Guide to the Papers of John Bell and Anna Volska

View online items only View full collection

MS 8864; MS Acc09.208.MS Acc22.140

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator: Bell, John, 1940-
Title: Papers of John Bell and Anna Volska
Date Range: 1935-2008
Collection Number: MS 8864; MS Acc09.208.MS Acc22.140
Extent: 6.8 metres (24 boxes + 4 fol. boxes + 4 map folio)
Physical Facet: MS 8864: (23 ms boxes + 2 large folio boxes + 1 medium phase box)
Language of Materials: English
Repository: Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Scope and Contents

MS 8864 comprises 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 (23 boxes, 3 fol. boxes).

Conditions Governing Access

Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1762279).

Conditions Governing Use

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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, [class/series/file number]'.

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.

Further papers were received in 2009.

Collection Retrieval Advice

Please note: each consignment in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there are multiple Box 1's). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.

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 Tartuffefor 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.

John Anthony Bell, actor, director and co-founder of Nimrod Theatre Company and the Bell Shakespeare Company, 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, Bell won a scholarship from the British Council, and spent five years in England with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He married fellow actor Anna Volska in 1965. They returned to Australia in 1969, and Bell spent a year teaching at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. In 1970, he became a co-founder and Artistic Director of Nimrod Theatre Company. In 1990, he formed the Bell Shakespeare Company, performing and touring his own productions of Shakespeare's plays. 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.Actress and theatre director. Anna Volska was born Anna Maria Dobrowolski in Warsaw, Poland. 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 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.Joy Bell (née Josephia Agnes Feeney) was the mother of actor and director, John Bell, Maureen Seysener and Carmel Leonard, and grandmother of actor Lucy Bell.

Item Descriptions

Class. Original consignment

Series 1. Correspondence

Personal letters of Anna Volska, 1986-1988 (File 1) - Box 1 (MS 8864)

Includes cards and postcards.

Family letters, 1977-1993 (File 2) - Box 1 (MS 8864)

Includes cards and postcards.

Family letters, 1986 (File 3) - Box 1 (MS 8864)

Includes cards, postcards and press cuttings.

Family letters from Hilary Bell, 1986 (File 4) - Box 1 (MS 8864)

Includes postcards, poetry, photo and press cuttings.

Letters to Anna from John, 1989 (File 5) - Box 1 (MS 8864)

Includes cartoons.

Letters to Anna from Nick Enright, undated (File 6) - Box 1 (MS 8864)

Includes drawings, designs and poems.

Professional correspondence and fan mail and letters between Anna and John, c. 1974-1985 (File 7) - Box 1 (MS 8864)

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.

Letters, c. 1963-1986 (File 8) - Box 1 (MS 8864)

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.

Letters, c. 1963-1987 (File 9) - Box 2 (MS 8864)

Letters to Anna from John, 1975 (File 10) - Box 2 (MS 8864)

Includes a postcard.

Personal letters of Hilary Bell, 1986 (File 11) - Box 2 (MS 8864)

Correspondents include Shopfront Theatre Co. for Young People and Young Playwrights' Association. Includes programs, cards, handbills and invitations.

Personal letters of Hilary Bell, 1986 (File 12) - Box 2 (MS 8864)

Correspondents include Shopfront Theatre Co. for Young People and Young Playwrights' Association. Includes programs, cards, handbills and invitations.

Family letters, 1985 (File 13) - Box 2 (MS 8864)

Correspondents include Ron Blair.

Letters to Anna from John, 1964-1965 (File 14) - Box 2 (MS 8864)

Includes notes, cards, press cuttings and lock of hair.

Personal, professional and fan mail, 1967-1992 (File 15) - Box 2 (MS 8864)

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.

Personal, professional and fan mail, 1967-1992 (File 16) - Box 3 (MS 8864)

Personal, professional and fan mail, 1967-1992 (File 17) - Box 3 (MS 8864)

Family letters, 1986-1987 (File 18) - Box 3 (MS 8864)

Includes card, postcard and ticket stub.

Fan mail, 1990 (File 19) - Box 3 (MS 8864)

Includes cards and press cuttings.

Professional correspondence and fan mail, 1961-1990 (File 20) - Box 3 (MS 8864)

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.

Professional correspondence and fan mail, 1961-1990 (File 21) - Box 3 (MS 8864)

Professional correspondence and fan mail, 1961-1990 (File 22) - Box 3 (MS 8864)

Letters to Anna from Jennifer Compton, 1989-1991 (File 23) - Box 3 (MS 8864)

Includes poems, stories and photo.

Correspondence, c. 1967-1985 (File 24) - Box 4 (MS 8864)

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.

Correspondence, c. 1974-1990 (File 25) - Box 4 (MS 8864)

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

Appointment diaries, 1964-1965, 1967 (File 26) - Box 4 (MS 8864)

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

Anna's appointment diary, 1970 (File 27) - Box 4 (MS 8864)

John's appointment diary, 1971 (File 28) - Box 4 (MS 8864)

Includes letters, programs and postcard.

Anna's appointment diaries, 1971-1972 (File 29) - Box 4 (MS 8864)

Includes poster and note.

Anna's appointment diaries, 1973-1974 (File 30) - Box 4 (MS 8864)

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

Anna's appointment diaries, 1975-1976 (File 31) - Box 5 (MS 8864)

Appointment diaries, 1977-1978 (File 32) - Box 5 (MS 8864)

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

Anna's and John's appointment diaries, 1979 (File 33) - Box 5 (MS 8864)

Includes notes and press cuttings.

Anna's and John's appointment diaries, 1980 (File 34) - Box 5 (MS 8864)

Includes appointment card.

Anna's journal and John's appointment diary, 1980-1981 (File 35) - Box 5 (MS 8864)

Anna's journal December 1980-July 1981 and John's appointment diary 1980. Includes letters, notes and press cuttings.

Anna's appointment diary and journal, 1981-1982 (File 36) - Box 5 (MS 8864)

Journal July 1981-November 1982. Includes notes, loose diary entries, letter drafts, essay by Hilary, postcard and press cuttings.

Anna's and John's appointment diaries, 1982 (File 37) - Box 6 (MS 8864)

Includes business cards, rehearsal timetable, notes, receipts, doctor's referral, flyer and postcards.

Anna's and John's appointment diaries, 1983 (File 38) - Box 6 (MS 8864)

Includes Beijing conference list, business cards, receipts, programs, press cuttings, postcards, invitations, letters, letter drafts, cards and a sketch by Hilary.

Anna's journal and John's appointment diary, 1983-1985 (File 39) - Box 6 (MS 8864)

Anna's journal October 1983-January 1985 and John's diary 1984. Includes postcards, press cuttings, notes, exhibition catalogue and letter.

Family journal of holiday in South Australia, 1983-01-01T00:00:00+00:00 (File 40) - Box 6 (MS 8864)

Diary entries, cards, photos, drawings and poems.

Appointment diaries, 1984, 1986 (File 41) - Box 6 (MS 8864)

Anna's 1984 diary and John's 1986 diary. Includes letters, notes and postcards.

John's appointment diary, 1985 (File 42) - Box 7 (MS 8864)

Anna's appointment diary, 1985 (File 43) - Box 7 (MS 8864)

Includes notes, letters, postcard, press cuttings, invitation and photo.

Anna's appointment diary, 1986 (File 44) - Box 7 (MS 8864)

Includes parking application, loose diary entries, notes, press cuttings, stickers and ticket stubs.

Joint travel journal of trip to Western Australia, January-February 1986 (File 45) - Box 7 (MS 8864)

Diary entries, poems, notes, cards, postcards, press cuttings and feather. Includes tourist map, tourist brochures, press cuttings and postcards.

Family journal/scrapbook, 1987-1989 (File 46) - Box 7 (MS 8864)

Diary entries, notes, drawings, article, photos, press cuttings, handbills and cartoons. Includes paintings, card, notes, cartoons, story, brochures, letter, press cuttings, newsletters and photos.

John's notebooks and Anna's journal, c. 1963-1965, 1992 (File 47) - Box 8 (MS 8864)

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

John's notebooks and Anna's appointment diary, c. 1965, 1979, 1980-1984 (File 48) - Box 8 (MS 8864)

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

Series 3. Production files

History of Australia - The Musical, 1988 (File 49) - Box 8 (MS 8864)

Production notes and script inserts.

The Legend of King O'Malley, 1970 (File 50) - Box 8 (MS 8864)

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.

The Venetian Twins, 1990 (File 51) - Box 8 (MS 8864)

Brochure, magazine, programs, poster and production notes.

Cyrano de Bergerac, 1981 (File 52) - Box 8 (MS 8864)

Annotated script and production notes.

The Venetian Twins, 1990 (File 53) - Box 8 (MS 8864)

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

The Servant of Two Masters, 1984 (File 54) - Box 8 (MS 8864)

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

The Tempest, 1990 (File 55) - Box 9 (MS 8864)

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

Cyrano de Bergerac, 1981 (File 56) - Box 9 (MS 8864)

Programs, press cuttings and production notes.

Tristram Shandy, 1982 (File 57) - Box 9 (MS 8864)

Programs and draft of letter.

The Venetian Twins, 1990 (File 58) - Box 9 (MS 8864)

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

History of Australia - The Musical, 1988 (File 59) - Box 9 (MS 8864)

Script drafts, production notes, production schedules, rehearsal schedules, staff list, script inserts, memos, wardrobe list and props list.

History of Australia - The Musical, 1988 (File 60) - Box 9 (MS 8864)

Script drafts, production notes, production schedules, rehearsal schedules, staff list, script inserts, memos, wardrobe list and props list.

Shadowlands, 1991 (File 61) - Box 9 (MS 8864)

Correspondence and press cuttings.

Say Goodbye to the Past, 1985 (File 62) - Box 10 (MS 8864)

Annotated script.

History of Australia - The Musical, 1988 (File 63) - Box 10 (MS 8864)

Script draft.

History of Australia - The Musical, 1988 (File 64) - Box 10 (MS 8864)

Production notes, script inserts, lyric sheets and set designs.

Starburst '83, 1983 (File 65) - Box 10 (MS 8864)

Correspondence, sketch scripts, cast lists and rehearsal schedules.

History of Australia - The Musical, 1988 (File 66) - Box 10 (MS 8864)

Production notes, published material, reviews, speech drafts, program drafts, correspondence, budget, lighting designs and rehearsal timetable.

Miscellaneous (File 67) - Box 10 (MS 8864)

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

King Lear, 1984 (File 68) - Box 10 (MS 8864)

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

The Imaginary Invalid, c. 1987 (File 69) - Box 10 (MS 8864)

Sketch scripts, published material and designs.

The Venetian Twins, 1990 (File 70) - Box 10 (MS 8864)

Script draft and song list.

The Recruiting Officer, 1976 (File 71) - Box 11 (MS 8864)

Programs, published material, costume and set designs.

History of Australia - The Musical, 1988 (File 72) - Box 11 (MS 8864)

Script draft.

Don Giovanni, 1974 (File 73) - Box 11 (MS 8864)

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

Tristram Shandy, 1982 (File 74) - Box 11 (MS 8864)

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

Measure for Measure, 1976 (File 75) - Box 11 (MS 8864)

Production notes, grant application, cast list, designs, director's notes and newsletter.

Series 4. Scripts

Arturo Ui, by Bertoldt Brecht (File 76) - Box 11 (MS 8864)

Annotated script and rehearsal schedule.

Ashfield, by Anna Volska et al (File 77) - Box 11 (MS 8864)

Screenplay.

The Australiad (File 78) - Box 12 (MS 8864)

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

The Birds by Aristophanes and Big River (File 79) - Box 12 (MS 8864)

Big River adapted by William Hauptman.

Burn Victim, by Anna Volska et al (File 80) - Box 12 (MS 8864)

Script and screenplay.

Burn Victim, by Anna Volska et al (File 81) - Box 12 (MS 8864)

Includes notes.

By Royal Command, author unknown and Candide (File 82) - Box 12 (MS 8864)

Candideadapted by Hugh Wheeler.

Diary of a Madman and Flash Jim Vaux, by Ron Blair (File 83) - Box 12 (MS 8864)

Diary of a Madman adapted by Richard Harris and Lindsay Anderson. Flash Jim Vaux includes designs, schedules and song sheets.

Ghosts, by Henrik Ibsen and Gilles de Rais, by Roger Planchon (File 84) - Box 13 (MS 8864)

Ghostsincludes director's notes.

A Hard God, by Peter Kenna and The Marriage, by Nikolai Gogol (File 85) - Box 13 (MS 8864)

The Real Thing, by Tom Stoppard and The Servant of Two Masters, by Carlo Goldoni (File 86) - Box 13 (MS 8864)

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

Shadowlands, by William Nicholson (File 87) - Box 13 (MS 8864)

The Soldier's Tale, by Igor Stravinsky and Tartuffe, by Moliere (File 88) - Box 13 (MS 8864)

Three Sisters, by Anton Chekhov (File 89) - Box 13 (MS 8864)

Annotated script.

Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekhov (File 90) - Box 14 (MS 8864)

Annotated script.

Series 5. Sheet music

Big River, music/lyrics by Roger Miller and Facade, music/lyrics by William Walton, c. 1989 (File 91) - Box 14 (MS 8864)

Facadeincludes notes.

Series 6. Nimrod Theatre Company, 1970-1988

Records, 1978-1979 (File 92) - Box 14 (MS 8864)

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.

Records, 1978-1979 (File 93) - Box 14 (MS 8864)

Records, 1978-1979 (File 94) - Box 14 (MS 8864)

Records, 1981-1982 (File 95) - Box 14 (MS 8864)

Budget sheets, meeting notes, production plans and notes, policy statements, press cuttings and minutes of meetings.

Records, 1981-1988 (File 96) - Box 14 (MS 8864)

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

Records, 1970-1981 (File 97) - Box 15 (MS 8864)

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

Records, 1970-1982 (File 98) - Box 15 (MS 8864)

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

Teaching notes from NIDA class, c. 1970 (File 99) - Box 15 (MS 8864)

Teaching notes from NIDA class, c. 1970 (File 100) - Box 15 (MS 8864)

Publications, 1987-1988 (File 101) - Box 15 (MS 8864)

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

Series 8. National Stage Crisis Committee

Committee, Stage Crisis Day and miscellaneous papers, 1981-1982 (File 102) - Box 15 (MS 8864)

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

Series 9. Scrapbooks

Scrapbook, 1962-1965 (File 103) - Box 16 (MS 8864)

Includes press cuttings, telegram, loose cuttings, photos, paper and posters.

Scrapbook, 1972-1974 (File 104) - Box 16 (MS 8864)

Includes press cuttings, production schedule, published material, programs, poster, handbills, brochure and speech.

Scrapbook, 1974-1975 (File 105) - Box 16 (MS 8864)

Includes press cuttings, photo and TV script.

Scrapbook, 1976 (File 106) - Box 16 (MS 8864)

Press cuttings.

Scrapbook, 1979 (File 107) - Box 16 (MS 8864)

Includes press cuttings and programs.

Scrapbook, 1980 (File 108) - Box 17 (MS 8864)

Includes press cuttings and BBC TV transcript.

Scrapbook, c. 1981-1988 (File 109) - Box 17 (MS 8864)

Press cuttings.

Scrapbook, c. 1974-1990 (File 110) - Box 17 (MS 8864)

Contains press cuttings, programs, handbills, brochures, professional correspondence, cards and fan mail.

Scrapbook, 1970-1982 (File 111) - Box 17 (MS 8864)

Includes press cuttings, handbill, costume designs, program notes, production notes, prop designs, programs and fan mail.

Scrapbook, c. 1974-1988 (File 112) - Box 18 (MS 8864)

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

Scrapbook, 1987-1988 (File 113) - Box 18 (MS 8864)

Press cuttings and professional correspondence.

Series 10. Press cuttings

Press cuttings, c. 1962-1989 (File 114) - Box 18 (MS 8864)

Includes programs, ticket stubs, poster, brochure, professional correspondence, speeches, costume designs, fan mail and photo.

Press cuttings, c. 1962-1989 (File 115) - Box 18 (MS 8864)

Includes programs, ticket stubs, poster, brochure, professional correspondence, speeches, costume designs, fan mail and photo.

Press cuttings, c. 1963-1988 (File 116) - Box 18 (MS 8864)

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).

Press cuttings, c. 1963-1988 (File 117) - Box 19 (MS 8864)

Press cuttings, c. 1982-1991 (File 118) - Box 19 (MS 8864)

Includes postcard.

Press cuttings, 1982 (File 119) - Box 19 (MS 8864)

Press cuttings, 1986-1987 (File 120) - Box 19 (MS 8864)

Includes contract and fan mail.

Press cuttings, 1988 (File 121) - Box 19 (MS 8864)

Press cuttings, 1964-1990 (File 122) - Box 19 (MS 8864)

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

Press cuttings, 1964-1990 (File 123) - Box 19 (MS 8864)

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

Series 11. Programs, posters and publicity material

Programs, posters and publicity material, c. 1960-1968 (File 124) - Box 20 (MS 8864)

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1970-1972 (File 125) - Box 20 (MS 8864)

Includes fan mail.

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1973, 1982 (File 126) - Box 20 (MS 8864)

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1973-1975 (File 127) - Box 20 (MS 8864)

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1976-1977 (File 128) - Box 20 (MS 8864)

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1978-1979 (File 129) - Box 20 (MS 8864)

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1980-1982 (File 130) - Box 20 (MS 8864)

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1983-1984 (File 131) - Box 21 (MS 8864)

Includes fan mail.

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1985-1987 (File 132) - Box 21 (MS 8864)

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1988 (File 133) - Box 21 (MS 8864)

Includes fan mail.

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1988 (File 134) - Box 21 (MS 8864)

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1988-1989 (File 135) - Box 22 (MS 8864)

Programs, posters and publicity material, 1990-1992 (File 136) - Box 22 (MS 8864)

Series 12. Magazines, newsletters and published material

Publications A-I, 1973-1992 (File 137) - Box 22 (MS 8864)

Publications N-Sh, 1963-1993 (File 138) - Box 22 (MS 8864)

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

Publications Sy-Th, 1981-1985 (File 139) - Box 22 (MS 8864)

Publications Ti-Tu, c. 1988 (File 140) - Box 22 (MS 8864)

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

Series 13. Sound recording

Variations, 1983-01-20T00:00:00+00:00 (File 141) - Box 23 (MS 8864)

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

Series 14. Miscellaneous papers

Personal papers, c. 1966-1983 (File 142) - Box 23 (MS 8864)

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.

Professional and other papers, c. 1971-1990 (File 143) - Box 23 (MS 8864)

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.

Papers of Anna Volska, c. 1987 (File 144) - Box 23 (MS 8864)

Speeches, notes for Australian Women Poets, poems, press cuttings, subscription brochure and copy of Hamlet in Performance. Includes photos and card.

Papers, c. 1980 (File 145) - Box 23 (MS 8864)

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

Roll of posters, one scrapbook and a pencil drawing of Anna Volska by Tony Rafty (A3 size) (File Folios 1-3) - Folio-Box 1 (MS 8864)

Class. Consignment received 25 February 2002

Programs, cuttings, 1988-1994 (File Folio 4) - Folio-Box 1 (MS 8864)

Cuttings scrapbook, 1964-1995 (File Folio 5) - Folio-Box 1 (MS 8864)

Cuttings scrapbook, 1956-1998 (File Folio 6) - Folio-Box 1 (MS 8864)

Cuttings scrapbook, school photograph of Volska, 1951, 1962-1977 (File Folio 7) - Folio-Box 1 (MS 8864)

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.

Class. Consignment received 24 April 2003

Press cuttings (contents of ring file), c. 1962-1989 (File 146) - Box 23 (MS 8864)

Cuttings and programs, c. 1961-2002 (File Folio 8) - Folio-Box 2 (MS 8864)

Pencil drawings and painting by Bell, 1956 (File Folio 9) - Folio-Box 2 (MS 8864)

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

Class. Consignment received 11 December 2003

Cuttings, program, letter and photographs, 1964-2000 (File 147) - Box 23 (MS 8864)

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

Class. Consignment received 2009

Series. Ephemera

Nimrod Theatre Company programmes, 1977-1985 (File 1) - Box 1 (MS Acc09.208)

Packet 1 is from the collection of Carmel Leonard, John Bell's sister

Bell Shakespeare Company programmes, 1991 - 2008 (File 1) - Box 1 (MS Acc09.208)

Packet 1 is from the collection of Carmel Leonard, John Bell's sister

Programme for recital by John Bell at St Paul's Hall, Maitland, 7th September 1964, signed to his sister Carmel - the recital was a fundraiser in aid of her work as part of the Miss Australia Quest, 1964 (File 1) - Box 1 (MS Acc09.208)

Packet 1 is from the collection of Carmel Leonard, John Bell's sister