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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From the Archives - Review of Reedy River, TRIBUNE Wednesday 19th May, 1954

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http://folkstream.com/830.html

The success of New Theatre play Reedy River in its early days had a profound effect on the early Folk Song Revival in Australia. The Bush Music Club in Sydney and the Victorian Folklore Society in Melbourne were both set up in its wake. The Cold War at the time meant that for 17 years the Sydney Morning Herald refused to advertise productions of the play or allow any journalist to report on its success. This policy came to an end when the legendry WWF Secretary Jim Healy rang the editor and pointed out that the Herald's newsprint originated in Tasmania and Waterside Workers there might take steps to break the Herald boycott.

Reedy River (1954)

Showing at WWF Hall

REEDY RIVER continues its great extended season. It opens
again on Saturday, May 22, at the Waterside Workers' Federation Hall,
60 Sussex Street, Sydney, under the auspices of the Cultural Committee
of the Sydney Branch of the WWF after which it will be showing every
Friday and Saturday night.

This fine Australian musical is well into its sixth month
of showing. Already 16,000 people in Sydney have seen Reedy River.

Last week-end the May Day Committee of the Trades and
Labor Council, Newcastle, sponsored a showing of Reedy River
in that great industrial centre.

On the Friday night 1000 people enthusiastically watched the
production and on the Saturday night
500 people were entertained with excerpts and songs.

So keen were the people who saw the show that there is now
a move afoot in Newcastle to set up a New Theatre of their own.

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REEDY RIVER has been touring most successfully in the
suburbs. New Theatre will be pleased to arrange for Reedy
River to come to your suburb. You can contact the theatre
every day at XB2601, and in future every Friday and Saturday
at the Waterside Workers' Federation Hall for an extended
season.

Notes From the NSW Newspaper The Tribune Wed 19 May 1954 p. 7.

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From the Archives - Extracts from Mulga Wire no. 214, Dec 2012 - "Leaving Anzac" - 2 singers' versions & a poem

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p. 7 - The Bushwhackers Band 'breaks into' the
mainstream media, February 1954 

S1 - 2 versions of Cecily Fox Smith's poem Farewell to Anzac - 
one by Charlie Ipcar of Maine, the other by
Martyn Wyndham-Read (version not available)
& a poem by Gail Copley about the sessions in Hut 44

 

S2 - Original words to Farewell to Anzac,  published in 
a book of WW1 poetry "War Verse" ed. by 
Frank Foxcroft, 1918.
Originally published in  Chamber's Journal. 

S3 - Farewell to Anzac - words by Cicely Fox Smith,
adapted by Charles Ipcar 1/1/2011, 
tune - inspired by You Gave Me a Song by Hazel Dickens

S4 - The Room by Gail Copley 

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From the Archives - Extracts from Mulga Wire no. 244, Dec 2017 - Reedy River review by Dale Dengate

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S1 - Reedy River Review by Dale Dengate 

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From the Archives - Extracts from Mulga Wire, no. 201 - Oct 2010 - The Songs of Reedy River ... and other things

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S1 - Reedy River + Obit of Rowan Webb, who posted under
the name Rowan on Mudcat Cafe folk website - Mudcat obit thread

S2  - By The Eumerella Shore -
lyrics Trad, music Louis Lavater (1866-1953)

S3 - By The Eumerella Shore - lyrics 

S4 - Obit for Rowan 

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From the Archives - Extracts from Mulga Wire, no. 202, Dec 2010 - More Songs from Reedy River

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S1 - 

S2 - On the Banks of the Condamine - dots

S3 - On the Banks of the Condamine - words

S4 - The Springtime it Brings on the Shearing 

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Reedy River - The Songs, adapted for the Sydney Folk Festival 2023 by David Johnson

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(photos © Sandra Nixon)

Joe Cashmere, traditional fiddler was collected & photographed by John Meredith AM in 1955. In 1985 Mike Martin created this picture with his permission, & it was turned into banners for the Folk Federation in 2023 by Sandra Nixon.  

BMC members in the reading included Dave, Emma Sputnik (narrator), Karen Fong, Mariamma Mitchell, Matthew Black, Chris Maltby, Don Brian, Chloe & Jason Roweth. 

1. George Bolliger 

2. Chris

3. Karen, Mariamma

4. Emma, Chloe, Karen, Mariamma

5. Chloe, Jason, PeterMace, Karen, Mariamma

6.  James, Macquarie Towns Music Club 

7.  washboard, shears

8. Dave, Emma

9. Chloe, Emma

10.  Emma with script

11. Jason 

12. Jason 

13. Matthew, Chris, Don, Dave

14. Jason, Karen, Mariamma, George

15. Jason, Karen, Mariamma, George

16. shears

17. shears

18. Shears

19. Peter Mace

20. Emma, Chloe

21.  washboard

22. Emma 

23.  Peter Mace

24. Shears

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From the Archives - Reedy River 1988 - Mulga Wire no. 68, August 1988

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Reedy River 1988 - video recorded by Wayne Richmond

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