Bringing Lawson’s poetry to life

A TRIO of actors are bringing Henry Lawson’s stories alive in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of his death.

Hedley Thomson, Jane Gaylor, and Peter Vanderkley are Lawson and his Mates, and they’re set to tour Ballarat in the coming months performing the writer’s poetry and prose pieces as dramatic vignettes.

Thomson said Lawson was not just a bush poet and the author of The Drover’s Wife, but had a local link, and unpacked timeless political and social issues, fairness, equality, and justice throughout his career.

“Most will know him as one of Australia’s greatest writers,” Thomson said.

“Not many will know though that in 1888 Lawson came to Ballarat on a pilgrimage to visit the site of the Eureka battle, and to visit the Ballarat Old Cemetery to view the graves, located side-by-side, of the diggers and soldiers who died in the fighting.

“At the time, Lawson had had a handful of literary pieces published, including Song of the Republic, and two poems about the Eureka battle, and was on the verge of truly launching his career.

“His visit to Ballarat was no doubt to obtain inspiration in support of an important priority in his writing that would persist throughout his lifetime; the creation of a society that provided for a fair go for everyone.

“He ended up writing a total of seven marvellous pieces about the Eureka battle and its significance to the culture and governance of our country.”

Lawson and his Mates are planning to put on a performance in the Eureka Stockade Gardens at the memorial on Sunday, 27 November at 5pm, but in the meantime, they are seeking community groups, for example Probus Clubs, that would be interested to host a performance as part of a citywide tour.

“We are keen to take up offers… to present a show to suit requirements. Anywhere from half an hour to one-and-a-half hours in length will be fine,” Thomson said.

“The final content will be shaped by the length of the show overall, with information about Lawson’s life thrown in, to add to the mix.

“The Mates don’t charge, we want instead to raise awareness of Lawson’s work. If there’s enough interest, we’d love to rock on into 2023, the 135th anniversary of Lawson’s visit to Ballarat.”

If you and your community group or club are interested in hosting a performance by the Mates, contact Hedley Thomson on 0428 027 895 or at [email protected].