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Mark Barkley

MARK BARKLEY

  (1960 - )
Nationality:    Australian
email:    n/a     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    n/a

Born in Ipswich QLD, he currently resides in Southport QLD, where he is employed as an environmental Health Officer with the Gold Coast City Council. For the past twenty years, it has been his great pleasure to have created work that has been appreciated by various audiences throughout Brisbane, QLD. all of the plays included here have enjoyed a successful theatrical staging or reading within Australia. ("the Captains and the Kings" - 1995, "Goodbye Melaleuca" - 1996, "Sylvia Terry" - 1998 and "a Kind of Belgium" - 2000) Two of the plays featured here have been short listed in the George Landen Dann award, which is Queensland's premium award for excEllence in playwriting. ("the Captains and the Kings" - 1992 and "Goodbye Melaleuca" - 1995) He has also created the short film "Spades" as writer/director which was short listed in the top ten films of the third annual What's On Short Cut Film Fest and screened in 2001 at the Brisbane Powerhouse. It was also such a pleasure for him in 2007 to rewrite and update his book "the Big Sugar election" which was originally completed in 1990. Currently he is at work on his next book which, pending on the desires of his newborn boisterous baby boy which is holding he and his wife in sleepless hostage at the moment, will be completed in 2009.

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below is a list of Mark Barkley's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Captains And Kings, The         Goodbye Melaleuca         Kind Of Belgium, A         Sylvia Terry
Captains And Kings, The

Synopsis:
How well do we really know our families? How long will we leave things unsaid that should be aired? It was a time of change. the time; 1968. the place; the O'Neill's Guest House in Kempsey, New South Wales. the patriarch of the family, David is suffering from a terminal illness. His wife Caitlin has organized a family gathering for what will be their final Father's day together. While Caitlin faces an unsure future, David is busy dealing with the ghosts of his past. For years he has distanced his daughters and now he has the chance to gain redemption. "the Captains and the Kings" was shortlisted in the 1992 inaugural George Landen Dann award.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Centenary Theatre Group Inc, Chelmer Hall, Brisbane     1995

Organisations:
the edge Theatre Company featuring Ron Kelly

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Family oriented Drama/comedy 2 acts Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Goodbye Melaleuca

Synopsis:
artist Eric Corey has taken back a valuable painting that he once gave to his niece Jenny and her husband alan. a line has been crossed that Eric cannot live with. a confrontation over custody of a work of art raises questions of the value of artistic integrity and explores a metaphor for the "ownership" of children in custody cases. "Goodbye Melaleuca" was shortlisted in the 1995 George Landen Dann award.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Spotlight Theatre Company, Benowa     1996

Organisations:
Spotlight Theatre Company, Benowa

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
play One act

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Kind Of Belgium, A

Synopsis:
Would you sit on a fence and watch an invasion take place? Right on your doorstep? When both the invaded and the invader were close to you? Ray Rance (a real estate agent), Leo Crowshaw (a restaurant proprietor) and Lynne Fleming (a hair salon operator) work in a shopping precinct that's been hit hard by financial downturn but is set to enjoy a recovery as a boutique tourist area. a property acquisition is about to take place. Jodie Crowshaw, Leo's daughter, stumbles on to hidden dealings and must confront family and friends to pursue what she believes is just and right. the story is seen through the eyes of Kane Boon, a street spirit, who was killed in the act of a robbery. His spirit is tied to a place which is about to be besieged and in defence of this space, he seeks to redeem his family name.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
La Boite Theatre, Hale Street, Brisbane     2000

Organisations:
La Boite Theatre Inc in association with their Springboards 2000 program

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
3 acts Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Sylvia Terry

Synopsis:
Sylvia Terry explores the events which occur when Sylvia and her mother Heather's world is upended with her brother Neil's involvement in a particularly heinous crime. the severe public reaction and disgust is personified by Ruth, the next door neighbour, who is also driven by a more personal agenda. Insights are drawn into Heather's life as a pillar of the community by Sarah, an attending police officer, to show that even respected innocent bystanders can be burnt by the fire of public scandal.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Anpc Writer's Workshop, Australian National University, Canberra     1998

Organisations:
1998 Australian National Playwrights Conference

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
3 acts Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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