Laurence Collinson

"Laurence Collinson" (1925-86) was a British and Australian playwright, actor, poet, journalist, and secondary school teacher.

Biography

Born in Yorkshire, England, [Australian Poets and Their Works, by William Wilde, Oxford University Press, 1996 ] Collinson's family moved to Australia in 1930. While still at Brisbane State High School, Collinson and fellow students Barrie Reid and Cecel Knopke started the magazine "Barjai: A Meeting Place for Youth", which from 1943-44 published the literary avant-garde in Adelaide and Melbourne. [http://calisto.slv.vic.gov.au/latrobejournal/issue/latrobe-64/t1-g-t6.html From Barjai to Overland A Note on Barrie Reid, "La Trobe Journal", No 64 Spring 1999] He received a secondary teaching diploma from Merrer House in Melbourne and from 1955 to 1961 taught mathematics and English in various Melbourne secondary schools. From 1961 to 1964, Collinson worked as the editor of The Educational Magazine. [ http://nla.gov.au/nla.ms-ms6327 National Library of Australia] In 1964, Collinson retuned to England. He died in London November 10, 1986 [ http://nla.gov.au/nla.ms-ms6327 National Library of Australia]

Works

Poetry

* "Poet’s Dozen" (1953)
* "The Moods of Love" (1957)
* "Who is Wheeling Grandma?" (1967)
* "Hovering Narcissus" (1977)

Plays

* "No Sugar for George" (performed in Brisbane, 1949)
* "Friday Night at the Schrammers" (1962)
* "The Zelda Trio" (performed 1961 in Melbourne, and 1974 in London )
* "A Slice of Birthday Cake" (1965)
* "Thinking Straight" (1975)

Television Plays

* "Uneasy Paradise" (Australia, 1963)
* "Nude with Violin" (Noel Coward, television adaptation by Collinson, Australia, 1964)
* "The Audition" (Australia, 1964)
* "The Moods of Love" (Australia, 1964)
* "Number Thirty Approximately" (England, 1968)
* "Loving Israel" (England, 1968)
* "The Girl From Upstairs" (England, 1971)

Radio Plays

* "A slice of birthday cake" (Australia, 1963)
* "The slob on Friday" (Canada, 1969)

References