NED MANNING

Ned's first play Us or Them was performed at the Stables Theatre for the Griffin Theatre Company in 1984. It takes the audience into the tempestuous world of school politics in the staffroom and the playground. Us or Them played an extended season at the Stables before transferring to Philip St Theatre and then on to the Q Theatre in Penrith. The play marked a turning point in Griffin's history as its success led to the cast being paid full professional rates and heralded Griffin's transition from a co-op to a professional company. It has been performed throughout Australia and re-printed twice by Currency Press. It is particularly popular in schools. In 1984 Us or Them was voted Best New Play by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Kenny's Coming Home, a satire on Labor politics, is a play with songs by Shane Mc Namara and was performed at the Q Theatre in Penrith before being recorded for radio on ABC National.

Close to the Bone was written in collaboration with the Aboriginal students at the EORA Centre for Performing and Visual Arts in Redfern and examined the question of the Stolen Generation. It is pitched at schools students and celebrates the survival of Aboriginal culture. Close to the Bone has been performed and studied throughout the world and is published by Currency Press.

Milo, a comedy about a city slicker struggling with the Australian bush and his own demons, premiered at the Wharf 2 Theatre. It has been performed throughout Australia and is particularly popular in rural areas. Milo was recorded for Radio National and published by Currency Press.

Luck of the Draw, which is examines the struggle for identity for Aboriginal people dislocated by the Aboriginal Protection Act, was first produced by the Darwin Theatre Company. It was then produced by Kooemba Jdarra and was the first play written by a non indigenous writer to be performed by Kooemba.

Last One Standing, the story of an ageing Australian's battle for survival in the face of the economic imperative, was produced at the Old Fitzroy Hotel in 2007. The sell out season followed the play being workshopped at the Australian National Playwrights Conference in 2005.

Ned has written many plays with large casts for schools. These include Kim, Not This Little Black Duck, Gods of War, The Flash Stockman, The Bridge is Down and Alice Dreaming.

Ned is currently commissioned by the Bell Shakespeare Company to write their Actor's at Work program.

LUCK OF THE DRAW

A young Aboriginal woman, Annie, and her brother, Pat, escape from their respective "Homes" in the 1940's and find their way to a Mission on the South Coast of NSW.

The first half of the play explores their attempts to survive in what is often an oppressive environment. In Act 2, twenty years later, the play follows Annie's daughter Pearl as she attempts to come to terms with her Aboriginality and then is encouraged to re-unite with her estranged mother.

The play explores questions of identity and white Australia's relationship with its Aboriginal past.

MILO

As Australia moves into a new millennium, two couples in their thirties wrestle with their changing relationships and their relationship with the Land.

Milo, a well-meaning if misguided dreamer, battles to cope with reality whilst his partner Di, a committed social reformer, battles with the conflicting demands of relationship and career. Toby, a fourth generation farmer, struggles with the life in the 21st century whilst his wife, Peg, contemplates her future as a mother and wife.

The play examines the evolving relationship in Australia between the City and the Bush and explodes a few inherent myths.

CLOSE TO THE BONE

An Aboriginal family is split and then re-united in a triumphant story of survival.

This play with songs and music is written for school and community groups and was devised in collaboration with the EORA Centre's Aboriginal Performing Arts students.

US OR THEM

The school as a Battlefield.

Teachers and students confront each other in an uncompromising environment. The younger idealistic teachers side with the students against their more experienced and occasionally embittered senior colleagues. The System remains intractable and dehumanising for both students and teachers.

KENNY'S COMING HOME

A suburban family is torn apart when the head of the household's sister decides to run against him in a By-Election thus pitting new Labor against old Labor. The children are embroiled in the conflict whilst mum tries to survive the madness. Dad's trump card is the return of his footy legend son who has, unknown to him, discovered motor bikes and junk food. Chaos ensues.

A play with music.

LAST ONE STANDING

The hopes and dreams of the generation that survived WW 2 are sold down the river in the name of the economic imperative. Matters of the soul have no place in a world that is purely result driven as Australia closes its doors and deadens its heart. Ghosts of the past haunt only those who can see them.

Four generations, living and dead, battle for the spoils in a country that appropriates its past and sells out its future.

This play asks us to question who we are and where we are heading.

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