Boswell for the Defence

Last updated

Boswell for the Defence is a 1989 Australian play by Patrick Edgeworth about James Boswell and his defence of Mary Bryant. The title role was originally played by Leo McKern. [1]

Edgeworth had been hired to write a mini series about the First Fleet. The show was never made but during the course of research Edgeworth discovered the story of Boswell and Bryant and decided to turn it into a play. [2]

There have been a number of attempts to turn the play into a film, notably by Bruce Beresford and Gregor Jordan with Steve Coogan. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Signals Directorate</span> Australian signals intelligence agency

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), formerly the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD), is the federal statutory agency in the Australian Government responsible for foreign signals intelligence, support to military operations, cyber warfare, and information security. ASD is part of the Australian Intelligence Community. ASD's role within UKUSA Agreement is to monitor signals intelligence ("SIGINT") in South and East Asia. The ASD also houses the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canberra</span> Capital city of Australia

Canberra is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest Australian city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory at the northern tip of the Australian Alps, the country's highest mountain range. As of June 2022, Canberra's estimated population was 456,692.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo McKern</span> Australian actor (1920–2002)

Reginald "Leo" McKern, AO was an Australian actor who appeared in numerous British, Australian and American television programmes and films, and in more than 200 stage roles. His notable roles include Clang in Help! (1965), Thomas Cromwell in A Man for All Seasons (1966), Tom Ryan in Ryan's Daughter (1970), Paddy Button in The Blue Lagoon (1980), Dr. Grogan in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), Father Imperius in Ladyhawke (1985), and the role that made him a household name as an actor, Horace Rumpole, whom he played in the British television series Rumpole of the Bailey. He also portrayed Carl Bugenhagen in the first and second instalments of The Omen series and Number Two in the TV series The Prisoner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Coogan</span> English comedian and actor (born 1965)

Stephen John Coogan is an English comedian, actor and screenwriter. He is most known for creating original characters such as Alan Partridge, a socially inept and politically incorrect media personality, which he developed while working with Armando Iannucci on On the Hour and The Day Today. Partridge has featured in several television series and the 2013 film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa. In 1999, he co-founded the production company Baby Cow Productions with Henry Normal. For his work he has garnered numerous accolades including four BAFTA Awards and three British Comedy Awards as well as nominations for an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Sinclair</span> Australian politician

Ian McCahon Sinclair is an Australian former politician who served as leader of the National Party from 1984 to 1989. He was a government minister under six prime ministers, and later Speaker of the House of Representatives from March to August 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canberra Raiders</span> Australian rugby league football club

The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership since 1982. Over this period the club has won three premierships out of six Grand Finals, the last one played being the 2019 NRL Grand Final, resulting in a 14-8 controversial loss to the Sydney Roosters. Canberra currently have the second longest active premiership drought in the NRL totalling 30 years. The Raiders' current home ground is Canberra Stadium in Bruce, Australian Capital Territory. Previously, the team played home matches at Seiffert Oval in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, with the move to the AIS Stadium in Bruce taking place in 1990. The official symbol for the Canberra Raiders is the Viking. The Viking, also a mascot at Raiders' games, is known as Victor the Viking.

Anthony Howard Lockett is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the St Kilda Football Club and Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). Nicknamed "Plugger", he is considered one of the greatest full forwards and players in the game's history.

Simon Patrick O'Donnell is an Australian former cricketer, VFL footballer, and horse racing and cricket commentator. He is currently a horse breeder and enabler. He is a former record holder for the fastest One Day International half-century. He was educated at Deniliquin High School and Assumption College. O'Donnell was a part of the Australian team that won their first world title during the 1987 Cricket World Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Group 9 Rugby League</span>

Group 9 is a rugby league competition based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, and surrounding areas. The competition is played in five grades, with these being Under 16s, Under 18s, Women's League-Tag, Reserve-Grade and First-Grade.

Gregory Richard John Matthews is a New South Wales and Australian former cricket all rounder who is now a television cricket commentator.

Wayne Bentley Phillips is a former Australian cricketer who played in 27 Test matches and 48 One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1982 and 1986 as a batsman and wicket-keeper. He played for South Australia between 1978 and 1991.

Mary Bryant was a Cornish convict sent to Australia. She became one of the first successful escapees from the fledgling Australian penal colony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Aviation Regiment (Australia)</span> Australian Army unit

The 5th Aviation Regiment is an Australian Army aviation unit. Formed in 1987 after the Army took over responsibility for operating helicopters from the Royal Australian Air Force, the regiment is based at RAAF Base Townsville, in Queensland. It currently forms part of the 16th (Aviation) Brigade and it operates the majority of the Army's transport helicopters. Throughout its existence, the regiment has been deployed overseas numerous times, supporting both peacekeeping and warlike operations. Since its formation elements of the regiment have made operational deployments to Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Iraq, Indonesia and Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canberra Vikings</span> Rugby team

The Canberra Vikings, formerly the Canberra Kookaburras, is an Australian rugby union football team that competes in the National Rugby Championship (NRC). The team is based at Viking Park in Wanniassa, and is backed by the Tuggeranong Vikings Group as the licence holder, with the Brumbies and University of Canberra as non-financial partners.

The Country New South Wales rugby league team is a representative rugby league football team. Between 1987 and 2017 there were two tiers: the Origin team that consisted of professional players who originated from clubs of the Country Rugby League and a representative team of amateur and semi-professional players. The Country Origin team played annually in the City vs Country Origin competition against the City New South Wales rugby league team, which was made up of players originating from Sydney. This match was discontinued in 2017.

Patrick John Edgeworth was an English stage and screenwriter.

The 1989 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played six matches on tour, including a three test series against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 4 July and finished on 23 July.

The Man Who Shot the Albatross is a play by Ray Lawler about the Rum Rebellion, first performed in 1971. A 1972 television film featured the stage cast.

The 1991 OFC Women's Championship was the fourth OFC Women's Championship of women's association football. It took place in Sydney, Australia from 19 to 25 May 1991. Only three teams participated in the tournament, and a total of six matches were played. This edition served as the OFC's qualifying tournament for the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup.

Anne Godfrey-Smith was an Australian poet, theatre director and women's activist.

References

  1. "Snippets". Canberra Times. 29 June 1989. p. 11. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  2. "'Boswell's' creator wrote part for McKern". The Canberra Times . Vol. 65, no. 20, 368. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 January 1991. p. 19. Retrieved 30 October 2017 via National Library of Australia.
  3. Lang, Brent (7 September 2014). "Toronto: Steve Coogan Starring in 'Boswell for the Defence'". Variety. Retrieved 15 May 2019.