Playwright Alana Valentine and writer Sheila Ngoc Pham reflect on the writing of Sydney histories on the stage. Alana will speak about writing the history of Sydney institutions including the Parramatta Girls Home in her playParramatta Girls, the Pyrmont CSR Sugar refinery in The Sugar House and the Kings Cross Wayside Chapel in Wayside Bride, all produced at Sydney Belvoir Theatre. She will also talk about writingLetters To Lindy based on the 20,000 letters written to Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton held in the National Library of Australia for Merrigong Theatre.Sheila will talk about a play she is currently working on which will bring Vietnam’s musical past to life on stage, introducing the 1960s Saigon music scene – in which she discovered her mother was involved – to a new generation.
