Biography of Steve J Spears

Steve J. Spears was a one-off, a true original. A gifted actor, musician, playwright, journalist and novelist his large body of work defies categorization into any one convenient box while his creativity and innovation delighted in flaunting convention and breaking new ground. His colourful career was nurtured in Adelaide university revues of the late 60's/early 70's. After four years of law school he dropped-out to pursue a writing career, which resulted in his first rock musical 'Stud' - the title alone had the Festival of Light picketing the venue ensuring it became a huge success. Steve was a precocious talent. By the time he was 25 he had written two musicals, 'Stud' and 'Africa', the biographical play "Young Mo" about Adelaide-born comedian Roy Rene and 'The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin' - a one-man play about an ageing cross-dressing elocution teacher and his relationship with a young student. "Benjamin" was to become one of the most successful plays ever produced in Australia. First staged by Nimrod in 1976 the play toured nationally before major seasons in London, San Francisco and New York. The play was nominated for a SWET (Society of West End Theatres) Award, a London Evening Standard Award and went on to win three OBIE (Off Broadway) Awards and a GOLD AWGIE. Steve won a number of Awgies for both his theatre and television writing. 'Benjamin' had a recent Australian revival with John Wood in the role made famous by Gordon Chater. Steve's other plays include 'There Were Giants in Those Days', 'People Keep Giving Me Things', 'The Death of George Reeves' and 'Those Dear Departed' - which was made into a feature film starring Pamela Stephenson and Gary MacDonald. Steve gravitated into the world of TV scriptwriting where he quickly established himself as a major figure, writing for over ten years on many of the long running series including, 'E-Street', 'A Country Practice', 'Hey Dad', 'Neighbours' and more. But it was in children's film and television that his creativity and originality was given full reign. His long association with the Australian Children's Television Foundation resulted in a swag of awards for series and tele-features, including 'The Genie from Down Under', 'The Big Wish', 'Mr Edmund' and 'The Greatest Tune on Earth'. In between his writing, Steve also managed to keep an active acting career going with major film roles in 'Mad Max 2', 'The Empty Beach' and 'Warm Nights on a Slow Moving Train'. Various stage roles include several productions of 'The Rocky Horror Show', 'Hamlet' for the MTC and 'On Our Selection' for The Stage Company in Adelaide. Steve moved back to Adelaide several years ago during which time he had three novels published by Wakefield Press. He also wrote articles for The Good Weekend (in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald), was a cultural commentator on ABC radio, and a columnist for the Adelaide Review as well as developing several new works. After battling lung cancer for 12 months (during which time he comically referred to himself as "Bravelung" ) the disease spread early this year. He maintained an extraordinarily positive attitude over his last few months and continued to write articles for The Adelaide Review and work on his latest book, "God's Diary" from his hospital bed. Steve's passing will leave a gaping hole in the lives of his many friends and in the creative richness of Australia. Vale Steve.
- Rob George and Maureen Sherlock (Rob George [roomoo@ozemail.com.au]) for the Australian Writer's Guild