Case studies

Prime Time

Distinguished Australian playwright and dramaturg John Romeril spent extended periods at Old Parliament House during 2012–13. Through an Australian Prime Ministers Centre fellowship, John developed Prime Time, a play about Australian prime ministers and their times, in collaboration with the production and performance team of Shortis and Simpson.

John was convinced that, here as elsewhere, ‘life leads and art follows’, and he closely observed many aspects of life and work around the building and in the museum. He noticed the ways in which visitors use the museum, as well as the ceremonies, formal and informal, in the surrounding rose gardens. He engaged widely with staff, gathering information about objects and audiovisual materials, collecting ‘oddball stories’ from historians and curators, and diving deep into the research resources of the museum, including oral histories and the primary and secondary sources at the Research Library.

John’s challenge during his fellowship was to create the overarching narrative for Prime Time. This narrative provided the framework within which the stories of 27 of Australia’s prime ministers were meaningfully located. At the same time, sub-plots offered insights into the ways in which Australians make personal connections with Old Parliament House and with the people and events which loom large in the journey of Australia’s democracy.

John Romeril shares a strong interest in a ‘documentary-driven’ approach to drama with John Shortis, who used his Australian Prime Ministers Centre fellowship in 2007–08 to research Australia’s first eight prime ministers. John Shortis’ earlier work was drawn on during the creation of Prime Time.

Beyond the fellowship program, the museum was pleased to be able to support the collaboration between John Romeril and Shortis and Simpson by providing rehearsal space for Prime Time during the year. This was fitting, not least because scenes from the play were set in locations around the Old Parliament House site.

Prime Time, billed as an ‘epic tale of public and private lives, of a nation adapting and responding to fast-changing events, of the human urge to gain power and a populace that pulls the electoral strings and feels the effects’, was staged at the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, New South Wales, from 23 May to 1 June 2013. Prime Time was included on the program of Centenary of Canberra events by the ACT Government. Songs from the show were played on Canberra radio station ArtSoundFM.

Photos of live performances of Prime Time.

A live performance of Prime Time. Photos: Sabine Friedrich

 

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