Griffin Theatre Company is one of the great engine rooms of the Australian theatre and the only theatre company in Sydney entirely dedicated to the professional development and production of new plays by Australian writers.
A not-for-profit company that has operated successfully since 1978, Griffin Theatre Company:
offers an annual subscription season of 4 to 6 new plays at the SBW Stables Theatre.
regularly tours its productions throughout Australia.
operates an annual Education program encompassing Griffin Ambassadors, Master Acting Classes, Writing Classes & Corporate Training.
operates an annual Playwrights Residency.
encourages new writing through the annual Griffin Award.
presents Griffin Stablemates - an annual theatre season of independent theatre productions, offering emerging theatre artists the chance to reach audiences in a nurturing and subsidised environment.
Griffin is the resident theatre company at the SBW Stables Theatre in Kings Cross, the original home of the Nimrod Theatre Company and one of the birthplaces of contemporary Australian theatre.
Griffin has always been a place of good beginnings. Many artists who began professional careers at Griffin now contribute significantly to the Australian theatre, film and television industries, including Cate Blanchett and Jacqueline McKenzie.
The hit films Lantana and The Boys began life as plays first produced by Griffin, as did the TV series Heartbreak High. Many other plays premiered by Griffin are produced regularly throughout Australia and internationally, including Holding the Man, Clark in Sarajevo, Wolf Lullaby and Australias most produced play, Away.
Griffin Archive
In 1978, Griffin Theatre Company was formed by a group of NIDA graduates including Jenny Laing-Peach, Robert Menzies, Peter Carmody and Penny Cook.
The only theatre company in Sydney entirely dedicated to the professional development and production of new Australian plays, Griffin has been performing at the SBW Stables Theatre (and other venues around the country) since 1979.
For a list of productions produced by Griffin since 1978 please download the Griffin Productions Archive via the link below.
Griffin History
In 1978, Griffin was formed by a group of NIDA graduates including Jenny Laing-Peach, Robert Menzies, Peter Carmody and Penny Cook. The Company was named after Griffin Street, Surry Hills, where the first meetings were held.
At the end of 1979, Griffin became the resident theatre company at the Stables Theatre in Nimrod Street - the former home of the legendary Nimrod Theatre Company founded by John Bell, Richard Wherrett and Ken Horler.
In 1986, the Companys future in the venue was placed in jeopardy when the Stables Theatre was put up for sale. The Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation (established at the instigation of Dr Rodney Seaborn) intervened, purchasing the theatre, rescuing it from demolition and securing Griffin a long-term home.
Throughout Griffins history, the Company has maintained a policy of only performing Australian plays. Griffins pivotal role represents a commitment to the creation of new Australian plays, of outstanding value, which will have a lasting place in the Australian Theatre repertoire.
In 1999, The Sun Herald proclaimed Griffin as Australias Theatre of the Decade, for producing new Australian theatre.
Landmark Australian Productions
Playwright Michael Gow launched his career with Griffin with premiere productions of his plays Away (1986) - now Australias most produced Australian play - and Europe (1987).
Richard Barretts The Heartbreak Kid was premiered by Griffin in 1987. It was then adapted into the feature film The Heartbreak Kid, and the subsequent television series, Heartbreak High.
In 1991, the feature film The Boys is nominated for 13 Australian Film Institute Awards. The screenplay was adapted from Griffins original 1991 premiere production of Gordon Grahams play.
In 1993, Kafka Dances by Timothy Daly introduced Cate Blanchett in her first professional stage role. It won her the Sydney Critics Circle Award: Best Newcomer, with the play then transferring to Sydney Theatre Company, before subsequent productions in Europe, South Africa, and the USA.
In 1996, Hilary Bells Wolf Lullaby toured nationally, winning nominations for six Greenroom Awards and was subsequently produced in New York, Chicago, Paris, Sweden, London and New Zealand.
In 2001, Lantana won the AFI Award for Best Feature Film. It was adapted for the screen by Andrew Bovell from his original stage play Speaking in Tongues, first premiered by Griffin in 1996.
Tommy Murphys Holding the Man broke all recorded Griffin Box Office records in 2006 and 2007, when the production premiered at Griffin, before returning for a subsequent season at the SBW Stables Theatre, followed by a transfer to Sydney Opera House, Belvoir St Theatre and a national tour.
Many other plays premiered by Griffin are produced regularly throughout Australia and internationally.
Griffin Theatre Company
13 Craigend Street
Kings Cross NSW 2011
Australia.
Griffin Theatre Company is one of the great engine rooms of the Australian theatre and the only theatre company in Sydney entirely dedicated to the professional development and production of new plays by Australian writers.
A not-for-profit company that has operated successfully since 1978, Griffin Theatre Company:
offers an annual subscription season of 4 to 6 new plays at the SBW Stables Theatre.
regularly tours its productions throughout Australia.
operates an annual Education program encompassing Griffin Ambassadors, Master Acting Classes, Writing Classes & Corporate Training.
operates an annual Playwrights Residency.
encourages new writing through the annual Griffin Award.
presents Griffin Stablemates - an annual theatre season of independent theatre productions, offering emerging theatre artists the chance to reach audiences in a nurturing and subsidised environment.
Griffin is the resident theatre company at the SBW Stables Theatre in Kings Cross, the original home of the Nimrod Theatre Company and one of the birthplaces of contemporary Australian theatre.
Griffin has always been a place of good beginnings. Many artists who began professional careers at Griffin now contribute significantly to the Australian theatre, film and television industries, including Cate Blanchett and Jacqueline McKenzie.
The hit films Lantana and The Boys began life as plays first produced by Griffin, as did the TV series Heartbreak High. Many other plays premiered by Griffin are produced regularly throughout Australia and internationally, including Holding the Man, Clark in Sarajevo, Wolf Lullaby and Australias most produced play, Away.
Griffin Archive
In 1978, Griffin Theatre Company was formed by a group of NIDA graduates including Jenny Laing-Peach, Robert Menzies, Peter Carmody and Penny Cook.
The only theatre company in Sydney entirely dedicated to the professional development and production of new Australian plays, Griffin has been performing at the SBW Stables Theatre (and other venues around the country) since 1979.
For a list of productions produced by Griffin since 1978 please download the Griffin Productions Archive via the link below.
Griffin History
In 1978, Griffin was formed by a group of NIDA graduates including Jenny Laing-Peach, Robert Menzies, Peter Carmody and Penny Cook. The Company was named after Griffin Street, Surry Hills, where the first meetings were held.
At the end of 1979, Griffin became the resident theatre company at the Stables Theatre in Nimrod Street - the former home of the legendary Nimrod Theatre Company founded by John Bell, Richard Wherrett and Ken Horler.
In 1986, the Companys future in the venue was placed in jeopardy when the Stables Theatre was put up for sale. The Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation (established at the instigation of Dr Rodney Seaborn) intervened, purchasing the theatre, rescuing it from demolition and securing Griffin a long-term home.
Throughout Griffins history, the Company has maintained a policy of only performing Australian plays. Griffins pivotal role represents a commitment to the creation of new Australian plays, of outstanding value, which will have a lasting place in the Australian Theatre repertoire.
In 1999, The Sun Herald proclaimed Griffin as Australias Theatre of the Decade, for producing new Australian theatre.
Landmark Australian Productions
Playwright Michael Gow launched his career with Griffin with premiere productions of his plays Away (1986) - now Australias most produced Australian play - and Europe (1987).
Richard Barretts The Heartbreak Kid was premiered by Griffin in 1987. It was then adapted into the feature film The Heartbreak Kid, and the subsequent television series, Heartbreak High.
In 1991, the feature film The Boys is nominated for 13 Australian Film Institute Awards. The screenplay was adapted from Griffins original 1991 premiere production of Gordon Grahams play.
In 1993, Kafka Dances by Timothy Daly introduced Cate Blanchett in her first professional stage role. It won her the Sydney Critics Circle Award: Best Newcomer, with the play then transferring to Sydney Theatre Company, before subsequent productions in Europe, South Africa, and the USA.
In 1996, Hilary Bells Wolf Lullaby toured nationally, winning nominations for six Greenroom Awards and was subsequently produced in New York, Chicago, Paris, Sweden, London and New Zealand.
In 2001, Lantana won the AFI Award for Best Feature Film. It was adapted for the screen by Andrew Bovell from his original stage play Speaking in Tongues, first premiered by Griffin in 1996.
Tommy Murphys Holding the Man broke all recorded Griffin Box Office records in 2006 and 2007, when the production premiered at Griffin, before returning for a subsequent season at the SBW Stables Theatre, followed by a transfer to Sydney Opera House, Belvoir St Theatre and a national tour.
Many other plays premiered by Griffin are produced regularly throughout Australia and internationally.
Griffin Theatre Company
13 Craigend Street
Kings Cross NSW 2011
Australia.
