopolitanism; and between artistic seriousness and larrikin populism. It explores issues such as the domineering influence of European high culture, the ongoing popularity of representational realism, the influence of popular theatrical forms, the ambivalence (between affection and aggression) of much Australian humour and satire, and the interaction between the personal and the political in drama.

The strength of Belonging is its comprehensiveness. Anyone studying an Australian play will find it here in the context of the other works by its author or the time and place in which it was written. As well as a rundown of the major writers and their works, the book also investigates a number of lesser known plays and writers.

This authoritative study of Australian drama gives an account of the relationship between our theatre and our sense of self while taking into account a broad range of influences that helped to shape both.

484 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

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Reviews

[Alison Croggon]

McCallum's magisterial survey is the best there is on Australian playwriting. Period.

[Lisa]

Read but not reviewed because I didn't take any notes and I didn't do the review at the time because my mother was dying and I forgot about it. Now, I can't do this excellent book justice without re-reading the entire thing. So you just have to take my word for it.
If you are interested in Australian drama or literature in general, it's a must read.

[Benito]

A must for anyone gainfully unemployed in Oz play-making.