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14-725: Founded in 1979 its original founders were Peter Carmody, Penny Cook , Eadie Kurzer, Jenny Laing-Peach, and Rosemarie Lenzo. The organisation held its first meetings in Laing-Peach's cottage in Griffin Street, Surry Hills . Their first project was to present the Irish play The Ginger Man by James Patrick Donleavy at the Kirk Gallery in Cleveland Street , Surry Hills on 6 April 1979. The first Artistic Director

28-600: A Sunbeam . In 2020 the company partnered with Create NSW to form the Incubator – NSW Theatre (Emerging) Fellowship program (aka Incubator Fellowship ). Shortlisted fellows complete a three-month incubator program for emerging playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, designers and composers to work with the company. One of the fellows is then chosen to receive $ 30,000 to "pursue a self-directed program of professional development in Australia or overseas". The Suzie Miller Award

42-524: A break from television for over two years, Cook returned in 1989 to play Dr Elly Fielding in a new Ten Network soap opera, E Street . This role had been especially created for her, and Cook remained in the series from 1989 to early 1991. She went on to a guest role in ABC's medical drama G.P. . From 1992 to 1996 Cook was a presenter on the Australian travel show The Great Outdoors . She appeared in

56-762: A long involvement in the theatre, both as an actress and director. She was involved in nearly 40 stage productions, including at the Ensemble Theatre and the Sydney Theatre Company , and helped establish the Griffin Theatre Company in 1979. Her most notable stage appearances included the John Bell – Richard Tognetti production of The Soldier's Tale with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and

70-560: Is a year-long residency for directors, writers and dramaturgs with the company, established in 2011. It is awarded annually to one or more applicants. Founded in 2015, the Lysicrates Prize is awarded annually to a play and is described as a "philanthropic initiative presented by The Lysicrates Foundation and produced by Griffin Theatre Company". The inaugural prize was won by Steve Rodgers for his play Jesus Wants Me for

84-618: Is an annual season of 5–6 new plays presented by independent theatre companies. In 2018, Griffin Independent was updated to Special Extras. Bestowed annually since 1998, the Griffin Award is offered to the most outstanding new work as read and judged by a panel appointed by Griffin. The award comes with a $ 10,000 cash prize. One stipulation on entry is that all works submitted have not been performed or produced prior. Griffin Studio

98-527: The Australian tour of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband , directed in Sydney by English director Sir Peter Hall . She served on the board of Sydney's Monkey Baa Theatre and worked extensively with the Australian Theatre for Young People . Cook was married twice; first to radio broadcaster and television personality Clive Robertson and subsequently to businessman David Lynch. In 1998 they had

112-457: The police drama Young Lions in 2002. From June 2007 until late 2010, she joined the cast of Australian soap opera Neighbours in the recurring role of Prue Brown , mother of Frazer Yeats ( Ben Lawson ) and Ringo Brown ( Sam Clark ). Cook also guest starred in episodes of All Saints in 2007 and 2008. In 2017, she played a supporting role in the ABC hospital drama Pulse . Cook had

126-739: The television series Heartbreak High ) were based on plays produced by Griffin. Away , Australia's most produced contemporary play, also started at the company. In 2018 Griffin launched an annual experimental theatre festival, the Batch Festival. It is a three-week festival featuring multiple shows each day, curated to highlight emerging artists. It was paused in 2021 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic . Running since 2004 (then called Griffin Stablemates), in parallel to Griffin's own mainstage season of new Australian plays, Griffin Independent

140-631: Was Peter Kingston who served until the appointment of Ian B Watson in 1988. For the 1984 season the company was awarded The Sydney Critic's Circle Award for "the most significant contribution to theatre that year." In 1986 The SBW Foundation Purchased the Stables Theatre and offered the company a lifetime rent-free lease. The theatre focuses on "all-Australia" talent and works. Cate Blanchett and Jacqueline McKenzie began their professional careers at Griffin. The films Lantana , The Boys , and The Heartbreak Kid (which later spun off into

154-786: Was a physiotherapist and her father served in the Royal Australian Navy based at Garden Island Naval Precinct . After completing high school, Cook auditioned for the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) but failed to gain a place. Instead, her mother helped her obtain a radiography traineeship at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital . A year later, Cook auditioned for NIDA again and was successful. She graduated in 1978. Cook made her debut on television in 1979 as Susie Denning in soap opera, The Restless Years . Her most well-known role

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168-577: Was an Australian actress, stage director, TV presenter and writer. She played roles in the soap opera A Country Practice , as Vicki Dean Bowen from 1981 to 1985, E Street as lead anchor-character, Dr Elly Fielding, between 1989 and 1991, and Neighbours in the recurring role of Prue Brown from 2007 to 2010. She was also a presenter on travel show The Great Outdoors Cook was born in Melbourne and grew up in Woollahra, Sydney . Her mother

182-518: Was as veterinarian Vicky Dean Bowen in the drama series, A Country Practice , and was one of the longest serving early actors in that series appearing from its inception in November 1981 until 1985, and 330 episodes, a role for which she won Logie Awards in 1984 and 1985. Her relationship and wedding in A Country Practice to Dr Simon Bowen, played by Grant Dodwell , became one of the highest rated and most popular storylines of that series. After

196-560: Was established in 2024 for mid-career playwrights, named in honour of Australian playwright Suzie Miller . The award provides a full commission and residency at the theatre, along with mentorship by Miller. It is open to established writers whose work deals with "knotty, contemporary questions". The inaugural winner of the award was Mary Rachel Brown. Recent Griffin Theatre Company mainstage seasons are listed below. Playwrights whose work has premiered at Griffin include: Penny Cook Penelope Cook (13 July 1957 – 26 December 2018)

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