This volume investigates the evolution, thematic shifts, and structural developments of Australian theatrical production during the transformative period between 1970 and 1985. Leslie Rees, a seasoned critic and historian of the Australian stage, utilizes his extensive background in theater observation to document the transition from traditional colonial influences to a distinctively national dramatic voice. The work provides a chronological analysis of playwrights, companies, and institutional changes that defined the era's cultural landscape.

This text serves as a foundational reference for scholars and students interested in the institutional history of the Australian stage. The scope of the research provides a comprehensive overview of the period's creative output and the socio-political factors that shaped the development of modern Australian drama.