Guide to the Papers of John Bell and Anna Volska
MS 8864
National Library of Australia
| Date completed: | November 1995 |
| Last updated: | May 2006 |
Table of Contents
Collection Summary
Introduction
Scope and Content
Access
Copying and Publishing
Preferred Citation
Provenance
Biographical Note
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Correspondence, 1961-1993
Series 2 Diaries and notebooks, 1964-1992
Series 3 Production files, 1970-1991
Series 4 Scripts, c. 1975-1990
Series 5 Sheet music, c. 1989
Series 6 Nimrod Theatre Company, 1970-1988
Series 7 Teaching notes, c. 1970-1988
Series 8 National Stage Crisis Committee, 1981-1982
Series 9 Scrapbooks, 1962-1990
Series 10 Press cuttings, c. 1962-1990
Series 11 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1960-1992
Series 12 Magazines, newsletters and published material, 1963-1993
Series 13 Sound recording, 1983
Series 14 Miscellaneous papers, c. 1966-1990
Addition 25 February 2002
Addition 24 April 2003
Addition 11 December 2003
Box List
Folio List
Collection Summary
| Creator: | Bell, John, 1940- |
| Title: | Papers of John Bell and Anna Volska |
| Date Range: | 1956-2002 |
| Collection Number: | MS 8864 |
| Extent: | 3.85 m. (23 boxes) + 2 folio boxes |
| Repository: | National Library of Australia |
Introduction
Scope and Content
The collection includes correspondence, diaries, notebooks, production files, scripts, sheet music, business papers, teaching notes, scrapbooks, press cuttings, theatre programs, magazines, ephemera and a sound recording. Correspondents include Ron Blair, Jennifer Compton, Barry Dickins, Bob Ellis, Nick Enright, Louis Nowra, Richard Wherret and David Williamson.
Provenance
The bulk of the collection was donated to the National Library of Australia by John Bell and Anna Volska in 1993. Three small additions of cuttings, programs and artwork, which formerly belonged to Bell's mother, were donated to the Library by his sister in February 2002 and April and December 2003.
Copying and Publishing
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of John Bell and Anna Volska, National Library of Australia, MS 8864, [series and/or folder number]'.
Biographical Note
John Bell was born in Maitland, New South Wales in 1940. He was educated at Marist Brothers schools and graduated from the University of Sydney (English honours) in 1962. The following year he joined the Old Tote Theatre Company, playing the leading role in Hamlet. In 1964 he won a scholarship from the British Council, and spent five years in England with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
He returned to Australia in 1969, and spent a year teaching at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. In 1970 he became the co-founder and Artistic Director of Nimrod Theatre Company, with a commitment to producing Australian drama. John Bell directed the first production of The Legend of King O'Malley, as well as a number of plays by leading playwrights such as David Williamson, Ron Blair, Peter Kenna and Louis Nowra. In 1985 he resigned his post at Nimrod Theatre to free-lance as a director and actor. In 1990 he formed the Bell Shakespeare Company, performing and touring his own productions of Shakespeare's plays.
Bell received acclaim for his performances in the major dramatic roles of King Lear, Cyrano de Bergerac and Uncle Vanya; one of his earliest successes was the title role in Brecht's The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui, which he recreated in 1985 for Nimrod. He appeared in Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing in 1986, and in David Williamson's Emerald City in 1986 and 1987. He directed Moliere's Tartuffe for Nimrod Theatre in 1987. John Bell has also been involved in musical theatre with History of Australia in 1988 and Big River in 1989, where he took a singing role. He has appeared in the Australian films Break of Day and Far East.
He received an OBE in 1978 for his services to the Performing Arts, and was awarded an Australian Artist's Fellowship from the Australia Council in 1993.
Anna Volska was born Anna Maria Dobrowolski in Warsaw, Poland, emigrating to Australia with her mother at the age of seven. She graduated from NIDA in 1962, and acted with the Old Tote Theatre Company for two years. Anna met John Bell in 1963 when they were both acting in The Cherry Orchard.
They were married in 1965 and Anna travelled to England to join John in Stratford-on-Avon, where she played minor roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company. She was a co-founder of Nimrod Theatre, and directed several productions there, including As You Like It with her husband. She performed leading roles in many plays, including Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing and The Seagull. She won a Logie for her role in the TV series Beyond the Legend.
Their daughters Hilary and Lucy Bell were born in 1966 and 1968 respectively.
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Correspondence, 1961-1993
Folder 4 Family letters from Hilary Bell, 1986
Includes postcards, poetry, photo and press cuttings.
Folder 7 Professional correspondence and fan mail and letters between Anna and John, c. 1974-1985
Correspondents include Senator Susan Ryan, Gough and Margaret Whitlam, David Williamson, The Australia Council, Confederation of Australian Professional Performing Arts, NIDA, Old Tote Theatre Co., Queensland Theatre Co., Sydney Theatre Co. Includes some copies of letters by John Bell, cards, postcards, invitations and telegrams.
Folders 8-9 Letters, c. 1963-1986
Letters to Anna from John, family letters from Lucy, personal letters and fan mail of Anna and a letter to John from Bruce Beresford. Includes cards, press cuttings, notes, telegram, photos, postcards, slide and lock of hair.
Folders 11-12 Personal letters of Hilary Bell, 1986
Correspondents include Shopfront Theatre Co. for Young People and Young Playwrights' Association. Includes programs, cards, handbills and invitations.
Folder 14 Letters to Anna from John, 1964-1965
Includes notes, cards, press cuttings and lock of hair.
Folders 15-17 Personal, professional and fan mail, 1967-1992
Correspondents include Steven Berkoff, Ron Blair, Edward Bond, Tim Curnow, Barry Dickins, Bob Ellis, Colin Friels, Tom Lingwood, Tom McVeigh, Sidney Nolan, Louis Nowra, Susan Ryan, Richard Wherret, Margaret Whitlam, David Williamson, ABC, Almost Managing Co., Belvoir Street Theatre Co., Currency Press, French Embassy (Canberra), Hunter Valley Theatre Co., Michael Edgely International, Nimrod Theatre Co., Old Tote Theatre Co., Radio Telefis Eirann (Dublin), Royal Shakespeare Co., State Theatre Co. Includes programs, published material, cards, postcards, notes and telegrams.
Folders 20-22 Professional correspondence and fan mail, 1961-1990
Correspondents include Steven Berkoff, Lionel Bowen, Barry Cohen, Barry Dickins, Nick Enright, Donald Horne, Thomas Keneally, Harry M. Miller, Diana Rigg, Dame Joan Sutherland, Premier Barrie Unsworth, Jacki Weaver, Australasian Publishing Co., Australian Consolidated Press, Australian Film, TV and Radio School, Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, Kevin Palmer Management, Moscow Art Theatre, Sydney Opera House Trust, Sydney Theatre Co. Includes invitations, cards, postcards, telegrams and photo.
Folder 24 Correspondence, c. 1967-1985
Correspondents include family members, Nick Enright, Peter Kenna, Richard Wherrett, Actors' Equity, Australian Film Commission, South Australian Theatre Co., University of Adelaide. Includes cards and postcards.
Folder 25 Correspondence, c. 1974-1990
Correspondents include Jennifer Compton, Noel Ferrier, Peter Kenna, Bernard Levin, Warren Mitchell, Susan Ryan, Neville Wran, Australia Council, The Bulletin, Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, Gallery First Nighter's Club, Macmillan, NIDA, WEA Theatre Discussion Club. Includes copies of letters written by John Bell to Barry Cohen, Xavier Herbert, Gough Whitlam and the Australia Council.
Series 2 Diaries and notebooks, 1964-1992
Folder 30 Anna's appointment diaries, 1973-1974
Includes appointment card, notes, flight itinerary, designs and photograph.
Folder 32 Appointment diaries, 1977-1978
Anna's 1977-1978 diaries and John's 1978 diary. Includes appointment card, newsletter and notes.
Folder 35 Anna's journal and John's appointment diary, 1980-1981
Anna's journal December 1980-July 1981 and John's appointment diary 1980. Includes letters, notes and press cuttings.
Folder 36 Anna's appointment diary and journal, 1981-1982
Journal July 1981-November 1982. Includes notes, loose diary entries, letter drafts, essay by Hilary, postcard and press cuttings.
Folder 37 Anna's and John's appointment diaries, 1982
Includes business cards, rehearsal timetable, notes, receipts, doctor's referral, flyer and postcards.
Folder 38 Anna's and John's appointment diaries, 1983
Includes Beijing conference list, business cards, receipts, programs, press cuttings, postcards, invitations, letters, letter drafts, cards and a sketch by Hilary.
Folder 39 Anna's journal and John's appointment diary, 1983-1985
Anna's journal October 1983-January 1985 and John's diary 1984. Includes postcards, press cuttings, notes, exhibition catalogue and letter.
Folder 40 Family journal of holiday in South Australia, January 1983
Diary entries, cards, photos, drawings and poems.
Folder 41 Appointment diaries, 1984, 1986
Anna's 1984 diary and John's 1986 diary. Includes letters, notes and postcards.
Folder 43 Anna's appointment diary, 1985
Includes notes, letters, postcard, press cuttings, invitation and photo.
Folder 44 Anna's appointment diary, 1986
Includes parking application, loose diary entries, notes, press cuttings, stickers and ticket stubs.
Folder 45 Joint travel journal of trip to Western Australia, January-February 1986
Diary entries, poems, notes, cards, postcards, press cuttings and feather. Includes tourist map, tourist brochures, press cuttings and postcards.
Folder 46 Family journal/scrapbook, 1987-1989
Diary entries, notes, drawings, article, photos, press cuttings, handbills and cartoons. Includes paintings, card, notes, cartoons, story, brochures, letter, press cuttings, newsletters and photos.
Series 3 Production files, 1970-1991
Folder 49 The Legend of King O'Malley, 1970
Production schedules, rehearsal notes, dance schedules, correspondence, poster, published material, production notes, cast list, costume designs, theatre plan, props list, script inserts, lyric sheets, work rosters and call sheets.
Folder 50 Don Giovanni, 1974
Production notes, props list, script inserts, correspondence and published material.
Folder 51 Measure for Measure, 1976
Production notes, grant application, cast list, designs, director's notes and newsletter.
Folder 55 Tristram Shandy, 1982
Production notes, props list, script inserts, correspondence and published material.
Folder 59 The Servant of Two Masters, 1984
Press cuttings, correspondence, published material, props list and production schedules.
Folder 62 History of Australia - The Musical, 1988
Production notes, published material, reviews, speech drafts, program drafts, correspondence, budget, lighting designs and rehearsal timetable.
Folder 66 History of Australia - The Musical, 1988
Production notes, script inserts, lyric sheets and set designs.
Folders 67-68 History of Australia - The Musical, 1988
Script drafts, production notes, production schedules, rehearsal schedules, staff list, script inserts, memos, wardrobe list and props list.
Folder 71 The Venetian Twins, 1990
Cast list, production schedule, correspondence, press releases, costume designs and poster.
Series 4 Scripts, c. 1975-1990
Folder 83 Diary of a Madman and Flash Jim Vaux, by Ron Blair
Diary of a Madman adapted by Richard Harris and Lindsay Anderson. Flash Jim Vaux includes designs, schedules and song sheets.
Folder 84 Ghosts, by Henrik Ibsen and Gilles de Rais, by Roger Planchon
Ghosts includes director's notes.
Series 6 Nimrod Theatre Company, 1970-1988
Folders 92-94 Records, 1978-1979
Internal correspondence, meeting notes, lyric drafts, press releases, speech drafts, published material, lecture drafts, handbills, production plans, company reports, minutes of meetings, budget sheets, grant applications, contact lists, staff recruitment notes and financial statements.
Folder 95 Records, 1981-1982
Budget sheets, meeting notes, production plans and notes, policy statements, press cuttings and minutes of meetings.
Series 8 National Stage Crisis Committee, 1981-1982
The Committee was formed by performing arts managers and artists to protest about substantial cuts to government funding of the industry. It claimed that they amounted to a 39% cut to theatre companies over the previous six years, threatening jobs and the existence of such companies. A National Stage Crisis Day was organised for the 19th of November 1981, involving a street march and rally, to highlight their concerns.
Series 9 Scrapbooks, 1962-1990
Folder 103 Scrapbook, 1962-1965
Includes press cuttings, telegram, loose cuttings, photos, paper and posters.
Folder 104 Scrapbook, 1972-1974
Includes press cuttings, production schedule, published material, programs, poster, handbills, brochure and speech.
Folder 110 Scrapbook, c. 1974-1990
Contains press cuttings, programs, handbills, brochures, professional correspondence, cards and fan mail.
Folder 111 Scrapbook, 1970-1982
Includes press cuttings, handbill, costume designs, program notes, production notes, prop designs, programs and fan mail.
Series 10 Press cuttings, c. 1962-1990
Folders 114-115 Press cuttings, c. 1962-1989
Includes programs, ticket stubs, poster, brochure, professional correspondence, speeches, costume designs, fan mail and photo.
Folders 116-117 Press cuttings, c. 1963-1988
Includes press release, dinner seating plan, production notes, programs, National Critics' Award (1975), cards, postcard, published material, costume designs, brochures, drama workshop notes, telegrams and fan mail. Also includes copies of Nation (1963), Oz (1963), Current Affairs Bulletin (1973), Nimrod Banner (1980, 1985) and The Australian Magazine (1988-89).
Series 12 Magazines, newsletters and published material, 1963-1993
The publications in this series have been arranged alphabetically by title.
Series 14 Miscellaneous papers, c. 1966-1990
Folder 142 Personal papers, c. 1966-1983
Legal documents, speeches, press cuttings, programs, handbills, records of children's activities, school reports (including those of Anna Volska), school certificates, stories, poems, plays and family newspaper.
Folder 143 Professional and other papers, c. 1971-1990
Includes speech notes, press release, interview questions, Stage Crisis Day papers, press cuttings, subscription brochure, magazine, poems, essay, funeral cards, compliment slip, photographs, map and coin.
Folder 144 Papers of Anna Volska, c. 1987
Speeches, notes for Australian Women Poets, poems, press cuttings, subscription brochure and copy of Hamlet in Performance. Includes photos and card.
Box List
| Series | Folder/Item | Box |
| 1 | 1-8 | 1 |
| 1 | 9-15 | 2 |
| 1 | 16-23 | 3 |
| 1 | 24-25 | 4 |
| 2 | 26-30 | 4 |
| 2 | 31-36 | 5 |
| 2 | 37-41 | 6 |
| 2 | 42-46 | 7 |
| 2 | 47-48 | 8 |
| 3 | 49-54 | 8 |
| 3 | 55-61 | 9 |
| 3 | 62-70 | 10 |
| 3 | 71-75 | 11 |
| 4 | 76-77 | 11 |
| 4 | 78-83 | 12 |
| 4 | 84-89 | 13 |
| 4 | 90 | 14 |
| 5 | 91 | 14 |
| 6 | 92-96 | 14 |
| 6 | 97-98 | 15 |
| 7 | 99-101 | 15 |
| 8 | 102 | 15 |
| 9 | 103-107 | 16 |
| 9 | 108-111 | 17 |
| 9 | 112-113 | 18 |
| 10 | 114-116 | 18 |
| 10 | 117-123 | 19 |
| 11 | 124-130 | 20 |
| 11 | 131-134 | 21 |
| 11 | 135-136 | 22 |
| 12 | 137-140 | 22 |
| 13 | 141 | 23 |
| 14 | 142-145 | 23 |
| Addition 24 April 2003 | 146 | 23 |
| Addition 11 December 2003 | 147 | 23 |
Folio List
| Series/Addition | Folio | Folio Box |
| 14 | 1-3 | 1 |
| Addition 25 February 2002 | 4-7 | 1 |
| Addition 24 April 2003 | 8-9 | 2 |