Item F3891 - Orana Region Project : report, September 1-21, 1975

Identity area

Reference code

F3891

Title

Orana Region Project : report, September 1-21, 1975

Date(s)

  • 1975 (Creation)

Level of description

Item

Extent and medium

29 leaves ; 33 cm and smaller.

Context area

Name of creator

(1974-1983)

Administrative history

The Popular Theatre Troupe formed in 1974 during the Queensland Festival of the Arts. Albert Hunt, a significant figure in England's alternative theatre scene, was brought from Bradford College of Art to Brisbane by the University of Queensland's Department of English to coach the troupe. By 1975, it had evolved into a professional theatre company, performing at various venues around Brisbane, including The Music Box on Dornoch Terrace in West End, the Cement Box Theatre at the University of Queensland, and Mt Nebo Hall. In 1978 the troupe found a permanent home in the Red Hill Community Arts Centre, formerly the St Barnabas Church Hall, at 60 Waterworks Road in Red Hill.

During its nearly ten-year existence, the Popular Theatre Troupe toured Australia with 25 original shows, organised ten large community events, and spearheaded numerous community arts projects. It positioned itself as a vanguard theatre of ideas, targeting conservative government, the corporate sector and the military establishment. The troupe received funding from the Community Arts and Theatre Boards of the Australia Council. The Troupe disbanded in 1983 due to lack of funding.

Members of the troupe include Richard Fotheringham, Roslyn Atkinson, Duncan Campbell, Nick Hughes, Margaret Moore, Kathryn Porrill and Paul Richards.

Archival history

Previously catalogued in the Fryer Library general collection: PN3016.B7 P63 1975

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Typed report by the Popular Theatre Troupe on the Orana Region Project, dated October 1975. The first page describes the project as a community theatre project in association with the Queensland Festival of the Arts, assisted by the Australia Council (now known as Creative Australia) and the Queensland Government. The project was undertaken over three weeks from 1 September 1975 to 21 September 1975, and centred on three towns: Dubbo, Narromine and Wellington.

The report is organised into four sections titled consecutively as Sections A through D. Section A comprises a general report, which includes a program of activities, an evaluation of the project approach, a statistical summary, a preliminary statement of income and expenditure, and a project planning paper. Section B contains an individual activities report, detailing various performances held in different community venues, youth workshops, a workshop with the Dubbo Amateur Theatrical Society, video workshops with South Dubbo High School, and a training session for school teachers. The performances delivered were 'The Puny Little Life Show', adapted from a play by Roger McGough and directed by Brent McGregor, starring Duncan Campbell, Nick Hughes and Kathryn Porrill; and 'The White Man's Mission', written by Richard Fotheringham and Albert Hunt, and directed by Albert Hunt. Section C comprises photocopied and original newspaper cuttings relating to the Orana Project. The final section, Section D, contains photocopies of ephemera distributed by the Popular Theatre Troupe, including typed and hand-drawn flyers and leaflets advertising activities and performances; two of the flyers have hand-drawn black-and-white illustrations.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Orphan work. The rightsholder for this work cannot be identified, or is identifiable but cannot be found, after a reasonably diligent search. If you believe you are a rightsholder for this material, please contact Fryer Library directly at fryer@library.uq.edu.au.

Can be reproduced for personal research and study. For other uses see About copyright. Please attribute the Fryer Library.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related material is held at the Fryer Library in FTPF36 Popular Theatre Troupe Theatre Program File, UQFL46 Richard Fotheringham Papers and H1376 The white man's mission

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Invalid MMS ID

991010211129703131

Former call number

PN3016.B7 P63 1975

Alma MMS ID

991014570582203131

Access points

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Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Full

Dates of creation revision deletion

Created, Kymberley Bax, 24-Jun-2024.

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Script(s)

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Accession area