Peter Kenna


Peter Joseph Kenna was an Australian playwright, radio actor and screenwriter. He has been called "a quasi-legendary figure in Australian theatre, never quite fashionable, but never quite forgotten either."

Biography

Early life

Born in Balmain, New South Wales, Kenna left school at fourteen and took up various jobs. He started working in the theatre by participating in concert parties at the camps in Sydney during World War II.

Career

His first play was written when he was 21.
In 1959. the play The Slaughter of St Teresa's Day was produced in Sydney, based on the life of Tilly Devine. The play was turned into a television drama in 1960.
He went to London in the early 1960s.
He wrote the screenplay for the film The Good Wife produced in 1987, a World War II drama about a man, his wife and his brother. The film starred Bryan Brown, Rachel Ward and Sam Neill. Rachel Ward won the Tokyo International Film Festival award for best actress for the film, and Jennie Tate the Australian Film Institute award for Best Achievement in Costume Design.

Death

He died in Sydney on 29 November 1987 after a long illness.

Works

Plays

  • The Slaughter of St Teresa's Day
  • Talk to the Moon
  • Listen Closely
  • Muriel's Virtues
  • Animal Grab
  • An Eager Hope
  • The Fair Sister
  • The Landladies
  • A Hard God
  • Mates
  • Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted
  • ''Furtive Love''

    Television writing

  • The Slaughter of St Theresa's Day
  • Goodbye Gloria Goodbye
  • Goodbye, Gloria, Hello!
  • Dust or Polish
  • The Emigrants
  • ''A Hard God''

    Radio

  • ''Julie Was''

    Film

  • ''The Good Wife''