''Down Under'' is a 1975 Australian play by

Bob Ellis Robert James Ellis (10 May 1942 – 3 April 2016) was an Australian journalist, screenwriter, playwright, filmmaker, and political commentator. He lived in Sydney with author and screenwriter Anne Brooksbank; they had three children. Early ye ...

and

Anne Brooksbank Anne Mary Brooksbank (born 1943) is an Australian writer. She has written a number of novels as well as scripts for film and TV. She teaches screenwriting at The Australian Film, Television and Radio School, Australian Film Television and Radio ...

Premise

In 1974 a couple, Marg and Joe, return to Australia from overseas and reunite with their old friends.

Production History

The original production had a cast that included

Carmen Duncan Carmen Joan Duncan (7 July 1942 – 3 February 2019) was an Australian-born stage and screen actress and activist, with a career locally and internationally in the United States that spanned over 50 years. She was nominated for the AFI Award ...

and Bill Hunter. Towards the end of the play's run at the

Nimrod Nimrod is a Hebrew Bible, biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Genesis and Books of Chronicles, the Books of Chronicles. The son of Cush (Bible), Cush and therefore the great-grandson of Noah, Nimrod was described as a king in the land of Sh ...

, Ellis and Brooksbank bought the theatre. Ellis later said they bought it when ''Down Under'' was "under threat of eviction". The play was published by

Currency Press Currency Press is a leading performing arts publisher and its oldest independent publisher still active. Their list includes plays and screenplays, professional handbooks, biographies, cultural histories, critical studies and reference works. H ...

Reception

''The Sydney Morning Herald'' wrote "the play is about pseudo-intellectualism, disillusion, contemporary Aussie images and - as it subtitles itself - the Whitlam age... a well crafted, witty play." The ''Sunday Herald'' critic said "this may be the best and bitchiest play since ''

Don's Party ''Don's Party'' is a 1971 play by David Williamson set during the 1969 Australian federal election. The play opened on 11 August 1971 at The Pram Factory theatre in Carlton (Victoria), Carlton. Plot Don Henderson is a schoolteacher living with ...

''." The ''Bulletin'' said the writers "have skilfully constructed a good solid three-acter which accurately and entertainingly reflects -the times, yet in its emotional sterility goes no further."

Original cast

*Pat Bishop as Kate *Carmen Duncan as Marg *Anne Haddy as Vanessa, Harry's wife *Bill Hunter as Dawson *Sue Lloyd as Rosalie, a 19 year old *Gerard Maguire as Joe, Marg's husband *Leonard Teale as Harry

References

External links

*
Down Under
at AustLit 1975 plays 1970s Australian plays Works by Bob Ellis Plays set in Sydney {{1970s-play-stub