Mr Bailey's Minder

Abusive, cantankerous and burned out by booze, Leo Bailey is one of Australia’s national treasures. A gifted painter and chronic alcoholic, he can no longer take care of himself. His resentful daughter has been through a succession of minders, until Therese comes along, fresh out of jail and determined to make a go of her limited options. This is a tough, funny and big-hearted play. It’s about shame and judgement, about who deserves to be loved and forgiven. It looks at how people exploit each other and where they find the beauty; and the qualities of transcendence, letting go and forgiveness. (2 acts, 2 male, 2 female).

Author Biography

Debra Oswald is a Sydney-based playwright and author. She began writing as a teenager and her first play was workshopped at the Australian National Playwrights Conference when she was 17. Since then she has made her living as a writer for film, television, stage and radio as well as publishing a number of novels for children. Her plays include: Dags, which has had many productions both in Australia and overseas; Sweet Road, Gary’s House, Mr Bailey’s Minder, The Peach Season and the award-winning Skate which toured to Belfast in 2005. Her television credits include Palace of Dreams, Bananas in Pyjamas, Police Rescue and The Secret Life of Us; and her children’s novels include: Me and Barry Terrific, The Return of the Baked Bean, The Redback Leftovers and The Fifth Quest.