Sue Murray
Sue Murray is a playwright and author who has a background in education and in the performing arts. Her published plays include the collections Big Dramas and Real Dramas for secondary schools and Everybody In: Five Primary Plays Book 1 and Everybody In: Five Primary Plays Book 2. The next book is a comic play called
The Formal, the first title in the Macmillan Drama Studio series, of which Sue is the series editor.
She has a Master of Arts in creative writing and has taught drama at primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Currently writing full-time, Sue's other works include The Parents' Survival Guide to Year 12.
As a presenter, Sue conducts 'Everybody In' drama workshops and author talks for primary schools, as well as a range of workshops and talks for secondary Drama and English students. Sue also presents sessions for Year 12 parents and for teachers of Drama at primary and secondary schools.
Raised in Perth, Sue now lives on Sydney's northern beaches with her architect husband and their two young sons.
BOOKS: plays
Big Dramas
Macmillan Education Australia, 2000
10 original large-cast ensemble plays for upper secondary students, with production notes and teachers' guides.
Contents: Home Sweet Home, Macbeth Inc., Sticks and Stones, Why Are You Here? The Princess and the Nag Hag, The Exhibition, Wheeler-Dealer, Out of Your Mind, Ring a Rosie, Word Play
Real Dramas
Macmillan Education Australia, 2001
10 more plays, this time for junior secondary students.
Contents: Taylor Taylor, Inside Out, Scrambled Eggs, It's All Greek To Me, Scoop, Face Value, Step This Way, Snapshots, Remote Control, Gobbledegook
Everybody In: Five Primary Plays, Book 1
Macmillan Education Australia, 2003
Written for today's middle to upper primary classes, these plays range from fantasy to mythology with a dash of reality in between. Children love the zany characters and fast action. Teachers appreciate the support material and the way the scripts link to many key learning areas.
Contents: The Empire of Zolon, The Wallawilly Bully, Who Am I, Careful What You Wish For, Full Circle
Everybody In: Five Primary Plays, Book 2
Macmillan Education Australia, 2003
More of the same!
Contents: Aussie Aussie Aussie, Truth Juice, Things That Go Bump, Goodonya Joe, Water Pressure
The Formal
[nyp: due February 2004, first title in the new Macmillan Drama Studio series]
This all-female comedy in two acts and an aftermath has a cast of 12 and explores the shocks - and the frocks - of that modern rite of passage: the Formal.
Aimed at young adults, this play is an out-and-out comedy. We follow the fortunes of 6 school friends as they struggle towards the end of their schooldays. The Formal touches on many serious issues, from mother-daughter tensions to eating disorders and sexuality.
BOOKS: other
Island of Shadows
Better English Language Teaching, 2002
A reader, or short novel, for young adult and adult students of English as a foreign or second language: pre-intermediate level.
The Parents' Survival Guide to Year 12
Macquarie, 2003
This is a common-sense book for parents whose son or daughter is facing the most demanding of years. It addresses practical areas such as study skills, exam techniques, stress management and how to work with the school. It also tackles problems such as maintaining self-esteem, schoolies week and much more. There are all sorts of study guides to help the students - this book helps the support crew!
OTHER RECENT WRITING
Series Editor, Macmillan Drama Studio series.
This is a new (and yet-to-be announced, so your discretion would be appreciated!) series of play scripts.
Contributing writer, English Mosaic series of secondary English textbooks published in 2003 and 2004 by Macmillan Education Australia. Modules: "The hows and whys of drama' in English Mosaic 1, "Plays - reading and performing' in English Mosaic 2, "Interpreting and writing plays' and "Comics and Comedy' in English Mosaic 3.
Contributing writer, Macquarie Standard English. This is aimed at HSC students in New South Wales. Commentaries on the plays Away and Cosi.
QUALIFICATIONS
BA (Hons) - University of Western Australia
major: English.
DipEd - University of Western Australia
teaching areas: Drama and English
Master of Arts - Macquarie University
Creative Writing
OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
- Worked as writer/director/performer for a theatre-in-education company.
- Taught secondary and tertiary Drama and English, committee member of Drama teachers' associations in WA and NSW.
- Administrative Officer - Projects at NIDA for a few years, writing publications, organising conferences, assisting in the upgrade of courses.
- Represented by Lateral Learning Speakers' Agency. Mentor with the NSW Writers' Centre.
Sue Murray is a playwright and author who has a background in education and in the performing arts. Her published plays include the collections Big Dramas and Real Dramas for secondary schools and Everybody In: Five Primary Plays Book 1 and Everybody In: Five Primary Plays Book 2. The next book is a comic play called The Formal, the first title in the Macmillan Drama Studio series, of which Sue is the series editor.
She has a Master of Arts in creative writing and has taught drama at primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Currently writing full-time, Sue's other works include The Parents' Survival Guide to Year 12.
As a presenter, Sue conducts ‘Everybody In' drama workshops and author talks for primary schools, as well as a range of workshops and talks for secondary Drama and English students. Sue also presents sessions for Year 12 parents and for teachers of Drama at primary and secondary schools.
Raised in Perth, Sue now lives on Sydney's northern beaches with her architect husband and their two young sons.
|
