Frank Hatherley’s multi-media professional career has covered radio, film journalism, theatre directing, TV drama producing with the BBC, and a London university senior lectureship in media studies. But he has always returned to playwriting, usually comic, often with songs.

2006/07 has been different. Frank has written thousands (and thousands) of words for local residents' group Community Action Rozelle, CARz for short, in their objection to two inappropriate inner-city developments in his neighbourhood. See the CARz website at rozelle.e-newsletter.com.au (no www required!).

His comedy MANLY MATES got a new production by the Peninsula Theatre Company — in Manly itself, at the marvellous new Star of The Sea Theatre in the grounds of the Stella Maris College in May/June. The current Mayor of Manly Peter McDonald had seen the play at the New Theatre, Newtown, in 2005. He went with a group of his councilors and was very enthusiastic. The new production even got this highly quotable quote from him: “What a great night out; I was rolling in the aisles. It captured the colourful days of NSW politics.”

Here's an interview with Frank, plus photograph of sparky PTC cast, that appeared in the Daily Telegraph of 29 May.



Frank is currently still writing a play about the amazing Billy Hughes, WW1 Prime Minister; and a rock musical set in Katoomba, the Blue Mountains.