Leonard Radic interviewed by Bill Stephens [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3602652
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Radic, Leonard, 1935-2018, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, written permission is required for personal copies and public use for 10 years from the date of the interview.
- Description:
-
- 2005
- 4 digital audio tapes (ca. 256 min.)
- Summary:
-
Leonard Radic, born 1935 in Melbourne, speaks about his family background and childhood; education; his interest in writing; early employment; entering journalism in 1956; joining The Age; going to London in 1961 with his wife, Terry, and son, Stephen, to work in journalism; his interest in theatre; his first play, The Proposal, written at age 16; some of the productions he saw when living in London; returning to Australia in 1963; resuming his career as a feature writer with The Age; the role of a feature writer; his promotion to Editorial Writer in 1968 and continuing to write editorials for 28 years and theatre reviews for 25 years; becoming involved in theatre criticism; the process of theatre criticism; discusses celebrity actors and performances; the production of Manning Clark's History of Australia; the Australian musical "Eureka"; Melbourne Theatre Company's productions of his plays; the perceived conflict of interest in being both a critic and a playwright; being a champion of new Australian writing.
Radic talks about the role of governments in the development of theatre in Australia; the newly introduced anti-sedition laws; the perceived demise of text-based plays in favour of 'visual' theatre; significant contemporary plays; the use of songs in his plays; his achievements over 20 years in the role of Chief Theatre Critic, and leader writer, for The Age; travels to America, Vietnam and Iraq; the various editors he worked for at The Age; fluctuations in the coverage of arts by newspapers over the years; his massive stroke, and his recovery; his books, The State of Play, and Contemporary Australian drama; his collaboration with, and influence of, his wife, Dr. Therese Radic, on his writing; the effect of television on how people perceive theatre; completing his M.A. and thesis on modern comedy; his future plans.
- Biography/History:
-
Leonard Radic, born 1935 in Melbourne is an Australian journalist, author and playright. He worked for The Age between 1963 and 1994 as a feature writer, leader writer and theatre critic. He has written plays for both stage and radio and two opera librettos, and is the author of The state of play: the Australian drama revolution since the 1960s, and Contemporary Australian drama. He has also contributed to a number of other publications.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on December 7, 2005 at Malvern, Vic.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Uncorrected transcript (typescript, 104 leaves) and detailed summary (12 p.) available.
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Stephens, Bill, 1936-, interviewer
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2075 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2005
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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