Includes bibliographical references and index.
"For the first time, this unique collection of essays brings the stories of essays bring the stories of New Theatre branches around Australia, filling a vital space in Australian culture history. Radical left-wing theatre history tales, told by theatre practitioners, historians, academics and political ratbags, reveal a rich vein of Australia's hidden cultural heritage. New Theatre advocated for freedom and democracy aiming to activate audience politically, and create authentic, non-commercial Australian drama by telling the hidden stories about the real live of working-class people."--Back cover.

Introduction / Lisa Milner -- Act 1: Setting the stage -- 1. The international context / Angela O'Brien -- 2. Communism stage left: the political influences / Gabriela Zabala -- Act 2: A tour around the branches -- 3. Purpose and passion: Melbourne New Theatre 1935-2000 / Angela O'Brien -- 4. Sydney New Theatre / Lyn Collingwood -- 5. Rural Radical Theatre: the Newcastle NTL 1937-40 / Laura Ginters -- 6. Red hot up north: the Brisbane New Theatre / Connie Healy -- 7. Fomenting revolution in Perth / Charlie Fox -- 8. Adelaide New Theatre / Peter D Douglas -- Act 3: Plays with a purpose -- 9. Political theatre and the state / Phillip Deery and Lisa Milner -- 10. 'Them songs are dangerous': anti-fascism, antisemitism and Jewish connections / Max Kaiser and Lisa Milner -- 11. Sydney New Theatre: give peace a chance / Lyn Collingwood -- 12. Sydney New Theatre: the fight for equality / Lyn Collingwood -- 13. No handmaidens here: women, volunteering and gender dynamics / Lisa Milner and Cathy Brigden -- 14. Brave red witches: communist women and identity / Susan Bradley-Smith -- 15. Radical theatre on the move in the UK and Australia / Cathy Brigden and Lisa Milner -- 16. Workers' struggles on stage / Cathy Brigden and Lisa Milner -- 17. The Glen Davies 'stay-in' strike: 'Sydney actors make history' / Lisa Milner and Cathy Brigden -- 18. A 'great antiwar play' / Lisa Milner -- Encore: a musical as warm as a handshake -- Acronyms and abbreviations -- Image credits -- Index.