Some of you may remember 'Molly Says Yes' from my National Celtic Festival session at Portarlington last year — a project inspired by James Joyce’s Ulysses.
Well… something has happened since then. I worked more on the script and the concept (much more) and then last week we filmed it!
This special project deserves its own dedicated page here, so go to 'Molly Says Yes -The Film' to follow our progress.
(Photo: Ryan O'Connor)
The inaugural Surf Coast Writers Festival was an absolutely fantastic event on 27 June at the stunning RACV in Torquay. I thoroughly enjoyed being one of the guest writers.
A song, a time, a place...
Geelong Arts Society/ Aberdeen St/March 2026
https://www.stereostories.com/man-of-colours-by-icehouse-story-by-janet-brown
I am so pleased to have this short story now published by Stereo Stories.
Portrait by John Barton
It really was great to be part of this talented writers panel at the National Celtic Festival in Portarlington last night, convened by actor Simon Gleeson. With Fleur Saxton, C21 Theatre Company's Stephen Kelly, and Ellie O'Neill.
Have you ever been to Portarlington for the National Celtic Festival? It is THE best, in June every year, with so many great international and national performers.
This year I will be there to introduce a new work-in-progress: more details soon.
Check out the Festival here:
The National Celtic Folk Festival
https://www.nationalcelticfestival.com/
It was so great to attend the VCE theatre students school production at Aitken College. They did an amazing job bringing my play 'Dolly Stainer of Kew Cottages' to the stage. Their stagecraft was excellent, and the acting sensitive and assured.Congratulations to the talented team, and their inspiring teacher and director Michael Cooper.
Q:Why do I love teaching this Creative Writing Workshop at beautiful Geelong Gallery ?
A: The people who come along to explore Using Art As Inspiration enjoy it so much.
2024 Workshops:
Saturday 13 April 3-5pm FINISHED
Saturday 1 June 3-5pm FINISHED
I am so happy to see my very short story, Landslide, published today by Stereo Stories.
A song, a time, a place...
You can read it here
https://www.stereostories.com/landslide-by-the-dixie-chicks-story-by-janet-brown/
Wishing everyone a good 2024. Let's make a resolution to explore our creativity.
It's great to be invited back to the beautiful Geelong Gallery for 2024. Come along and write with me, using Art As Inspiration, on Saturday 24 Feb, 3-5pm. Creative Writing Workshop.
Tickets here BOOKED OUT
We can enjoy experiencing the Kungka Kunpu (Strong Women) exhibition.
Australasian Drama Studies 83v
Dr Rebecca Clode interviewed me as one of 10 Australian women playwrights about the impact of Covid 19 on our work. The academic report has just been published in the current issue of the academic journal of Australasian Drama Studies and makes very interesting reading about the challenges we faced. Here's an excerpt of the first 3 pages of the 35p report:
Introducing my new/old vintage Olivetti Lettera 32 typewriter c1963.
It is an absolutely beautiful machine.
In this time of AI and high tech everything, using old crafts and tools can be exhilarating, refreshing and subversive.
I am hoping great inspiration rises from this elegant little machine.
Watch this space.
While 2022 is now just a memory and we are jumping into 2023 with great hope that it invigorates us all, here's a sweet recent memory from the Anglesea One Act Play Festival on the Surfcoast a few months ago. I am not used to seeing photos of me that are larger than life, but must acknowledge my appreciation for the kind tribute. (Photo by Daniela Rodriguez)
It was so wonderful to be back at the theatre. Let's have more of it in 2023. To all my theatre creative friends and audience members... chookas and enjoy your shows.
Saturday 30 July
3-5pm
Update: Sold Out!!
| Cost— | |
| Members | $18 |
| Non-members | $21 |
Join award-winning author and playwright, Janet Brown for a two-hour workshop exploring works of art currently on display as inspiration for a creative writing exercise in the Gallery―a playful opportunity to extend your creativity and imagination.
Janet Brown has a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and extensive experience as a writing teacher and mentor. Brown’s work is widely published and several of her plays have been staged by various theatre companies in Melbourne, Sydney and have toured in regional Victoria.
This Saturday 30 July, local award-winning author and playwright, Janet Brown will be hosting a creative writing workshop at Geelong Gallery.
You will have the opportunity to explore works of art currently on display as inspiration for a creative writing exercise. Join Janet for a playful opportunity to extend your creativity and imagination.
Book your tickets via the link in below.
https://www.geelonggallery.org.au/whats-on/events/adult-workshop-creative-writing
Image: Louise Weaver ‘Dark Spring’ 2015, synthetic polymer emulsion on canvas, Geelong Gallery, John Norman Mann Bequest Fund, 2019 © Courtesy of the artist. Photographer: Andrew Curtis
During Covid I have loved going to Paris on Mondays!
It's actually an online live-drawing zoom initiative created by talented and generous Chloe Briggs, at a time when faces are part of what we missed.
Event by Geelong Regional Libraries
https://facebook.com/events/s/in-person-janet-brown-playwrig/420645482987521/
Absolutely delighted to announce that 'A Hole in the Ground,' co-written with my friend, Joanne Ryan, is now published by Australian Plays. This is the sixth play I have had published, and it was actually my very first play. Jo and I wrote it collaboratively. The script was developed with dramaturg Peter Matheson and the MTC, directed by David Myles and staged in 2004 at La Mama Carlton Courthouse and Wyndham Cultural Centre.
The project had an interesting genesis - it grew out of our experiences working with our community on the Werribee No Toxic Dump campaign in the late 1990s. Campaigning actually changes people, changes community and society, and that is what our play explores. I kept on writing plays and books, and Jo moved into politics - she is the Federal Member for Lalor. It was such a wonderful experience collaborating on this project. We are so pleased to see it now published.
'Dancing Into Freedom' - on the shelves at Readings, St Kilda
When Heidi Giersch asked me to write her memoir with her, I jumped at the opportunity. We are so pleased to announce 'Dancing Into Freedom' has just been published by award winning Ginninderra Press, and is now available.
Heidi’s unique story of growing up in East Berlin,
behind the Iron Curtain and in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, begins the moment she was chosen to go to
ballet school at ten years of age. Eventually
she performed with major East German dance companies. She shared with me her heartfelt recollections of family, life and her career in
East Germany. Facing the challenges of the Cold War in that communist society, every person was under the surveillance of the Stasi regime which infiltrated all aspects of social and private life.
Heidi's life changed forever in 1980 when she ran away after the final Sydney performance of the prestigious Komische Oper Berlin Ballet Company's Australian tour. Following her defection, she made her home in Melbourne where she still lives today.
Wonderful director Socratis Otto has released today the digital film version of my verbatim theatre project 'The Hope Song'. I am proud that so many people value and appreciate the shared experiences of the people who generously shared their insights with me. Socs has worked with such a talented cast of well known Australian actors, and you can watch this film version whenever it suits you. I hope you enjoy it.
Covid19 challenges people's mental health. You are not alone. Please reach out for help from Lifeline if this content raises any issues for you or your loved ones. LIFELINE 13 11 14
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Good news today from Australian Plays. They are going to publish 'A Hole in the Ground,' a play I co-wrote with my friend, Joanne Ryan, who is now the Federal Member for Lalor. ‘A Hole In The Ground’ was our first play, and we were lucky - we sent an early draft as an unsolicited script to the MTC in 2000 where it was picked up by dramaturg Peter Matheson who mentored us until it was staged in 2004 at La Mama Courthouse and Wyndham Cultural Centre, directed by David Myles. The project had an interesting genesis - it grew out of our experiences working with our community on the Werribee No Toxic Dump campaign in the late 1990s. The community fought the Kennett State Government and CSR – a real David and two Goliaths battle. Against all the odds, the community won. It was such a significant community activism campaign that it is still taught at universities today. We are now in a time of great protest movements - #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, Lock The Gate. Campaigning actually changes people, changes community and society, and that is what our play explores, illuminates and argues.
That was such a thoroughly interesting conversation! Meet my inspiring and very experienced guest panel who I enjoyed talking with about all sorts of things to do with theatre in and beyond the Victorian Surfcoast region.
PORTAL presents: Theatre Matters Within and Beyond the Surf Coast
Award winning playwright Janet Brown in conversation with Janine McKenzie, Nikki Watson, Maryanne Doolan and Michael Baker.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=331923461511317&extid=zuHaaem3uE5OehgB
https://www.facebook.com/SurfCoastArtsTrail/videos/331923461511317/?t=61