Hannie Rayson is one of Australia’s most recognised playwrights and screenwriters. She has also worked as a freelance journalist and editor.

She is the co-founder of the community theatre group, Theatreworks, and has been writer-in-residence at Geelong's Mill Theatre, Playbox Theatre, La Trobe University (which has awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of Letters), and Monash University. She was the joint recipient of the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award in 1996.

Hannie is best known for Hotel Sorrento (1990), which was awarded the NSW Premier’s Literary Award in 1991. The film of the play, directed by Richard Franklin, won an AFI Award for best screenplay.

Hannie’s other plays include:

Please Return To Sender (1980)

Mary (1981)

Leave It Till Monday (1984)

Room To Move (1985)

Falling From Grace (1994), awarded the NSW Premier’s Literary Award in 1996

Scenes From A Separation (1995) co-written with Andrew Bovell

Competitive Tenderness (1996)

Life After George (2000), nominated for the Miles Franklin Literary Award (distinguishing Hannie as the only playwright to be nominated for the award) and received the Helpmann Award for Best Play in 2001

Inheritance (2003), received the Helpmann Award for best New Australian Work and Best Play in 2004

Two Brothers (2005)

The Glass Soldier (2008)

TheSwimming Club (2010)

Extinction (2013).

In 2015, Rayson published a funny and candid memoir called Hello, Beautiful!

Related episode:

Hannie was shortlisted for  the Miles Franklin Literary Award. If you are interested in other shortlisted writers, listen to our interviews with the 2017 Miles Franklin Shortlist. 

About The Garret

The Garret is committed to accessibility and education. The transcript and interactive show notes of Hannie’s interview are available at www.thegarretpodcast.com/hannie-rayson.