Bill & Mary

Bill & Mary dramatically brings to life two of the icons of Australian culture - the painter Sir William Dobell and the poet Dame Mary Gilmore.

The play is set around the sittings when Dame Mary posed for her portrait, painted by Sir William, and later included on the Australian ten dollar note. During the course of the sittings, through the exchanges between the two protagonists, much is revealed about the characters and about the events and issues they were involved in during their lifetimes. At the same time we also learn much about Australian politics, art and culture in the twentieth century.

Bill & Mary  is theatre at its best, but also provides particularly valuable opportunities for classroom study and performance: as a piece of drama and the content of the play.

The author, Bille Brown, is one of Australia's most accomplished actors as well as a playwright. He has appeared in a range of productions on stage, film and television in Australia and overseas.

Available for teachers is the Bill & Mary Teacher's Resource Book with background information on the characters and the events referred to in the play, ideas and activities about producing and staging the play, from the perspectives of the actor, producer and designer.