ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collection
HMSS 0171 Women on a Shoestring Records
Scope and content notes
Call Number |
HMSS 0171 |
---|---|
Collection | Women on a Shoestring Records |
Date Range |
1979-2007 |
Quantity |
2.62m (16 manuscript boxes and one oversized file) |
Access Conditions |
open with execption of video records which are not available for public viewing under the MEAA Award, and some restricted financial records |
Copying Conditions |
with attribution |
Related Collections |
HMSS 0152 Eureka! Theatre Company; HMSS 0354 Ann Nugent; Jigsaw Theatre in Education [not yet processed] |
Women's Theatre Workshop was formed in 1979 by Camilla Blunden and Robyn Alewood both to create theatre using women's stories and also to increase the employment of women in all aspects of theatre, from direction and administration to writing and performing plays. It became professional in 1984 and was renamed Women on a Shoestring. It is one of Canberra's longest running professional theatre companies.
As a company without ongoing funding, project grants and fundraising are all important. Nonetheless, it has toured extensively, taking its stories to communities across Australia and in the process gathering material for new plays. Works have explored the issues of aging, women on the land, female adventurers and menopause. Stories are collected by a variety of people and this material is then workshopped with actors, directors and musicians before a writer is commissioned. Collaboration and oral histories have been especially important in creating characters that reflected the varied realities of Indigenous, multicultural and rural women.
In 2004 an exhibition at the Canberra Museum and Gallery celebrated 20 years of the company, featuring reviews, photographs, sets, costumes and other ephemera. Women on a Shoestring has won several awards including a Canberra Critics Circle Award, a Special Mention from the Centre for Australian Cultural Studies Awards for their contribution to Australian culture (1999) and the 2000 MEAA Green Room Award.
Camilla Blunden was a performer for Jigsaw Theatre in Education for five years, then undertook a Women’s Directors course at Nimrod in 1980, after which she directed many independent productions including Theatre ACT’s lunchtime seasons. She was also a member of Eureka! Theatre Company. This collection also includes various material arising from her involvement with these other organisations.
Robyn Alewood did many productions with The Rocks Players in Sydney before joining Jigsaw Theatre in Education. She was involved as director and actor in some independent productions, was Artistic Director with Blue Folk Community Arts and was an administrative assistant with Theatre ACT before becoming Community Arts Administrator for the Blue Mountains, NSW.
Box List
Box No. |
Description |
Quantity |
Date Range |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
Photographs and Slides Women’s Theatre Workshop and Women on a Shoestring productions
|
1 folder |
1979 - ? |
1 |
Third international Women Playwrights Conference, 3-10 July 1994: Final Report |
1 book |
1994 |
1 |
Correspondence from Gary Humphries MLA re revised administration of community activities grants |
11 sleeve |
1997 |
1 |
Scripts and Dramaturgy May include research papers, oral history, draft scripts, correspondence
|
4 folders |
1980 – 1998 |
1 |
Unattributed music manuscripts:
|
1 sleeve |
|
1 |
MEAA ACT Green Room Award certificate |
1 sleeve |
2000 |
1 |
Newscuttings, publicity material, articles, reviews |
1 folder |
1978 – 1999 |
1 |
At the Crossroads; songs about women on the land |
2 CDs |
Ca 1998 |
1 |
Galley proofs for Over the Hill poster |
1 folder |
|
1 |
Creditor list The Hidden Heart |
1 sleeve |
|
1 |
CMAG 20th birthday exhibition: objects list and loan agreement |
1 folder |
2004 |
1 |
Promotional Material
Mostly by production in display folders; may include photographs, media releases, posters, correspondence, newscuttings, questionnaire responses |
2 display folders |
1992, 1995 |
2 |
Promotional Material
Mostly by production in display folders; may include photographs, media releases, posters, correspondence, newscuttings, questionnaire responses |
6 display folders |
1993 – 2002 |
3 |
Promotional Material
Mostly by production in display folders; may include photographs, media releases, posters, correspondence, newscuttings, questionnaire responses |
3 display folders, 1 envelope |
|
3 |
Awards Certificate for Special Mention in the Centre for Australian Cultural Studies (CACS) Canberra awards, and related correspondence and photograph, 1999 and newscuttings relating to awards 2000 |
1 sleeve |
1999 – 2000 |
3 |
Computer Disk and Recording Tapes
|
1 computer disk and 2 video tapes |
|
3 |
Recording Tapes of Performances Betacam: Girls of the Reel video segment, ScreenSound Australia; B&W, sound, 36 minutes, 25fps; 11 April 2001 |
1 video cassette |
2001 |
4 |
Recording Tapes of Performances VHS tapes:
|
11 VHS cassettes |
1990 – 2002 |
4 |
Recording Tapes of Performances
|
31 CDs |
1990 – 2002 |
5 |
Asministative Files
|
7 folders |
Ca. 1984-2004 |
5 – 8 |
APPLICATION FILES |
||
5 |
Application files
|
18 folders |
1994 – 2003 |
6 |
Application Files
|
22 folders |
Ca. 1983-2003 |
7 |
Application Files
|
25 folders |
1985-1995 |
8 |
Application Files
|
21 folders |
1993-2002 |
9 |
Administrative Files
|
1 folder, 2 volumes and a rubberstamp |
1990-1996 |
10 |
Administrative Files - Production script for At the Crossroads, including tour information |
1 lever arch binder |
Ca 1998 |
11 |
Administrative Files
|
11 files |
1996-2005 |
Administrative files
|
14 folders, 2 books |
2000-2009 |
|
Administrative Files
|
7 folders |
1997-2007 |
|
14 |
Scripts mostly written for Women on a Shoestring but includes some performed by Eureka! Theatre Company - Includes ideas, development, drafts, production texts.
|
11 folders, 1 book, 3 scrapbooks |
1983-2005 |
15 |
Scrapbook of newscuttings about Paulette, Isabel and Phyllis McDonagh, who made four feature films in the 1920s and 1930s in Sydney and several short sporting documentaries. Includes information on a film they prepared but did not produce, The Heart of a Nation, on the new federal capital at Canberra. The cuttings are undated except for the final one |
1 scrapbook |
1926 – 1971 |
15 |
The Slippery Slope, including publicity material; newscuttings; reviews; colour photographs and CD of the production; black and white publicity photographs of actors, with contact sheets; feedback letters and questionnaires |
1 display book |
2002 |
15 |
Butterfly Dandy, including publicity material; newscuttings; reviews; colour publicity photographs of actors; program; CD of the cover artwork; CD of the poster concept |
1 display book |
2005 |
15 |
20th anniversary scrapbooks, including historical articles, colour photographs of selected stage settings, biographical material, exhibition at Canberra Museum and Gallery, book launch, program of performance at La Mama, Sydney |
2 display books |
2003 – 2004 |
15 |
Cheque books, deposit books, receipt books, bank statement |
1 packet |
2000 – 2007 |
15 |
Address books |
2 books |
Undated |
15 |
Women on a Shoestring Theatre Company rubber stamp |
1 stamp |
|
15 |
Butterfly Dandy poster |
1 roll |
2005 |
15 |
Girls of the Reel stage design Act 1 |
1 folder |
|
16 |
Eureka! Theatre Company
|
5 folders |
1992-1996 |
16 |
Jigsaw Theater Company
|
1 folder |
|
16 |
Ensemble Theatre Project Documents the pilot project aimed at establishing a professional theatre company in Canberra supporting both mainstream and community theatre by providing an artistic and management core for local and interstate artists. Includes Statement of Principles; discussion papers; evaluations of productions; report of pilot project; 1986 annual report; 1987 production season plans |
1 folder |
1986-1987 |
16 |
ADMINISTRATIVE FILES (SUPPLEMENTARY) Papers relating to incorporation, 1984; financial records including cheque book, deposit book, withdrawal book, bank statements, profit and loss; Minutes of annual general meetings, audited accounts; Returns to Registrar of Associations |
1 folder | 1984;1998-2006 |