| Bib ID |
3802194 |
| Format |
Audio, Online - Google Books |
| Author |
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| Access Conditions |
Access open for research, personal copies and public use. |
| Description |
2006.
2 digital audio tapes (ca. 123 min.)
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| Series |
Alex Hood folklore collection
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Notes |
Recorded on October 21, 2006 at Blackheath, N.S.W.
Digital master; National Library of Australia, Oral History collection;
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| 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.
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| Occupation |
Theatre producers and directors. | Authors. |
| Other authors/contributors |
Hood, Alex, 1935- | Hood, Annette, 1948-
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