From the Archives - REEDY RIVER. In 1953, Dick Diamond wrote a play called REEDY RIVER.

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undated document  from Bob Bolton's holdings

REEDY RIVER

In 1953, Dick Diamond wrote a play called REEDY RIVER.

At Melbourne New Theatre, John Gray was working with him to fuse naturally 10 or so traditional Australian folk songs into the book. Many were the conferences and discussions as the show grew; Dick Diamond wrote and rewrote as the rehearsals continued.

Review of Reedy River, Melbourne,  The Age 12th March, 1953

Reedy River, Melbourne, 1953 (BMC Archives) 

In December 1953, Sydney New Theatre produced REEDY RIVER; this has proven to be another historical event. It was received just as excitedly and enthusiastically as the Melbourne production, playing to packed houses for 9 months.

Reedy River, Sydney 1953 - Curtain Call - (BMC Archives) 

Brisbane New Theatre produced the play in 1955, playing to a total audience of 5,700, and later the production was revived. The warmest praise was given to the productions of Adelaide New Theatre and Perth New Theatre. The lively Newcastle New Theatre, formed in 1956, announced it as its first production, and played to very large houses; it has had successful subsequent productions, as has Melbourne New Theatre.

Sydney New Theatre also revived REEDY RIVER, in 1960, 1963, 1969 and 1973. Its total playing period in Sydney NT is over 20 months, before audiences of over 350,000 people; over 300 people have been involved on-stage and off-stage.

Reedy River in Sydney, 1960 (BMC Archives)

REEDY RIVER has been produced in London, and all over Australia by other little theatres, high schools and tertiary institutions. Total New Theatre audiences are well over half a million. To date there has been no professional production.

Reedy River in Perth, c.1955/56 - © State Library of Western Australia 

This historic production was a true example of ensemble or collective theatre. When the curtain went up in March 1953, the audience saw what John Gray described as 'our first real Australian musical'.

We hear today common reference to a 'resurgence' in Australian theatre. New Theatre feels that with REEDY RIVER it has helped to lead the way, and that this play was one of the first definite statements of theatrical independence of the sugar-coated or 'successful box- office' overseas productions. In this and other ways, REEDY RIVER occupies a unique place in the history of 'little' and 'big' Australian theatre..

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