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fortyfivedownstairs is delighted that Do not go gentle..., Patricia Cornelius’ breath-taking play that premiered at fortyfivedownstairs in August 2010, is the recipient of the $30,000 Play Award as part of the 2011 New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards.

The 2011 New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards judges described Do not go gentle... as “lyrical, brutal, timely and timeless, this script is highly original and both unsentimental and uplifting."

Patricia Cornelius is an outstanding playwright, novelist, dramaturg, founding member of Melbourne Workers' Theatre and her work has also received AWGIEs, Green Room Awards, Jill Blewitt Awards, the Richard Wherrett Prize and the Wal Cherry Award.

In 2006, Cornelius was the recipient of the Patrick White Playwrights’ Award and RE Ross Trust Playwrights’ Script Development Award for Do not go gentle... and in 2007 fortyfivedownstairs founder and artistic director, Mary Lou Jelbart, presented a rehearsed reading in the intimate theatre space.

"It took over two years for our small, unfunded, independent venue to raise funds to present the world premiere of Do not go gentle..., while noted director Julian Meyrick assembled a magnificent cast of experienced actors: Paul English, Jan Friedl, Rhys McConnochie, Terry Norris, Anne Phelan, Pamela Rabe and Malcolm Robertson and a team recognised designers: Marg Horwell (designer), Richard Vabre (lighting) and original score by Irine Vela (composer)," Jelbart said.

Playwright, Patricia Cornelius said, “Without fortyfivedownstairs Do not go gentle... would never have been produced and thereby not be eligible for these awards and I would not have had the superb experience of seeing that production ... one day there may be an article highlighting that this award-winning play was only produced once, bravely, by fortyfivedownstairs.”