The
Alex Buzo Company is a unique Australian arts organisation
inspired by the achievements of playwright and author Alex
Buzo
Above:
The Alex Buzo Company launch at Sydney’s Parade Theatre,
September 2007
ALEX
BUZO
Australian
Playwright and Author
1944-2006
Alex Buzo was born in Sydney. He was educated at The
Armidale School, the International School in Geneva and the
University of New South Wales from which he graduated with
a BA in 1965. In 2005 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate
of Letters from the University of New South Wales for his
contribution to Australian literature.
In 1968, Buzo’s first play Norm and Ahmed was among the
first to find a truly Australian voice and gained national
attention primarily through a prosecution for obscenity.
The exploration of alienation in this play remained a
common theme in his work, often delivered with clever and
stylish use of the Australian idiom and a tireless
commitment to reflecting the true nature of Australian
society.
In 1972, Buzo was awarded the Australian Literature
Society's Gold Medal for his play Macquarie. His plays
include Rooted (1969), The Front Room Boys (1969), Coralie
Lansdowne says No (1974), Martello Towers (1976), Makassar
Reef (1978), Big River (1980), The Marginal Farm (1983),
Shellcove Road (1989) and Pacific Union (1995) His work has
been produced around the world including the USA, the UK
and South East Asia. He was also writer-in-residence at
many theatre companies, schools and universities.
The Buzo canon spans many literary genres and also includes
novels, film scripts, reviews, radio plays, travel writing
and several books on sport, language and theatre. His
opinions on a wide range of subjects were much sought after
by all the major Australian newspapers, magazines and radio
stations. His popular books Tautology (1981), Meet the New
Class (1981), Glancing Blows (1987), The Young Persons
Guide to the Theatre (1988), Kiwese (1994) and A Dictionary
of the Almost Obvious (1998) reflect his unique presence in
the Australian arts as the witty and astute observer of
Australian life and language.
Following Buzo’s death in 2006, his daughter Emma founded
The Alex Buzo Company in 2007. This is the first arts
organisation in Australia to produce, promote and
perpetuate the work of an Australian writer.
What
is The Alex Buzo Company?
The
Alex Buzo Company was
launched before 550 members of the Australian arts
community, general public and local, state and federal
government at the Parade Theatre in September 2007. It
received extensive media coverage including the
ABC TV news. The
company is an initiative of Alex’s daughter Emma Buzo -
a producer, educator and actor who is currently
responsible for all of the company’s operations. The
launch was followed swiftly by a critically acclaimed
Sydney season of Buzo’s famous play NORM AND AHMED
described
by John McCallum in The Australian as “a revelatory
production...a fine revival of a great classic.”
In 2008, The Alex Buzo Memorial
Lecture was
inaugurated.
The company’s aim to to
PRODUCE, PROMOTE AND PERPETUATE the work
of Alex Buzo. More specifically, it will:
* foster
the same level of excellence Buzo achieved in his career in
contemporary Australian literature through innovative
programs of theatre, education and training.
*
administrate and curate the literary estate of Alex Buzo.
This includes making choices that allow the work to
continue to fulfil its greatest potential.
*
instil
pride and ownership in Australian writing and establish a
greater sense of our cultural history. This will be carried
out through ventures such as theatre productions, including
national and international tours, an annual lecture,
education programs, and further publishing/reprinting of
the work of or writings about Alex Buzo.
*
identify,
encourage and maintain the same levels of craftsmanship,
excellence and integrity that were the hallmarks of Alex
Buzo’s work. The company will form fruitful relationships
with current Australian arts organisations and individuals
including the current body of Australian writers.
*
sustain
a commercially viable and attractive arts organisation,
including the securing of funding through the state and
federal government as well as the corporate sector.
THIS
IS AN AUSTRALIAN FIRST. THERE IS NO OTHER COMPANY LIKE
IT.
