Guide to the Papers of Ruth Cracknell

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MS 9848

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: ©2005.

Collection Summary

Creator
Cracknell, Ruth, 1925-2002
Title
Papers of Ruth Cracknell
Date Range
1943 - 1998
Collection Number
MS 9848
Extent
4.2 metres
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Scope and Content

The collection very much reflects Ruth Cracknell's public persona, comprising papers relating specifically to her career as an actor, with very little of her private life. There are scripts, programs and photographs of many of the productions in which she appeared, together with newspaper cuttings and printed material containing reviews of shows or interviews with Cracknell. The correspondence in the collection comprises a large number of congratulatory letters, notes, cards and telegrams, mostly from the public, but some from other performers and friends. There is a small amount of general business correspondence.

Cracknell was elected to the Board of the Sydney Theatre Company in 1980 and remained a member until 1995. There are minutes of meetings, budgets, financial reports, reviews of productions, general correspondence and annual reports of the Company.

Access

Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/769473

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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Ruth Cracknell, National Library of Australia, MS 9848, [series and/or file number]'.

Provenance

The papers were donated by Ruth Cracknell in 1999, under the Cultural Gifts Program.

The Library's Oral History Collection holds the following sound recordings:

- Address delivered by Cracknell at the National Press Club, Canberra, July 14, 1987 (ORAL TRC 4034)

- Address delivered by Cracknell at the National Press Club, Canberra, 31 March 1989 (ORAL TRC 4098)

- Interview with Cracknell by Michelle Potter, April 1989 (ORAL TRC 2435)

Physical Description Note
(24 ms boxes + 1 large folio-box)

Biographical Note

Ruth Winifred Cracknell's career as an actor on radio and in theatre, film and television spanned more than 55 years. She was born in Maitland, New South Wales, on 6 July 1925, the daughter of Charles Cracknell and Winifred Goddard (née Watts). She was educated at North Sydney Girls High School. After she left school, Cracknell worked briefly in the office of Farmers Department Store in Sydney and then as a stenographer with the Ku-ring-gai Council. She resigned from this position in 1945 to become a professional actress on radio at the AWA Recording Studio. In 1957 Cracknell married Eric Charles Harry Phillips, an engineer, with whom she had three children.

In 1943 Cracknell enrolled with the Modern Theatre Players, run by Edna Spilsbury, and undertook lessons in every aspect of theatre - from voice to mime. In 1945 she joined the Independent Theatre and Drama School and in 1948 was asked to become a member of the John Alden Shakespeare Company. This company performed at the St. James Theatre, Sydney, and the actors received no wages, earning their living through radio work. Her first major role was as Goneril in 'King Lear'. She went on to perform at the same theatre when it became the Mercury under the direction of John Kay, playing in Strindberg's 'The Father' opposite Alexander Archdale.

In 1952 Cracknell travelled to England to gain experience in order to become a 'serious theatre actress', something she felt she would be unable to achieve in Australia. She did a number of plays for the BBC, and auditioned for the Old Vic Theatre Company. After being invited to join them, she was compelled to return to Australia following the death of her brother-in-law in a plane crash.

Cracknell's first comic role was in 'The Duenna' in 1956. It proved to be a turning point in her career and marked the beginning of a long association with the Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney, where she performed in a number of memorable comic roles.

In 1960, Cracknell performed in 'Murder in the Cathedral' at the first Adelaide Arts Festival. This was the beginning of a long professional partnership with Ron Haddrick and the first of many plays in which they worked together, culminating ten years later with 'King Oedipus' for the Old Tote Company.

In 1977 Cracknell spent a year in Adelaide, performing as a full-time member of the State Theatre Company's ensemble. Performances that year included Just Ruth, a one-woman revue created for her by David Williamson and Alex Buzo.

Cracknell's long stage career included appearances with all the major Sydney theatre companies and there is an extensive list of credits to her name. Her career was synonymous with the growth of the Australian theatre and she spoke often about the need for government support of the industry.

Cracknell's first film appearance was in 1958 in Smiley gets a gun. She went on to appear in 15 films including The singer and the dancer (1977); The chant of Jimmy Blacksmith (1978) for which she won a Sammy Award for best supporting actress; The night the prowler (1978); Emerald City (1988); Kokoda Crescent (1989); Spider and Rose (1994); Lillian's story (1995) and Joey(1997).

One of Cracknell's early television appearances was on the ABC in late 1950s in a show she conceived herself entitled Gracious living. It consisted of a series of five-minute sketches satirising the ubiquitous home-products demonstrators appearing on television at that time. Occasional television appearances followed over the years until in 1983 she took on the role of Maggie Beare for the ABC series Mother and son. The series ran for ten years and her portrayal of the lovable but exasperating character revealed her wonderful comic abilities to the wider television audience and established her as a national figure.

In 1980, Cracknell was approached by director Richard Wherrett to become a board member of the newly formed Sydney Theatre Company. Over the next 22 years she appeared in 18 productions and when she retired from the Company in 1994 she was invited to become the inaugural patron. She was also patron of the Australian Theatre for Young People.

Recognition of Cracknell's distinguished career included being appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for her services to the Performing Arts in 1980, receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Sydney University in 1985 and subsequent doctorates from the Queensland University of Technology and the University of Western Sydney. Cracknell won a number of television awards, including the Silver Logie for the most popular comedy personality and for most outstanding actress. In 1999 she received the James Cassius Award for her outstanding contribution to the performing arts and was admitted to the Gold Logie Hall of Fame.

In 1997 Cracknell was named an Australian Achiever for her contribution to Australian Arts, part of the Australian of the Year award ceremony. In 1998 she was named by the National Trust as one of Australia's Living National Treasures, alongside the likes of Sir Donald Bradman.

Cracknell published her autobiography, entitled A biased memoir, in 1997 and a compelling account of the death of her husband entitled A journey from Venice in 2000.

Ruth Cracknell died in Sydney on 13 May 2002, after a long illness.

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Correspondence and papers, 1940s-1998

Contained in this series is correspondence and papers relating almost exclusively to Cracknell's career. There are a large number of letters, notes and cards from the public, congratulating her on various of her performances and providing evidence of Cracknell's enduring popularity with the public. There is a file of letters containing comments from listeners to the radio program Person-to-person, a current affairs chat-show which Cracknell co-presented with Roger Climpson in 1967. Cracknell also received many letters congratulating her on her performance in the television series Mother and son.

There is only a small amount of correspondence with performers, friends or family. It chiefly comprises brief notes, cards and telegrams, most of which are congratulatory in nature. Correspondents include Phillip Adams, Judith Anderson, Betty Archdale, Gillian Armstrong, Geoffrey Atherden, Gordon Chater, Patrick Cook, Hector Crawford, Nick Enright, Doris Fitton (founder of the Independent Theatre), Colin George, Ron Haddrick, Lionel Harris, Harry Heseltine, Andrea Hull, Barry Humphries, Betty Jeffrey, Manoly Lascaris, Ray Lawler, Reg Livermore, John McKellar, Kirrily Nolan, Moffatt Oxenbould, Dinah Shearing, Ngaire Thomson, Joy Warren, Richard Wherrett, David Williamson and Jill Wran.

A small amount of general business correspondence is included in this series and there are copies of several BBC performance contracts from the 1950s. There is one file of correspondence and papers relating to Cracknell's involvement with the protest group Sydney Citizens Against Proposed Monorail (SCAMP) which was active in 1986.

Correspondence, undated (File 1)

Correspondence, 1940s (File 2)

Correspondence, 1950s (File 3-4)

Correspondence, 1960s (File 5)

Letters from listeners of Person-to-person, 1967 (File 6)

Correspondence, 1970s (File 7)

Congratulatory cards and letters received on being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, 1980 (File 8)

Correspondence, 1980-1985 (File 9-10)

Correspondence and papers relating to SCAMP, 1986 (File 11)

Correspondence, 1986 (File 12)

Letters from the public relating to Mother and son, 1986-1988 (File 13)

Correspondence, 1986-1989 (File 12-14)

Correspondence, 1990-1998 (File 15-17)

Series 2. Diaries, 1956-1994

This series comprises an incomplete collection of appointment diaries kept by Cracknell.

Diary, 1956 (File 1)

Diary, 1959 (File 2)

Diary, 1960 (File 3)

Diary, 1962 (File 4)

Diary, 1963 (File 5)

Diary, 1964 (File 6)

Diary, 1965 (File 7)

Diary, 1966 (File 8)

Diary, 1967 (File 9)

Diaries, 1968 (File 10-11)

Diary, 1969 (File 12)

Diaries, 1970 (File 13-14)

Diary, 1971 (File 15)

Diary, 1989 (File 16)

Diary, 1990 (File 17)

Diary, 1991 (File 18)

Diary, 1994 (File 19)

Series 3. Scripts, c1960-1998

This series comprises a number of scripts accumulated by Cracknell for radio, stage, film and television productions in which she appeared. There is a segment (35pp) of original typescript and edited carbon copies for John McKellar's play But I wouldn't want to live there; several original typescripts of sketches for Cracknell's television show, Gracious living; the first draft of Geoffrey Atherden's Maggie and Arthur and bound scripts for series 6 of Mother and son and the film script for Lillian's story. Apart from some highlighting of text and brief marginal notes, there is little to indicate Cracknell's interpretation of the various roles she played.

Miscellaneous fragments of scripts (File 1)

A little night music, Stephen Sondheim (File 2)

Scripts: (File 3)

'Alnwick', Geoffrey Atherden, first draft, 1992

'Available light', Alma De Groen, radio script, nd

'Beetle graduation', Susan Rogers, 1998

Scripts (File 4)

'Blanche', film script by Bill Bennett, 1991

But I wouldn't want to live there, John McKellar, c1967

Close of play, Simon Gray, nd

Scripts (File 5)

Crackers, John McKellar, 1973

The Father, August Strindberg, nd

The gin game, D.L. Coburn, 1976 (File 6)

Gracious living, Ruth Cracknell, c1960s (File 7)

'The grass is just as brown', by 'Hariday', c1960s (File 8)

Habeas Corpus, Alan Bennett (File 9)

Scripts (File 10)

A happy and holy occasion, John O'Donoghue

Hotspur, Geoffrey Atherden, second draft, 1993

Lillian's story, film script by Steve Wright, fourth draft, 1992 (File 11-13)

Lost in Yonkers, Neil Simon, 1991 (File 14)

Scripts (File 15-16)

Mother and son, Geoffrey Atherden - first draft (1980) and bound copies of episodes 1-4, 6 and 7 of series 6 (nd)

Machiavelli, John Upton, original script (1982) and revised script (1984) (File 19)

'Once upon a time', Geoffrey Atherden, 1994 (File 20)

Scripts (File 21)

The poetry of A.D. Hope, Kearily Nolan, radio script, 1975

The poetry of Judith Wright, Ruth Cracknell, radio script, 1974

The poet's tongue: some poems of Marianne Moore, arranged by Michael Le Moignan, radio script, nd

Relations, Terry Downs, radio script, nd

Scripts (File 22)

Ruth Cracknell in bed, John McKellar, nd

'Sex and the Australian male', John McKellar

She stoops to conquer: or, The miftakes of a night, Oliver Goldsmith (1753) (File 23)

Three tall women, Edward Albee, c1991 (File 24)

Tom and Viv, Michael Hastings, c1987 (File 25)

Scripts (File 26)

'Where shadows lie', by "Harwar', nd

'Where the eagle drinks', Ralph W. Peterson, radio script, nd

What if you died tomorrow?, David Williamson, 1973

Series 4. Programs, 1943-1997

During the course of her long career, Cracknell accumulated a number of programs, which are contained in this series. Most are for productions in which she appeared.

Programs, 1940s-1950s (File 1)

1940s: Edna Spilsbury's Modern Theatre Players productions of Goodness, how sad!, Rebecca, The Merchant of Venice, a series of one act plays (1943), Ladies in waiting, (1944) The roundabout (1945) and Further orders (1945) and The Independent Theatre productions of The Inspector-General (1947), Measure for Measure (1948), The doughgirls(1948), The Winter's Tale (1949) and The Tempest (1949)

1950s: Productions by the John Alden Company (1950-1951) of The Tragedy of King Lear, Measure for Measure and The Merchant of Venice; 1952 productions by the Sydney Mercury Theatre of The twins and The comedy of errors; Arms and the man (1955); The love of four colonels; The Duenna(1956) and Cross section (nd)

Macquarie Award Presentation program, 1948, 1950-1952

Programs, 1960s (File 2-4)

Murder in the Cathedral (1960), A cup of tea, a bex and a good lie down (1965), Uncle Ben (1964), But I wouldn't want to live there (1967), A delicate balance (1968), Night of stars (1969) and The Pied Piper (nd)

Programs, 1970s (File 5-7)

The chalk garden (1970), King Oedipus (1970), The au pair man (1971), Crackers (1973), Arsenic and old lace (1973), What if you died tomorrow? (c1973) The seagull (1974), King Richard the Second(1974), The cherry orchard (1976), School for Scandal (1976), Habeas Corpus (1976), Home (1978), Bedroom farce (1978), The gin game (1979), The sea (1979), Forget-me-not Lane (nd), Ben Hall (nd)

Programs, 1980s (File 8-9)

The dresser (1981), The man from Muckinupin (1981), Machiavelli (1984), The doll trilogy (1985), Tom and Viv (1987), Emerald City (1987), Médée (1987)

Programs, 1990s (File 10-11)

Hotspur (1994), Three tall women (1995), A little night music (1997), Vita and Virginia (1997), Mother and son (10th anniversary)

Series 5. Just Ruth, 1977

In 1977 Cracknell appeared in a one-woman revue entitled Just Ruth, which was created for her by David Williamson and Alex Buzo. It was produced by the South Australian Theatre Company and staged at the Playhouse, Adelaide.

This series comprises a small amount of correspondence relating to the production, mainly with Colin George, the Artistic Director of the Company, edited typescript drafts of scripts for sketches, programs, production notes, reviews, photographs and a promotional poster. There are also three original music scores with lyrics by John McKellar and music by Jim Wallett and Sybil Graham.

Correspondence, 1977 (File 1)

Papers (File 2)

Running sheets

Rehearsal schedules

Notes from production meetings

Programs

Reviews

Scripts (File 3-7)

Music scores (File 8)

Photographs (File 9)

Poster (File 1)

Series 6. The life and adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

In 1983, Cracknell appeared in the roles of Mrs Squeers and Mrs Crummles in the Sydney Theatre Company production of The life and adventures of Nicolas Nickleby. Staged at The Theatre Royal in Sydney, it was co-directed by Richard Wherrett and John Gaden. Contained in this series are papers relating to the production.

Papers (File 1)

Correspondence relating to rehearsals

Script

Running sheet

Contact list

Papers (File 2)

Program

Reviews

Pencil and watercolour sketch and details for a bonnet

Papers (File 3)

Photocopies of published music score

Ephemera comprising handwritten messages which appear to be part of an ongoing joke during the production

Photocopies of puzzles and word games, intended to relieve boredom between shows (File 4)

Series 7. Spider and Rose

This series comprises two scrapbooks of material relating to the film Spider and Rose, which was released in 1994. The film was written and directed by Bill Bennett and Cracknell played the lead role of Rose. Contained in the scrapbook are production notes, press information, details of the promotional campaign, promotional ephemera, reviews and copies of cinema advertisements. There is also a copy of the program for the Australian premiere, held at the Regent Theatre, Mudgee, in 1994.

2 volumes

1 file containing loose papers from the volumes

Series 8. Photographs, 1950s-1990s

The photographs in this series document many of the roles Cracknell played. The bulk of them comprise scenes from plays, but there are also publicity and studio photographs.

Photocopies of photographs from various productions (File 1)

Unidentified photographs (File 2)

Photographs, 1950s-1960s (File 3)

1950s: studio portraits, The Father (1952) and publicity shots for the radio plays Genesis in Juddsville(nd) and Arms and the man (1955)

1960s: Gracious Living (several episodes c 1960), Murder in the Cathedral (1960); But I wouldn't want to live there (1967); A delicate balance (1968) and photographs of the façade of the Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney just before its demolition in 1961

Photographs, 1970s (File 4)

I'm alright now (1970), King Oedipus (1970), The au pair man (1971), Arsenic and old lace (1973), The seagull (1974), School for Scandal (1976), The cherry orchard (1976), Putting on the Ritz (1976), The sea (1979), The gin game (1979), The lace counter and Ben Hall

Photographs, 1980s (File 5-7)

A Shakespeare Company (1980), The man from Muckinupin (1981), A happy and holy occasion (1982), The way of the world (1983), Machiavelli (1984), All's well that ends well (1986), Emerald City (1987), Médée (1987), Tom and Viv (1987), Kokoda Crescent (1989) and Mother and son (stills from several episodes)

Cracknell being presented with her Australian Achiever's Award, 1997 (File 8)

King Lear, 1951 (File 1)

Photographs, 1960s (File 2)

Murder in the Cathedral (1960), A cup of tea, a bex and a good lie down (1965) and Gracious living (c1960)

Publicity photographs of Cracknell, 1973 (File 3)

Series 9. The Sydney Theatre Company, 1978-1994

The Sydney Theatre Company was established in January 1979, following the disbanding of the Old Tote Theatre Company the previous year. The Company was established on the initiative of the New South Wales Government and with the support of the Australia Council. Richard Wherrett was appointed as the Company's first Director.

In 1980, Cracknell was approached by Wherrett to become a board member of the Company. Over the next 22 years she appeared in 18 productions and when she retired from the Company in 1994 she was invited to become the inaugural patron.

Contained in this series are papers relating to the administration of the Company, mostly in the form of photocopies or computer printouts. There are minutes of meetings, budgets, financial reports, reviews of productions, general correspondence and annual reports.

Papers, 1978-1980 (File 1-2)

Papers, 1981 (File 3-5)

Papers, 1982 (File 6-8)

Papers, 1983 (File 9)

Papers, 1984 (File 10-13)

Papers, 1985 (File 14-16)

Papers, 1986 (File 17-18)

Papers, 1987 (File 19)

Papers, 1988 (File 20-21)

Papers, 1989 (File 22-26)

Papers, 1990 (File 27-32)

Papers, 1991 (File 33-36)

Papers, 1992 (File 37)

Papers, 1993 (File 38-40)

Papers, 1994 (File 41-43)

Series 10. Newspaper cuttings

Cracknell accumulated a large number of newspaper cuttings, which are contained in this series. They comprise articles relating to Cracknell and reviews of many of the productions in which she appeared.

Cuttings, 1950s (File 1-3)

Cuttings, 1960s (File 4-8)

Cuttings, 1970s (File 9-14)

Cuttings, 1980s (File 15)

Cuttings, 1990s (File 16-17)

Series 11. Printed material, 1955-1995

This series comprises magazines, journals, newspapers and publications, most of which contain interviews with or references to Cracknell and her work. There is also a small amount of material which contains no such references, but does reflect Cracknell's general interests

Material not specifically relating to Cracknell (File 1-3)

Printed material, 1955-1959 (File 4)

Printed material, 1960s (File 5)

Printed material, 1970s (File 6-7)

Printed material, 1980s (File 8)

Series 12. Miscellaneous papers

Contained in this series is a small amount of miscellaneous material accumulated by Cracknell.

Papers (File 1)

Address book, nd

Two notebooks, partially filled with random notes, nd

Typescript of a talk given by Cracknell, nd

Printed copy of the 10th Sir Robert Madgwick Lecture presented by Cracknell at the University of New England, Armidale and entitled 'The importance of being an earnest poet', 1993

Historical information about Maitland (File 2)

Various papers (File 3-4)

Container List

Series File/Item Box
1 1-7 1
1 8-15 2
1 16-17 3
2 1-19 3
3 1-4 4
3 5-10 5
3 11-16 6
3 17-22 7
3 23-26 8
4 1 8
4 2-8 9
4 9-11 10
5 1-4 10
5 5-9 11
5 Folio 1 Foloi box 1
6 1-4 11
7 1-3 12
8 1-2 12
8 3-9 13
8 Folios 1-3 Folio box 1
9 1-8 14
9 9-15 15
9 16-21 16
9 22-28 17
9 29-34 18
9 35-40 19
9 41-43 20
10 1-4 20
10 5-11 21
10 12-17 22
11 1 22
11 2-6 23
11 7-8 24
11 Folios 1-2 Folio box 1
12 1-4 24

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