Guide to the Papers of Wendy Beckett
MS 9084
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: ©2003.
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Beckett, Wendy
- Title
- Papers of Wendy Beckett
- Date Range
- 1928 - 1997
- Collection Number
- MS 9084
- Extent
- 1.8 metres (8 ms boxes + 1 large folio box + 37 sound/av carriers)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Content
The collection includes interviews, articles, press clippings, correspondence, drafts, financial records and other papers maintained by Beckett while researching her biography Peggy Glanville-Hicks (Angus & Robertson, 1992). There are also papers relating to a proposed documentary film on Glanville-Hicks' life. Correspondents include Yehudi Menuhin, Gore Vidal, Leonard Bernstein, and Peter Sculthorpe. Further papers include drafts and final copies of Beckett's work, in particular her plays, including radio plays, and also an outline for an intended novel, a libretto for 'Beckett', transcripts of interviews by Beckett with Lawrence Durrell and Paul Bowles, proposals for using these interviews and other related papers.
Access
The collection is available for reference.
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Wendy Beckett, National Library of Australia, MS 9084, [class/series/file/item number]'.
Provenance
The first consignment comprises an instalment purchased from Wendy Beckett in 1993, and a second instalment donated by Beckett in 1997 under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme.
Related Material
Publications by Beckett, transferred by her in 1997, have been incorporated into the National Library's book collection.
Papers of Peggy Glanville-Hicks are held in the Manuscript Collection at MS 9083 and by the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.
Biographical Note
Wendy Beckett was born in East Gippsland, Victoria in 1959 and worked as a journalist with the National Times and the Melbourne Agein the years 1976-1977.
Always interested in the theatre, she had her first play performed when she was nineteen and has since written many more.
As well as writing plays, she has worked as a school teacher, a print and radio journalist and a librettist. She has received literary grants from both the South Australian government and the Australia Council.
In 1982 Beckett completed a diploma of teaching and was the writer-in-residence at Kingston, South Australia, for writers week during the Adelaide Arts festival.
Beckett's biography Peggy Glanville-Hicks was published by Angus & Robertson in 1992.
Item Descriptions
Class 1. Consignment received in 1993 and 1997
Series 1. Peggy-Glanville Hicks: recorded interviews and transcript notes, 1988-1990
18 cassette tapes of interviews conducted by Beckett for the Glanville-Hicks' biography. All interviews are recorded on 90 minute tapes with the exception of 2 micro cassettes.
Interviews, 1989-1990 (File 1)
Including Carlos Surinach, 1989, Ralph Buckland, 1989, Oliver Daniels, 1989, Walter Trampler, 1989, Jack Murphy, 1989, Misa Criolla, Joe Jackson, John Butler, 1989, Virgil Thompson, 1989, Bernard Heiden, 1989, Coca Heiden, 1989, Roger Glanville-Hicks (two interviews), 1990, and Peggy Glanville-Hicks (two interviews).
Series 2. Peggy-Glanville Hicks: research material, 1928-1991
The research material includes photocopies of various articles by and about Peggy Glanville-Hicks. There are press clippings relating to Stanley Bate (Glanville-Hicks' husband) as well as numerous photographs. Included are introductory ideas for the biography and chapter headings.
Copies of articles by and about Glanville-Hicks, 1950-1991 (File 1_2)
Includes a copy of the program for the opera Nausicaaand program notes from the operaTransposed Heads.
Articles relating to some of Glanville-Hicks' friends, 1928-1988 (File 3_4)
Including Carlos Surinach, John Butler and Paul Bowles. There is also a magazine entitled Come 2 featuring an article on Glanville-Hicks and a program of lunchtime concerts held at the Powerhouse Museum.
Time-line of major events in Peggy Glanville-Hicks' life from 1912 to 1988 (File 5)
There is also a photocopy of a 'Sonata for piano' written in 1951 by Glanville-Hicks and a copy of 'A bibliographic study on the resources by and about Peggy Glanville-Hicks' by Joel Crotty.
List of compositions by Peggy Glanville-Hicks and biographical information about her. (File 6_7)
There are press clippings relating to Stanley Bate, 1955-1956 collected by Durrants Press Cuttings, London and a listing of all his works. Photographs of Kardiani Tinos and her home in Athens, Glanville-Hicks' home in Paddington, Sydney as well as photographs of her with various people including Yehudi Menuhin and Wendy Beckett. There are also portrait photos of Carlos Surinach and John Cage.
Series 3. Peggy-Glanville Hicks: correspondence, 1987-1990
Letters requesting interviews and information with various people including Gore Vidal, Leonard Bernstein and Yehudi Menuhin. There is also a letter of introduction from Peter Sculthorpe and notes and addresses of meetings and venues.
1 File
Series 4. Peggy-Glanville Hicks: film documentary, 1989
In 1989 a script development agreement was signed between Wendy Beckett and The Australian Film Commission to produce a documentary film on the life of Peggy Glanville-Hicks. Wendy Bennett was the script-writer and Peter McClean was hired to direct the project. Although there is a pre-sale synopsis of the documentary there is no information regarding the completion of the project.
The correspondence in includes letters to Phillip Adams (2UE), NSW Film and Television Office, ABC Documentary Division, SBS, Australian Film Commission, Channel 4 TV (UK), Central Independent Television (UK), BBC, Rockefeller Foundation and Ford Foundation.
Correspondence requesting support for the film documentary, 1989 (File 1)
Also includes a photocopy of a letter from Glanville-Hicks giving permission for Wendy Beckett and Peter McClean to produce a documentary of their life and a script development agreement between the Australian Film Commission and Wendy Beckett, 1989.
Series 5. Peggy-Glanville Hicks: drafts of the biography, 1991
Chapters 1-8 of the draft biography with comments made by the editor for the work, Drusilla Modjeska of Allen and Unwin publishers (File 5_6)
Includes a letter from Drusilla Modjeska to Wendy Beckett regarding editing issues, 1991
Series 6. Peggy-Glanville Hicks: financial statements and accounts, 1989-1990
Financial statements from the ANZ bank regarding payments and expenditures made by Wendy Beckett. This material includes two ANZ cheque books, ANZ bank statements and a report on the expenditure of the budget.
1 File
Series 7. Plays, 1980-1997
This series consists mainly of manuscripts and working notes of plays written by Beckett. There are also published versions of her plays. Handwritten notes by Beckett accompany the scripts, giving, for example, comments on the progress of a script, a note about the alternative endings of 'Isadora Duncan', where a play was first performed, and a brief background to the writing of the play, The drafts and working notes for 'Charity' are in order from the latest notes to the first draft notes, giving a good example of the process of writing a play.
'Anaïs Nin - one of her lives' (File 1)
Second and third drafts, hand bound draft, 1992, one of about 20 copies sold out by Glebe Books, together with copy of published work, 1992.
'Charity' (File 2)
Final version, performed under Beckett's direction at Belvoir Street Theatre in 1997.
'Charity' (File 3_11)
Working back from the latest notes to the first draft notes, comprising mainly 17 typescripts, some with hand written annotations.
'D.A.T.I.S. : Down Among the Industrial Statues' (File 12)
Draft typescript of a play funded by the Painters and Dockers and performed at their Port Adelaide Hall about 1981.
'The Glebe Point Road', subtitled 'This is your life' (File 13)
Typescript of the comedy play by Wendy Beckett and Janet Hyde.
'Gross' (File 14)
First, second and third drafts, and final annotated script used in the theatre for the first theatre play written by Beckett. Also Gross, Regression, Partake, three plays(1993).
'Hester' (File 15_16)
Four drafts, one including comments by Audrey Blake. Also includes handwritten notes, correspondence, budget sheet and review.
'Isadora Duncan', 1983 (File 17)
Drafts of the play, which went on a national tour in the mid to late 1980s.
'Par-Take' and 'Regression' (File 18)
Script of 'Par-Take', written in 1980-81. First to third drafts of 'Regression', the third draft containing stage notes, together with final script.
'Trilogy of women: three biographical plays, Joy Hester, Anaïs Nin, Isadora Duncan' (File 19)
Final draft of all three plays put together for publication, 1996.
Series 8. Opera libretto: 'Beckett', c. 1990
'Beckett' was the last piece of music on which Peggy Glanville-Hicks worked. Although Wendy Beckett heard Glanville-Hicks play the music, she does not know if the work exists as Glanville-Hicks died before its completion.
Beckett worked with Glanville-Hicks to write libretto for the music.
1 File
Series 9. Other writings, 1981-1989
A miscellaneous series of Beckett's writings, mostly with a number of works in spiral bound volumes. It includes some of her earliest work. There are some related papers, such as correspondence with the ABC and publishers.
Series 10. Transcripts of interviews for the ABC, 1989-1990
The series consists mainly of transcripts for interviews by Beckett with Lawrence Durrell and Paul Bowles. There are also some accompanying notes, such as the wording of an introduction for the Durrell interview and production notes and a proposal for using the interviews.
Series 11. Other papers
This is a small series consisting of reviews of Beckett's early plays, mostly undated, and artwork for some of her later plays.
Series. Audiovisual carriers
Audrey 28 July 1998', 28/07/1998 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014346) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette'Done'
Audrey 28 July 1998', 28/07/1998 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014347) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette'3 Done'
Audrey 28 July 1998', 28/07/1998 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014348) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Audrey 28 July 1998', 28/07/1998 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014349) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Audrey 28 July 1998', 28/07/1998 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014350) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Audrey 28 July 1998', 28/07/1998 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014352) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette'Side B blank'
Spare tapes of interviews by Blake found in dictaphone bag' (Item NLA.MS-SAV014353) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette'4 Done'
Spare tapes of interviews by Blake found in dictaphone bag' (Item NLA.MS-SAV014354) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, 3M, Microcassette / mini cassette
Side A: Audrey Blake - 3 parts on ABC 'Word of Mouth' programme broadcast over 3 Saturday mornings. Side B: Lindy Chamberlain (Item NLA.MS-SAV014355) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, TDK D90, Compact cassette tape
Jack interview 24/06/1997', 24/06/1997 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014356) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, TDK AR74, Compact cassette tape
Side A: Jack Blake anti-fascism. B: Audrey Blake on 2SER, 1997? (Item NLA.MS-SAV014357) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, Unbranded, Compact cassette tape
Audrey Blake 29/07/1997', 29/07/1997 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014358) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, Fuji DR-I 90, Compact cassette tape
Interview of Audrey Blake 30/6/1998, 30/06/1998 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014359) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, Fuji DR-I 60, Compact cassette tapeAudrey's life story to philosophy/an opening of her mind. Further notes in cassette case
After the Party', 8/07/1998 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014360) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, Fuji DR-I 60, Compact cassette tapeFurther notes in cassette case
A: 2SER FM 11pm 25 May 1980 'Word of Mouth - Audrey Blake'. Side B: 'Coming Out - Lindy Chamberlain' (scrambled), 25/05/1980 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014362) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, IMT C90, Compact cassette tape
Side A: J??? (beginning wiped). Side B: Shorts with music; interview with Audrey Blake on 3CR 12/11/1982, 12/11/1982 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014363) - Cassette-Box 646
1 item, G Tape 90, Compact cassette tape
Audrey 1949: the boat story the arrival. August 1998, Aug-98 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014361) - Cassette-Box 647
1 item, Compact cassette tape
The Transposed Heads', Act 1 Scene 1 & 2, Act 2 Scene 3 & 4 - Peggy Glanville Hicks. WASO. Tape 1 of 2 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014659) - Cassette-Box 664
1 item, TDK AD-X60, Compact cassette tape
Voss opera, Adelaide Festival, March 1986, Mar-86 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014661) - Cassette-Box 664
1 item, TDK AD90, Compact cassette tape
Gymnopedae - Peggy Glanville Hicks (Item NLA.MS-SAV014662) - Cassette-Box 664
1 item, Maxell UDXL C90, Compact cassette tape
Jack 22/07/1997', 22/07/1997 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014331) - Cassette-Box 694
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Audrey Blake 19/08/1997' '(Harry Stein)', 19/08/1997 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014332) - Cassette-Box 694
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Audrey 1 October' (1997?), 1997? (Item NLA.MS-SAV014335) - Cassette-Box 694
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Audrey November 1997', 1997 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014337) - Cassette-Box 694
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Audrey November 1997', 1997 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014339) - Cassette-Box 694
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Audrey November 1997', 1997 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014340) - Cassette-Box 694
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassette
Gorbachov 17 June 1998', 1998 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014342) - Cassette-Box 694
1 item, Olympus XT60, Microcassette / mini cassetteEnvelope it was in said: 'Audrey 8 July 1998'
Jack Blake Russia 1931-32' 'Audrey 28 July 1998', 23/07/1998 (Item NLA.MS-SAV014343) - Cassette-Box 694
1 item, 3M, Microcassette / mini cassetteContainer List
| Series | File/Item | Box |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-4 | 1 |
| 2 | 1-4 | 1 |
| 3 | 5-9 | 2 |
| 1 | 2 | |
| 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 2-3 | 3 | |
| 5 | 1-5 | 3 |
| 6-10 | 4 | |
| 6 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | 1 | 4 |
| 2-9 | 5 | |
| 10-17 | 6 | |
| 18-21 | 7 | |
| 8 | 1 | 7 |
| 9 | 1-4 | 7 |
| 5-6 | 8 | |
| 10 | 1-3 | 8 |
| 11 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 | Folio | |
| 3 | Folio |