Mr Malco

From Ray Lawler's Summer of the Seventeenth Doll in 1955, to the emergence of Playbox Theatre Company in the 1970s, Malcolm Robertson was in at the very beginning of seminal moments in modern Australian theatre history. Diving headfirst into the swirling currents of cultural change, Malcolm worked in the widest variety of theatrical roles across a remarkable career-as stage manager, actor, director, and literary manager-all of which he recorded in this detailed personal journal of his life. Along the way, he encountered many of the most significant personalities in the not-for-profit and commercial theatre worlds, and in the government agencies that had been established to support the renaissance of a distinctly Australian creative life. Mr Malco: A Life in the Australian Theatre, 1950-2015 is not a comprehensive history of the industry, but rather an observant and honest account both of Malcolm's own life in the theatre and the work of those companies and artists with whom he was involved. His career saw the sector blossom into a complex, colourful, and diverse mix of companies and a new generation of independent artists, all seeking to build a dynamic and authentically Australian theatre. Australian playwrights, in particular, owe a great deal to his lifelong support for the centrality of their craft. Told with wit, charm, and an incredible eye for detail, this is a loving tribute to the man affectionately known to his friends and colleagues as Mr Malco.