Career.2C writing.2C associations James Crawford (playwright)

possible photo of james , pamela crawford. found in fryer library collection uqfl301. box 9, folder 4.

it during time crawford began writing theatre. throughout lifetime, crawford wrote around seventeen plays. in addition plays, wrote several short stories, such as, pipers , bottle. described controversial left-wing journalist plays being described propagandist. first play one-act called welcome home.

his second play rocket range explored unfair treatment of aboriginals in central australia. rocket range first produced in melbourne in 1947 , afterwards sydney new theatre. play received awards , entered british drama league festival in 1947. crawford wrote several plays in support aboriginal rights rocket range become known , controversial. play entered british drama league festival in 1947 , although play received score of 75 out of possible 100 thrown out being ideological propaganda . play received 10/10 stage presentation, 40/40 acting , 25/30 overall production. however, play received no marks under section choice of play , festival adjudicator mr harvey adams had following comments make reasons behind plays 0 score:

point of view of theatre there no reason either write or produce play. adjudicator not concerned either authors or society s object in presenting it. designed tilt @ windmill , falls short of mark. authors intentions appear advocate australian civilisation not wrong in extremely bad taste.

the adjudicator goes on compare intentions of play of spirit of chartist riots chartism , continued,

looms came take rightful place in modern advancement, future inventions , developments in science, , no puny, pinchbeck efforts, having roots bugged in swamps of sentimental ignorance able item advance toward betterment of mankind. cannot feel play has been chosen presentation not other reason ideological propaganda , such, have no opinion throw out of designed theatrical festival.

despite this, play received later in 1953 in ipswich play festival. in 1957, rocket range banned @ play reading held @ municipal library hall (brisbane) being political .

in 1947, jim crawford wrote play refugee addressed issues around antisemitism. during late 1940s crawford wrote uneasy stages, miner s right, , frame-up. crawford wrote three-act play called governor s stables entered theatre council of west australia s playwriting competition in 1951. won first prize 1 hundred , fifty pounds. of australian male playwrights produced @ new theatre jim crawford , playwright, dick diamond, author of reedy river had plays performed in sydney , more 1 production.

jim crawford wrote junior youth league of queensland perform @ youth carnival in sydney. wrote one-act play called bushland picnic, in 1952, , afterwards, wrote one-act children s play called man-eating clock. in march 1953, crawford wrote one-act play people s paper land guardian festival. play contrasted reporting of events in progressive newspapers , capitalist press.

at end of 1953, crawford went townsville several months assist in reporting guardian newspaper on successful north qld rank , file worker s convention. playwrights advisory board sponsored playwriting competition in 1955 , crawford entered three-act play. play titled wit woo , hospitalised patient had dream of finding hard working life. crawford wrote play ipswich drama festival of 1956 called passed way. old windmill cum observatory on wickham terrace, brisbane , performed in brisbane new theatre. jim wrote several radio features time, avenging ghost of campbell town , celebrated mr barrington various successes.