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Book Cover for: Away, Michael Gow

Away

Michael Gow

'Away was a revelation. For here was an Australian play set in the summer of 1967-68 that was truthful, fantastical, satirical and deeply touching. The characters were immediately recognisable and grounded in reality yet Gow's quest opened up its claustrophobic, flawed, bittersweet domestic terrain to wider horizons enabling change and self-awareness.' Bryce Hallett, Sydney Morning Herald.

One of the great Australian classics, Away opens with a school performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the timeless Shakespearean themes of suffering, regeneration and reconciliation persist. It's Christmas in 1967 and time to re-enact the rituals of the summer holiday. Three Australian families set out separately but are driven together by a storm. At times funny and yet painfully truthful, Away explores the comedy and tragedy of their lives.

Featuring introductions by May-Brit Akerholt and Richard Wherrett.

1987 AWGIE Awards - Major Award Winner

1986 NSW Premier's Literary Award - Play Award

Book Details

  • Publisher: Currency Press
  • Publish Date: Nov 1st, 1986
  • Pages: 82
  • Language: English
  • Edition: UK - undefined
  • Dimensions: 8.27in - 5.39in - 0.22in - 0.22lb
  • EAN: 9780868192116
  • Categories: European - English, Irish, Scottish, WelshAustralian & OceanianGeneral

About the Author

Gow, Michael: - MICHAEL GOW's plays include the Australian classic Away, Toy Symphony, The Kid, On Top of the World, Europe, Sweet Phoebe, Live Acts on Stage, 17 (for the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain), Toy Symphony and Once in Royal David's City. His plays have been performed in Poland, the Czech Republic, Vietnam, Japan and all over the US. Gow has been Associate Director of Sydney Theatre Company and Artistic Director of the Queensland Theatre Company. He has directed for all the major Australian theatre companies as well as Opera Australia, Australian Theatre for Young People and the Lincoln Centre's New Visions New Voices programme. Gow's awards include two NSW Premier's Literary Awards, two Sydney Theatre Critics Circle Awards and an AFI Award for writing the ABC miniseries Edens Lost. His most recent play Once in Royal David's City premiered at Belvoir in 2014. In 2015 he directed a remount of his production of The Magic Flute for Opera Australia and his translation of Mother Courage and Her Children premiered at Belvoir. 2016 saw two critically acclaimed productions touring under Gow's direction with Voyage to the Moon (which he also wrote the libretto for) with Victorian Opera / Musica Viva and The Pearlfishers for Opera Australia.