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Neil Cole

NEIL COLE

  
Nationality:    Australian
email:    n/a     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    n/a

Neil Cole is associate Professor in the Monash Medical School. Prior to joining aPRC Neil worked for five years at the Mental Health Research Institute as the Head of the Depression awareness Research Project developing a model for effectively achieving depression awareness in the community He also explored the links between creativity and mental illness in people with schizophreniA. Since the start of 2005 he has been working at the Alfred Psychiatric Research Centre researching the link between creativity and mental illness. This year a major project of research was undertaken into the "creativity link" called "Trilogy of the Mind" with a performance taking place at the Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne using people with bipolar mood disorder and measuring the effect on their health from being involved in a high level creative pursuit. Neil is a former lawyer, a member of the Victorian State Parliament for over a decade and, in the 1990s, the Victorian Shadow attorney-General. Neil has had seven plays produced in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland including 'alive at Williamstown Pier', 'a Policewoman's absurdity', 'Billy Possible', 'Dr Cade', 'the Campaign' "Personality Games" which he co-wrote with Prof. Gordon Parker from the Black Dog Institute in Sydney. His more recent play was the "Trial of adolf eichmann" He has won the Griffin Theatre award for the best new writing for Theatre in 1999 and was short listed for the Victorian Premiers Literary award in 2001. His plays written and performed by and for people with mental illnesses include "I Could Have Been Carmen" "Radio Play" "Depression: the Great Debate" "Bring on the Carrots".
ReSeaRCH INTeReSTS: Creativity and Mental Illness. "Into the Limelight" Neil is currently investigating the links between creativity and mental illness. This project obtained ethics approval in July and the first stage of this project was carried out between July and October 2005 culminating in the performance of "Trilogy of the Mind" at the Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne. Four people with bipolar mood disorder performed in the play. the Theatre held 100 people and was full three out four nights of the season. Research has yet to be completed however we gained sufficient knowledge to suggest we continue and expand the program next year. We proposed to do a three week trial with three different groups of people, performing the same play over three weeks. there will be a bipolar group of performers, a schizophrenia group. a group with depression (based out of Mildura) and one group without any mental illness at all".

Research:    http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/214340

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below is a list of Neil Cole's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Alive At Williamstown Pier         Big Issue, The         Billy Possible         Bring On the Carrots         Campaign, The         Depression: the Great Debate         Dr Cade         Estrogen On Trial         Great Curran, The         I Could Have Been Carmen         Maria Mutola And the Big Issue         Nina Simone Black Diva Power         Notes From a Warsaw Ghetto         Personality Games         Policewoman's Absurdity, A         Topo         Trial Of Adolf Eichmann, The
Alive At Williamstown Pier

Synopsis:
death in this play is somehow life-afirming. Those who survive thier illness carry on after losing friends to their psychic demons

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
La Mama, Carlton, VIC     23 Oct 1996

Organisations:
La Mama

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/28840

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Big Issue, The

Synopsis:
and the big issue is. . ..

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Fairfax Studio, Melbourne, VIC     09 Dec 2006

Organisations:
Short and Sweet 2006 Wildcard

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Ten minute play

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/76045

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Billy Possible

Synopsis:
the Labor Party are in election mode. For the first time ever they look like winning the seat of Mainforce. then a series of unfortunate events make it look like labor could lose. the select a dummy candidate to run as Independent to help there chances. every thing seems to go wrong. even there dummy might win ahead of them.the Labor Party have to employ different methods to win the seat because their candidate has pulled out. With their backs to the walls they have to exploit every method possible to win.

Notes:
Part of the 14th Melbourne International Comedy Festival

1st Produced:
La Mama, Carlton, VIC     2000

Organisations:
La Mama

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Bring On the Carrots

Synopsis:
This short, thirty minute play, is a comedy about being a carer of a child with autism. Her child is obsessed by carrots, because of the colour, the texture who knows she arrives with carrots at a scout hall to be told she is being presented with an award by the police force for having the longest police record of anyone in the country. the police have visited her house to attend to her son more time than any body else in the state. She then recounts the one time she went to court. In a surreal fashion the play creates the "Court of autism" where she is put on trial for feeling guilty about her son's condition.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Malthouse Theatre Melbourne     2005

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Short comedy One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Campaign, The

Synopsis:
Set in the fictional seat of Hope Town the candidate Michael Murphy is under threat of defeat from the Greens. His only hope is to do a preference deal with the local brothel owner Tonya Heartfelt, who is running for Parliament to publicise her brothel. the deal comes at a very high price for Murphy as he is aligned with her and her more and more outrageous suggestions.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
La Mama, Carlton, VIC     2003

Organisations:
Melbourne International Comedy Festival

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/62614

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Depression: the Great Debate

Synopsis:
the setting for this short half hour play is King's College Cambridge and is a debate between a women who has depression, Mrs. Black, and a Professor of Medication Professor Harmony. the compare adjudicates and the debate becomes very difficult particularly when Mrs. Black goes to sleep when the Professor starts talking. Is it depression or is she bored by the Professor! the professor says depression but it does look like boredom. the great debate begins.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Richmond Town Hall, Australia     2002

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Short Play One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Dr Cade

Synopsis:
the story of the discovery of lithium, how Dr. John Cade arrived at the conclusion that mental illnesses where biochemical illness. It also expolores his experiences in Changi as a prison of war. and how he later came to use his knowledge from there to develop an understanding of the human condition. He become what of the most famous scientists in the world.

Notes:
This is the story of Dr. John Cade who is A Melbourne Australia psychiatrist who discovered Lithium As A treatment for manic dperessive illness in 1948

1st Produced:
La Mama, Carlton, VIC     01 Oct 2002

Organisations:
La Mama

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/20347

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Estrogen On Trial

Synopsis:
The play uncovers, in a comic fashion the horrific and devastating attacks in the media about the use of estrogen therapy and hormone replacement therapy in women.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Carlton Courthouse, Carlton, VIC     05 Mar 2005

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/75981

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Great Curran, The

Synopsis:
the Great Curran is about Wally Curran, the Secretary of the Meat Workers Union who appears in the Industrial Court on behalf of a man who has lost his job for telling the boss to get fucked. the argument of Wally Curran is that the word fuck is in such common USAge these days how could it be interpreted as offensive. He proves this by using it as much as he can during the hearing.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
BlackBox , Melbourne, VIC     23 Nov 2005

Organisations:
Short & Sweet Top 30 Week 1

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Short Play One act

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/79591

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I Could Have Been Carmen

Synopsis:
a Spanish woman could have been Carmen in the Footscray Light Opera Company play twenty years ago but she fell in love and had six kids instead. Her only opportunity for performance was the annual staff play for the Footscray Council. She performs but still thinks she is Carmen; the Director thinks he is Steven Spielberg; and everyone in the cast has a convoluted view of their own importance. the question, as it was each year, would they make it to performance night.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Footscray Church Hall In Footscray    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Short comedy One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Maria Mutola And the Big Issue

Synopsis:
This play is set in the registration office of the Commonwealth Games in Australia. Maria is from Mozambique and not Australia so no one has heard of her. When they look her up it is discovered she is the greatest female 800 metre athlete ever. they decide to offer her Australian Citizenship so she has the privilege of running for Australia. She rejects in and is suspected of being a terrorist.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Nina Simone Black Diva Power

Synopsis:
Melbourne-based and Brixton-born-and-raised jazz diva, the acclaimed Ruth Rogers-Wright plays Nina Simone during the period when she grew from popular jazz and blues singer to become the voice of the civil rights movement in the USA. This compelling play by award-winning playwright Neil Cole tells the story of her developing friendship with Lorraine Hansberry  playwright and black activist (A Raisin in the Sun), replete with songs including My Baby Don't Care, Strange Fruit and Young Gifted and Black.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Adelaide Festival     2014

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
musical drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Notes From a Warsaw Ghetto

Synopsis:
The story of Emanuel Ringelblum, this is not just a play about historical circumstances. It is also about finding the strength to resist, the only way you know how. It is about human relationships and strength in overwhelming circumstances. It is a story of hope, strength, resistance and of how the pen can sometimes stand up to the sword.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Carlton Courthouse, Carlton, VIC     28 Apr 2010

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
historical play

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/89638

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Personality Games

Synopsis:
This play is about being a psychiatrist and being a patient. . .about Borderline Personality and about testing borders! the play explores the relationship between a psychiatrist, his family and his own life, as he confronts his own life change and that of his family. all the while he is trying to treat a women with a borderline personality disorder one of the hardest illness to treat. Psychiatry, his training, his relationships are all pushed to the limits. His conscience and sub-conscious come alive on the stage for what turns into a typical Freudian confrontation with himself in the middle

Notes:
written by Gordon Parker And Neil Cole

1st Produced:
La Mama, Carlton, VIC     21 Sep 2004

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/65950

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Policewoman's Absurdity, A

Synopsis:
the police force is up against. they have accidentally shot a photocopy salesman early in the morning. Police public relations have to come in to cover the mess that has occured. the police shoot more and more photocopy salesman until they can no longer cover it up.

Notes:
This is A comic look At the use of police public relations when people have been shot by the police

1st Produced:
La Mama, Carlton, VIC     1998

Organisations:
La Mama

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Topo

Synopsis:
A play that revels in brutal fashion the rise of Enrique "Topo" Rodriguez as one of Australia's greatest prop forwards and his traumatic life after his football career ended.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Seymour Centre, Chippendale, NSW     Jun 2007

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
biographical

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/71241

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Trial Of Adolf Eichmann, The

Synopsis:
In 1961 adolf eichmann - the Nazi responsible for the 'Final Solution of the Jewish Problem' and often referred to the 'Chief executioner', was captured and tried in Israel. He pleaded Not Guilty. Poignant and inspiring stories of Kitia altman and Arnold erlanger, both auschwitz survivors living in Melbourne, are woven against the evidence of the man who perpetrated what is arguably the world's most heinous crime.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
La Mama, Carlton, VIC     2005

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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