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Roger Milliss interviewed by Alex and Annette Hood in the Alex Hood folklore collection [sound recording]
Bib ID 3802194
Format AudioAudio
Author
Milliss, Roger, 1934-
 
Access Conditions Access open for research, personal copies and public use. 
Description 2006. 
2 digital audio tapes (ca. 123 min.) 
Series

Alex Hood folklore collection

Summary

Folkloric recording. Roger Millis, born 1934, in Katoomba, NSW speaks about his family background; the evolvement of the surname Millis; Richard Norris; Catholicism; Norfolk Island; his brother David; the Labor Party; the Communist Party of Australia (CPA); his father being Chifley's campaign director and being expelled from the Labor Party (1946); the family purchase of a guest house "Wykehurst" (1937); Unionism; schooling; Frank Walford; the Cold War; his parents decision to leave Katoomba (1951); Socialism; attending Sydney University; his involvement in university politics; being Secretary of the Labor Club and assistant secretary of the Australian Student Labor Federation; Roger Coates; his brother David joining the New Theatre (1952); doing a Dip. Ed. course (1955); joining the New Theatre (1956); John Malas; ASIO; Noel Collie; George Sharman; being active in New Theatre and Teachers' Federation activities; refers to "Under the Coolibah Tree"; becoming Assistant Director at the New Theatre; Laurie Booth; Mona Brand; his teaching posts; directing first revival of "Reedy River" (1960); the "Bushwhackers"; National Service experiences; Ted Hill; Normanhurst High School; Wagga Teachers' College; Dan Dempsey.

Millis discusses the New Theatre organisation; cricket; George Tribe; Don Scott and David De Cavahlo; C.L.R. James; George Muir; Paul Williams; Stalin's death; Kruschev's speech (1956); Ted Hill; Jim Staples; developments in U.S.S.R; China; "New Dawn Films"; Petrov Commission; taking a position in Moscow as an editor; Susie Wolfe; the Youth Festival of Peace and Friendship, Helsinki; working for Foreign Languages Publishing House; Moscow News; marrying in Moscow, moving to Kenya; his work as editor on Pan Africa Magazine; returning to Australia (1966); the breakup of his marriage; working on the Sydney Tribune and rejoining the New Theatre; directing "On Stage Vietnam" at St. Peter's Lane, Kings Cross; the death of his parents (1970); Anne Whitehead; acting for TV and writing scripts for radio and television; the 'Middle Eastern Digest'; his book about his father "Serpent's Tooth" published by Penguin Books (1984); his previously published books and later book "Waterloo Creek"; Keith Windshuttle; Australia Council grants; racism in Australia; Chris Koch; celebrations of 75 years of New Theatre (2007); the changes in U.S.S.R.; Joseph Stalin; John Manifold.

Biography/History

Roger Millis is a writer, actor, theatre director and teacher. A long-standing member of Sydney's New Theatre and an active member of the Communist Party, his philosophy and interests led him to travel overseas, working as an editor in Moscow and Kenya. He returned to Australia in 1966, resuming his work with the New Theatre. Roger now lives in the Blue Mountains with his wife in semi-retirement.

Notes

Recorded on October 21, 2006 at Blackheath, N.S.W.

Digital master; National Library of Australia, Oral History collection;

Index/Finding Aid Note Detailed summary (11 p.) 
Subjects Milliss, Roger, - 1934- - Interviews.  |  New Theatre (Sydney, N.S.W.) - History  |  Communist Party of Australia.  |  Authors, Australian - Interviews.  |  Theatrical producers and directors - New South Wales - Sydney - Interviews.  |  Teachers - New South Wales - Interviews.
Occupation Theatre producers and directors.  |  Authors.
Other authors/contributors Hood, Alex, 1935-  |  Hood, Annette, 1948-

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    Details Collect From
    ORAL TRC 5682/4
    Copy: Recording
    Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)
    ORAL TRC 5682/4 (summary)
    Copy: Summary
    Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)

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    Members of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Maori communities are advised that this catalogue contains names and images of deceased people. All users of the catalogue should also be aware that certain words, terms or descriptions may be culturally sensitive and may be considered inappropriate today, but may have reflected the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written.