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.

Access

The collection is available for reference.

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 1 Personal letters of Anna Volska, 1986-1988

Includes cards and postcards.

Folder 2 Family letters, 1977-1993

Includes cards and postcards.

Folder 3 Family letters, 1986

Includes cards, postcards and press cuttings.

Folder 4 Family letters from Hilary Bell, 1986

Includes postcards, poetry, photo and press cuttings.

Folder 5 Letters to Anna from John, 1989

Includes cartoons.

Folder 6 Letters to Anna from Nick Enright, undated

Includes drawings, designs and poems.

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.

Folder 10 Letters to Anna from John, 1975

Includes a postcard.

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 13 Family letters, 1985

Correspondents include Ron Blair.

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.

Folder 18 Family letters, 1986-1987

Includes card, postcard and ticket stub.

Folder 19 Fan mail, 1990

Includes cards and press cuttings.

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 23 Letters to Anna from Jennifer Compton, 1989-1991

Includes poems, stories 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 26 Appointment diaries, 1964-1965, 1967

John's 1964 diary and Anna's 1965 and 1967 diaries.

Folder 27 Anna's appointment diary, 1970
Folder 28 John's appointment diary, 1971

Includes letters, programs and postcard.

Folder 29 Anna's appointment diaries, 1971-1972

Includes poster and note.

Folder 30 Anna's appointment diaries, 1973-1974

Includes appointment card, notes, flight itinerary, designs and photograph.

Folder 31 Anna's appointment diaries, 1975-1976
Folder 32 Appointment diaries, 1977-1978

Anna's 1977-1978 diaries and John's 1978 diary. Includes appointment card, newsletter and notes.

Folder 33 Anna's and John's appointment diaries, 1979

Includes notes and press cuttings.

Folder 34 Anna's and John's appointment diaries, 1980

Includes appointment card.

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 42 John's appointment diary, 1985
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.

Folder 47 John's notebooks and Anna's journal, c. 1963-1965, 1992

John's c.1963-1965 notebooks and Anna's 1992 journal.

Folder 48 John's notebooks and Anna's appointment diary, c. 1965, 1979, 1980-1984

John's c. 1965 and 1980-1984 notebooks and Anna's 1979 diary. Includes notes, poster, letter and press cuttings.

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 52 The Recruiting Officer, 1976

Programs, published material, costume and set designs.

Folder 53 Cyrano de Bergerac, 1981

Annotated script and production notes.

Folder 54 Cyrano de Bergerac, 1981

Programs, press cuttings and production notes.

Folder 55 Tristram Shandy, 1982

Production notes, props list, script inserts, correspondence and published material.

Folder 56 Tristram Shandy, 1982

Programs and draft of letter.

Folder 57 Starburst '83, 1983

Correspondence, sketch scripts, cast lists and rehearsal schedules.

Folder 58 King Lear, 1984

Telegrams, postcards, cards, fan mail and production notes.

Folder 59 The Servant of Two Masters, 1984

Press cuttings, correspondence, published material, props list and production schedules.

Folder 60 Say Goodbye to the Past, 1985

Annotated script.

Folder 61 The Imaginary Invalid, c. 1987

Sketch scripts, published material and designs.

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 63 History of Australia - The Musical, 1988

Production notes and script inserts.

Folder 64 History of Australia - The Musical, 1988

Script draft.

Folder 65 History of Australia - The Musical, 1988

Script draft.

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 69 The Tempest, 1990

Press cuttings, handbill, fan mail, card, programs and correspondence.

Folder 70 The Venetian Twins, 1990

Brochure, magazine, programs, poster and production notes.

Folder 71 The Venetian Twins, 1990

Cast list, production schedule, correspondence, press releases, costume designs and poster.

Folder 72 The Venetian Twins, 1990

Script draft, correspondence, cast list, set designs, posters, handbills and production notes.

Folder 73 The Venetian Twins, 1990

Script draft and song list.

Folder 74 Shadowlands, 1991

Correspondence and press cuttings.

Folder 75 Miscellaneous

Production notes, set designs, costume designs, staff lists and schedules for Candide, Much Ado About Nothing and Servant of Two Masters.

Series 4 Scripts, c. 1975-1990

Folder 76 Arturo Ui, by Bertoldt Brecht

Annotated script and rehearsal schedule.

Folder 77 Ashfield, by Anna Volska et al

Screenplay.

Folder 78 The Australiad

Adapted by Tim Robertson and Don Watson. Includes a postcard.

Folder 79 The Birds by Aristophanes and Big River

Big River adapted by William Hauptman.

Folder 80 Burn Victim, by Anna Volska et al

Script and screenplay.

Folder 81 Burn Victim, by Anna Volska et al

Includes notes.

Folder 82 By Royal Command, author unknown and Candide

Candide adapted by Hugh Wheeler.

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.

Folder 85 A Hard God, by Peter Kenna and The Marriage, by Nikolai Gogol
Folder 86 The Real Thing, by Tom Stoppard and The Servant of Two Masters, by Carlo Goldoni

Annotated scripts. The Servant of Two Masters includes notes and handbill.

Folder 87 Shadowlands, by William Nicholson
Folder 88 The Soldier's Tale, by Igor Stravinsky and Tartuffe, by Moliere
Folder 89 Three Sisters, by Anton Chekhov

Annotated script.

Folder 90 Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekhov

Annotated script.

Series 5 Sheet music, c. 1989

Folder 91 Big River, music/lyrics by Roger Miller and Facade, music/lyrics by William Walton, c. 1989

Facade includes 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.

Folder 96 Records, 1981-1988

Meeting notes, press conference notes, budget sheets, internal correspondence and company reports.

Folder 97-98 Records, 1970-1981

Nimrod stationery, minutes of meetings, speech notes, press releases, production plans, budget sheets, grant applications, internal correspondence, company proposals and legal contracts.

Series 7 Teaching notes, c. 1970-1988

Folders 99-100 Teaching notes from NIDA class, c. 1970
Folder 101 Publications, 1987-1988

Bell's Hamlet in Performance (1987) (7 copies) and Staging Othello (1988) (6 copies), published by Ashton-Scholastic.

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.

Folder 102 Committee, Stage Crisis Day and miscellaneous papers, 1981-1982

Includes press releases, speech notes, draft and text, handbill, minutes of meeting, petition and poster.

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 105 Scrapbook, 1974-1975

Includes press cuttings, photo and TV script.

Folder 106 Scrapbook, 1976

Press cuttings.

Folder 107 Scrapbook, 1979

Includes press cuttings and programs.

Folder 108 Scrapbook, 1980

Includes press cuttings and BBC TV transcript.

Folder 109 Scrapbook, c. 1981-1988

Press cuttings.

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.

Folder 112 Scrapbook, c. 1974-1988

Includes press cuttings, budget, costume designs, script insert and professional correspondence.

Folder 113 Scrapbook, 1987-1988

Press cuttings and professional correspondence.

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).

Folder 118 Press cuttings, c. 1982-1991

Includes postcard.

Folder 119 Press cuttings, 1982
Folder 120 Press cuttings, 1986-1987

Includes contract and fan mail.

Folder 121 Press cuttings, 1988
Folder 122-123 Press cuttings, 1964-1990

Includes published material, professional correspondence, programs, budget and poster.

Series 11 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1960-1992

Folder 124 Programs, posters and publicity material, c. 1960-1968
Folder 125 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1970-1972

Includes fan mail.

Folder 126 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1973, 1982
Folder 127 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1973-1975
Folder 128 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1976-1977
Folder 129 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1978-1979
Folder 130 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1980-1982
Folder 131 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1983-1984

Includes fan mail.

Folder 132 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1985-1987
Folder 133 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1988

Includes fan mail.

Folder 134 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1988
Folder 135 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1988-1989
Folder 136 Programs, posters and publicity material, 1990-1992

Series 12 Magazines, newsletters and published material, 1963-1993

The publications in this series have been arranged alphabetically by title.

Folder 137 Publications A-I, 1973-1992
Folder 138 Publications N-Sh, 1963-1993

Includes 'Shakespeare in Melbourne and Sydney' by Dennis Batholommeusz in Shakespeare Quarterly, n.d.

Folder 139 Publications Sy-Th, 1981-1985
Folder 140 Publications Ti-Tu, c. 1988

Includes 'Letter on Tartuffe' attributed to Moliere in Tulane Drama Review, n.d.

Series 13 Sound recording, 1983

Folio 141 Variations, 20 January 1983

Performed by cast of Nimrod Theatre. Produced by Peter Casey (2 reels).

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.

Folder 145 Papers, c. 1980

Reviews, drawings, cartoons, cards, poems, collages, funeral program, concession card and envelope.

Folios 1-3 Roll of posters, one scrapbook and a pencil drawing of Anna Volska by Tony Rafty (A3 size)

Addition 25 February 2002

Folio 4 Programs, cuttings, 1988-1994
Folio 5 Cuttings scrapbook, 1964-1995
Folio 6 Cuttings scrapbook, 1956-1998
Folio 7 Cuttings scrapbook, school photograph of Volska, 1951, 1962-1977

The scrapbook, covering 1962-1977, includes a short written description of the young Bell (by his mother?). The school photograph from 1951 is a photocopy.

Addition 24 April 2003

Folder 146 Press cuttings (contents of ring file), c. 1962-1989
Folio 8 Cuttings and programs, c. 1961-2002
Folio 9 Pencil drawings and painting by Bell, 1956

Pencil drawings of 'Richard III' and 'Sir Lancelot of the Lake and the Lady Elaine' (in colour) and painting of 'A Champion'.

Addition 11 December 2003

Folder 147 Cuttings, program, letter and photographs, 1964, c. 1984-2000

Letter from Bell to his mother dated 1964 and photographs c. 1992.



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