Plays of Bruce Mason

Description

"The Plays of Bruce Mason is the first comprehensive survey of Mason's dramatic works. In capturing particular times, places and people with eloquent insight, humanity and wit, his plays invariably distil timeless and universal themes with distinction. In this critical overview, Smythe interrogates each text to reveal a master craftsman's artistry, at the cutting edge of socio-political awareness"--Publisher information.

John Smythe's freelance career as a writer, actor, director, teacher and theatre critic spans five decades. His professional acting career began at Downstage and in the New Zealand Players Drama Quartet. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Australia, he stayed on for a further 15 years, working in theatre, television and film. Returning in 1985 to New Zealand, he has pursued a varied career as an actor and as a writer for stage, screen, print and the internet. After seven years as a theatre critic for the National Business Review, Smythe founded theatrereview.org.nz and remains its managing editor. He is the author of a novel, The Peace Monster (Vintage 1991), and Downstage Upfront: the first 40 years of New Zealand's longest-running professional theatre (VUP 2004).