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Terence Clarke

TERENCE CLARKE

  (1935 - )
Nationality:    Australian
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    Cameron Creswell Agency  

after graduating from Sydney University with Honours I in Music, Terence Clarke taught Mathematics for a time. His career has swung between the poles of Music/Theatre and teaching. He composed the music to Nick enright's book and lyrics for three musicals: the Venetian Twins (based on Goldoni's I due gemelli veneziani), Variations (winner of the NSW Premier's Literary award for Drama, 1983, and never since performed), and Summer Rain. Other major work includes the music to book and lyrics of Dorothy Hewett (Catspaw and Jarrabin), of Ron Blair (Flash Jim Vaux), of John Croyston (Lysistrata), and of George Hutchinson (Henry and Peter and Henry and Me). He has acted in English repertory, for Nimrod, and for the National Theatre Company, Perth, where he was for over two years associate Director. He was foundation artistic Director of the Hunter Valley Theatre Company, the first regional professional Theatre company in Australia, and has been the artistic Director of the Australian National Playwrights Conference and Head of Directing at NIDA. He has directed over 120 productions, most notably the premieres of John O'Donoghue's a Happy and Holy Occasion and Janis Balodis' Backyard, and the workshop of Balodis' Too Young for Ghosts

Research:    https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/2138

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

         Catspaw         Flash Jim (Vaux)         Gone With Hardy         Henry And Peter And Henry And Me         Jarrabin         Lysistrata         Summer Rain         Variations         Venetian Twins
Catspaw

Synopsis:
Open stage 1970s musical about drugs, dropouts, conservation and Australian history.

Notes:
music; book And lyrics, Dorothy Hewett; music by Terence Clarke

1st Produced:
New Fortune Theatre, Crawley, WA     12 Feb 1974

Organisations:
Festival of Perth

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:
2 acts Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  9            Female:  5            Other:  four musicians

Further Reference:
https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/5658

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Flash Jim (Vaux)

Synopsis:
a ballad opera about a convict who was transported three times to NSW. a boisterous and touching portrait of a Regency dandy turned lag. the play is in the form of a ballad opera, tracing, (rather loosely) the life of James Hardy Vaux during the period 1807 to the 1840s. James was a quick-witted, notorious pick pocket and swindler who led a remakable full life while travelling back and forth across the globe (all expenses paid). His life crossed paths with many rich and varied characters, some of whom influenced his life, some of whose life he influenced. either way these are the people who made our country's history. Share their celebration and take heed of their message: Breath deep friends - while you can!

Notes:
book and lyrics, Ron Blair; music by Terence Clarke

1st Produced:
Nimrod Street Theatre, Darlinghurst, NSW     28 Apr 1971

Organisations:
Nimrod Theatre Company

1st Published:
the book + libretto is published by Yackandandah Press; the score is in preparation   

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:
Ballad Opera, 2 acts Opera

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  pianist

Further Reference:
https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/5996

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Gone With Hardy

Synopsis:
the story of Stan Laurel before he became the partner of Oliver Hardy, telling of his stormy relationship with an Australian dancer called Kate. This much produced worldwide play features Jock.

Notes:
book And lyrics by David Allen; music by Terence Clarke

1st Produced:
Nimrod Downstairs, Surry Hills, NSW     02 Dec 1978

Organisations:
Australian National Playwrights Conference

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:
vaudevillian biography

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  pianist

Further Reference:
https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/6118

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Henry And Peter And Henry And Me

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
music by Terence Clarke play by George Hutchinson

1st Produced:
Prince of Wales Theatre, Hobart, TAS     11 Oct 1985

Organisations:
Island Theatre Company

1st Published:
Currency Press (Dec 1985)   

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

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Genre:
play with music, 2 acts

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  5            Other:  with doubling

Further Reference:
https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/102502

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Jarrabin

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
book And lyrics, Dorothy Hewett, Adapted by John Clark from her trilogy, the Wire Fences of Jarrabin; music by Terence Clarke

1st Produced:
Parade Theatre (1969-1999), Kensington, NSW     2002

Organisations:
National Institute of Dramatic ar

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 with Music

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  6            Other:  pianist

Further Reference:
-

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Lysistrata

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
book (based on Lysistrata by Aristophanes) And lyrics by John Croyston; music by Terence Clarke

1st Produced:
Parade Theatre (1969-1999), Kensington, NSW     13 Jul 1973

Organisations:
Old Tote Theatre Company

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 with Music

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  four musicians (clarinet, trumpet, percussion, piano )

Further Reference:
https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/5652

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Summer Rain

Summer Rain
1946: outback New South Wales. the remnants of a touring tent show retire to lick their wounds in Turnaround Creek; the proprietor of the only pub in town emerges: 'We got no rooms.' the troupe is about to leave when the clouds open, ending a long drought, flooding the creek, and closing the bridge. Town and Troupe are stuck with each other. the Troupe has no money, so they suggest putting on a show in the School of Arts. the past is faced, reconciliation follows.

Notes:
a musical by Nick enright And Terence Clarke. Commissioned by, And first produced by, NIDA in 1983 in the Parade theatre, Sydney

1st Produced:
Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre     1989

Organisations:
Sydney Theatre Company

1st Published:
Currency Press, Sydney,    

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

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  7            Other:  six musicians

Further Reference:
-

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Variations

Synopsis:
the search for love and fulfilment. Sydney, 1982. Three generations of Australian women: the oldest, a cellist, finds a violinist to accompany her in duets; the middle one, Meg, is a successful shopfront lawyer and single parent of a 17-year-old girl; each has a suitor. Meg's sister-in-law unexpectedly lands on her doorstep, a fugitive from an unceomprehending husband and a routine and apparently happy marriage.

Notes:
written by Nick enright And Terence Clarke. Best Drama, NSW Premier's Literary Awards, 1983

1st Produced:
Nimrod Upstairs, Surry Hills, NSW     02 Dec 1982

Organisations:
Nimrod Theatre Company

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

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  5            Other:  including a teenage couple (boy must be accomplished banjo player), and a Senior couple (violinist and cellist, but can be faked). Six musicians

Further Reference:
https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/6264

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Venetian Twins

Venetian Twins
This musical romp is based on Carlo Goldoni's celebrated comedy of mistaken identity: twin brothers let loose on one mad day in eighteenth Century Verona. the double central role is a gift to a bright young comedian. One of the female roles requires a good coloratura soprano.

Notes:
Original Playwright - Carlo Goldoni. Book And lyrics by Nick enright, music by Terence Clarke

1st Produced:
Drama Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW     26 Oct 1979

Organisations:
Nimrod Theatre Company for the Sydney Theatre Company

1st Published:
Currency Press, Sydney, 1996   

Music:
cast album, Folkways records

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 Comedy Musical

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  3            Other:  Five musicians

Further Reference:
https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/6172

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