Home Truths: A Memoir

by David Williamson

The revealing and candid memoir of Australia's legendary playwright and screenwriter


The definitive memoir of David Williamson, author of iconic dramas such as The Removalists, The Club, Don's Party, Emerald City and Travelling North, as well as more than fifty other plays, explores the life of the writer and the true stories and real lives that inspired his works. A powerful force in theatre since the 1970s, Williamson's plays have uniquely explored the pulse of our Australianness.

After five decades of chronicling the blunders, mishaps and messes that he and his fellow Australians got themselves into, Williamson has penned his long-awaited memoir, Home Truths. It reveals the story of the man behind the 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 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 lively dinners with political powerhouse Paul Keating; 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, and the satisfaction of seeing his sons Felix and Rory tread the boards in several of his own plays.

Praise for David

'Australia's most enduringly popular social comedy writer ... keenly observant and satirical.' The Sydney Morning Herald


'Williamson always keeps us engaged ... his words weave a spellbinding course ... testament to the power of [his] language.' The Daily Telegraph

'Our greatest dramatic entertainer.' Chris Boyd, Financial Review

'His genius has been to define for us, in advance of our own recognition, the qualities which make up the Australian character.' Katharine Brisbane, The Australian

'It would be impossible to fault Williamson for not being brutally honest.' Jasper Lindell, Canberra Times

'Known for his sharp wit, brutal dialogue and fierce politics, Williamson's book is savage, funny and tender in equal parts. It's also first-class eyewitness cultural history.' Filmink

'Home Truths unfurls a sweeping and surprising life. It is a potpourri of Australian middle-class mores, exiting cultural schisms in the nation's theatre fuelled by young men and women who would go on to change the face of stage and screen, the politics of the day, love trysts and betrayal, backstage drama, fame and financial success, family, enemies made and friends lost, marriage and divorce, all backdropped by Williamson's remarkable work.' Matthew Condon, The Australian

'... the overall momentum is powerfully sustained. Home Truths is as much a collective portrait as a self-portrait, and anyone who picks it up is likely to be carried on by the surge and the propulsion.' Peter Craven, Sydney Morning Herald

'Like so many of his plays, it is name-dropping, gossipy and wonderfully entertaining.' Susan Lever, Inside Story

'The book is packed with detail, personal and professional, as he covers his life step by step, highs and lows, plenty of each.' NZ Listener

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2021

About the author

There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Lewis Woolston · Rating 2 out of 5]

When i was in High School i had an English teacher who was a bit of a groovy Whitlam-era leftie. She was a big fan of Midnight Oil and Redgum and was a card carrying member of the Australian Democrats. She used to talk a lot about Australian literature and culture and was very passionate about it.
One day she wheeled in the tv and video player and put on a VHS copy of "Don's Party" she'd told us all beforehand how important this was for Australia's culture and national identity so i was quite interested to see it. However i think it's the wrong play to show 16 year olds. I didn't get it at the time and wondered what the fuss was.
Years later i saw it again on Netflix and actually got it.
Anyway i went into this memoir very keen to hear the voice of an Australian icon. I regret to say that the more i read the less i liked the guy. He comes across as a self-absorbed and rather unpleasant Boomer narcissist.
You may have heard the old saying "never meet your heroes" well this is one case where that definately applies. Skip this memoir and just go rewatch some of his classic work instead, you'll be better off for it.

[Peter Langston · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Mr Williamson's writing for stage and screen. Therefore, I found it, at first, underwhelming to meet him once the subject turned to self. By the end, I was left unimpressed by a man so self-obsessed that he discounts any negative action he has taken in relationships to be of little matter. Borish and possessed of little more than how he might turn the next dollar, I was disappointed to find that most of his most influential statements of the prevailing Australian social condition, were little more than cashing in by writing what's popular with the masses. In the light of that revelation, he's not really written anything from the point of view of passion and desiring change on behalf of others since The Removalists. Yes, he's a giant in Australia play and film writing - figuratively and literally - but clearly, one who struggles with the both the concept and delivery of humility. By the second half, an endless parade of twee stories about his next play ... and next ... and next ... and infidelity and heart problems ... all became too much for this reader. Make it interesting or make it fun. Neither on show here. Yawn.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very comprehensive and fair reflection of his life and achievements by the author. I listened to this on a long drive and it never failed to hold my interest whether that be his marital challenge he’s of the story of the writing of each of his plays and their staging. Interesting that he did so much work in Hollywood which he was paid for but none of which saw the light of day. What I especially liked was his honesty even though it didn’t always put him in the best light. A great record of the plays and the times that they represented.

[Emma Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed and extensive (perhaps too much so at some point) reflection on Williamson’s life. An interesting read for anyone who has studied Australian theatre, or is a regular in Sydney/Melbourne’s theatre scenes

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have read for a long, long while. Perhaps, being an Australian, I could closely relate to the story of Australia's greatest-ever playwright as he tells his story, worts and all. I have always admired David Williamson's plays and found the fact that he continued to generate such a prolific output of original highly relevant Australian plays to be awe-inspiring. Clearly his output will be a massive resource of historic importance for continuing generations of Australians as well as an inspiration for future playwrights.

[Malcolm Frawley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Williamson is, without question, Australia's most successful stage & screen writer, even more successful than I had imagined before reading this auto-biog. He based many plotlines, & even more characters, on events & people who inhabited his daily life. Some of whom were not very happy with the results. I have to say I enjoyed reading the early days the most - his home & uni life & his early breakthroughs with La Mama, the Australian Performing Group & the Nimrod theatre companies. Many interesting anecdotes occur during the ensuing 50 years of this writer's life. However, his determination to present something of a warts & all portrait has compelled him to record his various infidelities. All well & good. But also recording his wife's retaliatory infidelities, presumably with her consent, really made me squirm. Ultimately, while I have nothing but admiration for the writer, I ended up not liking the man very much. Which won't cost our greatest playwright a moment of sleep.

In an early Aust Perf Group production Williamson suffered a poor review from Leonard Radic, The Age theatre critic of the time, & notes that Radic was also an aspiring playwright. When I won the Aust Perf Group's playwright's competition a decade later, & was rewarded with a production at the Universal Theatre, Radic was still The Age's senior critic, & probably the most influential in the country. He savaged my play mercilessly &, while I do not dispute it deserved some criticism, this seemed to go way beyond what might be deemed appropriate. I found out a couple of days after the review appeared that he had also entered a play in the competition & lost - to me. When I asked if the company was going to do anything about this obvious conflict of interest they said no, because Radic would be reviewing their next production. Vale, Len.

[Ian Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Williamson is one of my favourite playwrights so I leapt at the chance to read his memoir, although it feels more like a biography than a summing up of what he’s learned through life. I was most surprised, however, to learn just how much of a pantsman he is.
Niggles aside, this is superb. If you have even a tiny interest in Australian entertainment it is a must-read. Williamson covers his early life, with his almost accidental falling into theatre, through to his retirement celebrations - cut short by Covid - with a breezy elan, constantly surprising the reader with his sudden, sharp, insightful observations about how an event impacted on him or inspired something. Not surprisingly, many of these events involve his famous friends or associates, and it’s entertaining to see how these stories switch between showing the playwright in a good or bad light (and while it didn’t inspire a play, his run-in with a cop who studied The Removalists at school is hilarious).
While I would have like a little more about how he goes about writing a play, this is one of the best books about working in entertainment I have read in recent years.

[Lyn Quilty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially I found this book to be enjoyable reading, however, it went on for too long and had too much detail about each play. At times Williamson seemed to be name dropping and gossipy. Do we really need to know about all the infidelities of so many people. His insight into politics was interesting and being of a similar age I could relate to the events he mentioned. Williamson seems to be a man of enormous ego, but with an underlying insecurity and in need of constant praise and affirmation. If others aren’t going to praise him he will do so himself. Undoubtably talented and a man who has had a huge impact on the arts scene but a dose of humility wouldn’t go astray.

[Cynthia Coghill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aptly named “Home Truths”, David Williamson’s memoir shares everything with no veneer or soft focus lens covering numerous infidelities and falling out with major Australian theatre companies. His prodigious output has given Australian audiences a glimpse of our foibles, both uncomfortable and hilarious. Williamson’s plays are the skeleton with the actors carefully putting flesh on bone with each performance. I’m grateful to have grown up in the era of his greatest plays and look forward to seeing them onstage once more.

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I could relate to the timing of when many of the plays were written and a connection having seen some of the plays in theatres. It was interesting to link the politics of Australia and the progress of the arts world in Australia in relation to the theatre with David Williamson’s biography. The biography reads well and provides an interesting insight into Williamson’s thinking and character along with that of his family and friends.

[Dulcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ultimately disappointing. I am a great fan of David Williamson's plays, after Home Truths however I am not a fan of this prickly, self obsessed playwright.
I don't begrudge him his success, he has clearly worked hard but he does appear to leave wreckage and slashed relationships in his wake. Self expurgation with the occasional disparaging selfportrait may be accepted by his weary family, but it comes across as little more than a narcissists deflection.

[Bres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting enough autobiography though it became a bit repetitive - if it's (insert year) it must be this (insert play) I'll tell you about. The book could've been more about the man or more about the plays but it meandered between the two. The early years - childhood through to breakthrough - are more interesting. Maybe that's true for most of us.

[Wendy Marchment · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very long audiobook and dragged somewhat. Lacked self reflection for me. Overly factual with details of play opening dates and actors. Every now and then there was an good anecdote which kept me going.

[Ann Koenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this memoir as David reminded me of my theatre experiences.

[Nola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, David Williamson wasn't afraid to write about his flaws. He's had a very lucky life with his writing success however not so much with his health.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging autobiography by Australia's most successful playwright.

[Shane Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Brutally honest and perceptive!

[Martin Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

24 October 2021
Martin Kerr
Home truths’ torturous roots
Home Truths
By David Williamson
HarperColllinsPublishers Sydney 2021 424pp HB

Fifty years of drama! Hey that’s a good record. Lots of plays, lots of gigs, and lots of problems.
David Williamson never gives up. He’s determined to leave his mark and to prove it in his work and now in his final memoir, warts and all. And there will be many incidents that are not put into Home Truths. And why should they? A memoir to be successful must be interesting, challenging and entertaining. All three are her in this lengthy book.
I was driven to purchase it because I have seen several of Willamson’s plays and also read a couple of them in play readings on the Atherton Tablelands. What got me first was The Club. Brilliant and it suited the usually conservative MTC Melbourne audience at Southbank. If you’ve ever played sport and been involved on committees then this is a play for all seasons. Williamson does a marvellous job. And obviously on many of his other plays.
What drives Williamson is his physicality and his mother. He never stops alluding to them. These features causes him problems right through his life. I would say he has a fetish about them. He can’t help himself. They make him do things, motivate him and sometimes in a revengeful fashion. His gifts rely to a large extent on his upbringing and education. Would-be could-be middleclass with a pushy mother and loving father. He thinks himself as a socialist but he only sticks to issues that will make the conservative establishment offer remedies through action and sometimes higher taxes. He is hated because he is not left enough and panders only to the middleclass (in fact he’s so so middleclass and worries about sending his kids to the right private schools). People who go to his plays enjoy being taken off and shown for what they are. Despite the rawness of his early plays, he refuses to lecture or offer solutions. In many cases he will not turn a villain into a redeemed hero as his well-paying Hollywood producers (none of his works went to film) wanted.
Williamson represents his upbringing and his life as he lives it, his faults, his failures and occasional missteps in the media. He can’t or won’t forgive himself for some of the things he’s done. His late introduction into sex (worried about his height), his assignations while married, his jealousy if anyone dared approach at his second wife Kristin, who is not beyond the occasional dalliance. Definitely not a brave sexual venturer. He beats up himself continually to the point where some readers will have enough. He tries to find reasons and solutions for his dilemmas, which are often enlarged but not necessarily resolved in his plays. Driven by guilt and the need to make amends, his health suffers trying to meet deadlines, trying to satisfy a blended family, trying, trying to resolve issues that can’t be resolved. Fortunately he does not press his politics down our throats. Sit back and let his plays, directors and characters do the work and hope the critics don’t slam him.
Worried continually about acceptance and critics, again he’s about perfection. The little boy that could, to please his mother, have become a doctor and instead ended up as an engineer. He continually fears failure and this translates into his family life, fighting health problems to maintain his control over situations. He will never forgive himself and in his final words ...
‘Yes, there are parts of my life that I have botched badly. But if I start brooding on what I should have done better, I can swivel my chair and look at a bookshelf containing fifty-odd published and performed plays. And I can remember and be grateful for the fact that the best of Australia’s theatrical talent brought my words to life onstage, and that hundreds and thousands of people saw and applauded the result.’ (p410)
Well said. I hope he’s enjoying his life and monetary rewards as I have enjoyed this memoir.

Martin Kerr’s New Guinea Patrol was first published in 1973. His cult memoir, short stories and seven novels are available on Kindle. martindkerr@gmail.com maskimedia.com.au