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Alison Lyssa

ALISON LYSSA

  (1947 - )
Nationality:    Australian
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    n/a

Alison Lyssa is a playwright, workshop leader, dramaturg, script editor, community theatre worker and teacher of writing for performance. She often teaches at WEA, Sydney, and has taught at the University of Western Sydney (2006) and the University of Technology, Sydney (1999 to 2002). Having gained her Masters Degree from Macquarie University with a thesis entitled 'Performing Australia's Black and White History', Alison has embarked on a PhD. A founding member and for many years a Board member of Playworks, the network for Australian women writers for performance, Alison was a member of the International Advisory Board of Women Playwrights International (1987-88 and 1998-2000), and worked for the Australian Centre of the International Theatre Institute (1985-87). Her play 'Dead Men's Trousers' was workshopped at the WPI Conference, Galway (1997). Other plays include 'Pinball' (1981); 'the Hospital Half Hour' (1983) and 'the Boiling Frog' (1982).

Research:    http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/226301

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

         Boiling Frog, The         Dead Men's Trousers         Hospital Half Hour, The         Pinball         Who'd've Thought ?         Year Of the Migrant, The

Boiling Frog, The

Synopsis:
A witty exposure of dangers of blind faith in the power of technology to solve human problems. Playwright Alison Lyssa draws explores the fate of the human species now facing the dangers of the nuclear age...her three act play spans three epochs, from the great plague in 17th century London, to the industrialisation founded on coal and iron in 18th century England, to the present age of atomic power. Each successive generation expected that technology would solve the problems of disease and poverty.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Nimrod Downstairs, Surry Hills, NSW     13 Oct 1982

Organisations:
Women and Arts Festival

1st Published:
Sydney : Currency Press in association with Nimrod Theatre Co, 1984   0868191043

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:
three act play

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/93522

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Dead Men's Trousers

Synopsis:
For half-dotty Ruby, the death of her husband means the death of everything. Comedy and tragedy dance together as her eldest daughter plans to dump her in a home a demolish her house for apartments. Her son fights for the lion's share, believing their father's missing Will left everything to him. Her youngest daughter is ready to turn the cake knife on herself and bleed to death on the toilet floor. To challenge the unbearable Ruby learns how to summon uncanny powers. Tumultuous hidden feelings are unleashed, unravelling the family's history of lies and punishment and opening possibilities for love.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
workshopped at the WPI Conference, Galway     1997

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
http://australianplays.org/   -

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:
Full-Length 120 mins Surreal comedy drama with puppetry

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Hospital Half Hour, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Rehearsal Room, Civic Square, ACT     Nov 1983

Organisations:
-

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:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/93523

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Pinball

Synopsis:
Alison Lyssa's first performed play 'Pinball' (Nimrod, Sydney 1981) brought a lesbian custody case centre stage in a challenge to misogyny deeply rooted in aspects of Australian society, religious practice and law.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Nimrod Upstairs, Surry Hills, NSW     23 Feb 1981

Organisations:
Women and Theatre Project

1st Published:
in Plays women Vol 4 / edited and introduced Michelene Wandor, London : Methuen, 1988    0413567400

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:
Lesbian, full length

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/93521

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Who'd've Thought ?

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

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:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Year Of the Migrant, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Nimrod Street Theatre, Darlinghurst, NSW     08 Sep 1980

Organisations:
-

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:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/93524

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