Barry Dickins

Barry Dickins (born 1949) is an Australian artist and writer of books and plays.

He was born in Reservoir, which is part of Melbourne. He left school early and worked in a factory. Later he painted sets and backgrounds for television programs. His first play, Ghosts, was performed in 1974 at La Mama Theatre. He has written many more plays. His play Remember Ronald Ryan won the 1995 Victorian Premier's Literary Award. He has also written short stories, biography, other non-fiction and children's books. Barry is known to use many 'half rhymes' in his work.
 Dickins' books and plays 

Drama
 The Banana Bender and The death of Minnie. (Currency, 1981) 
 Lennie Lower. (Yackandandah, 1982) 
 One woman shoe. (Yackandandah, 1984) 
 The Bridal Suite and Mag and Bag: Two plays. (Yackandandah, 1985)  
 Beautland. (Currency, 1985) 
 The Golden Goldenbergs. (1986)
 The Fool’s Shoe Hotel. (Yackandandah, 1987) 
 Royboys. (Currency, 1987) 
 Remember Ronald Ryan. (Currency, 1994) 

Stories
 Post Office Restaurant and Other Stories. (Pascoe, 1992) 

Non fiction
 The Gift of the Gab: Stories from the life of Barry Dickins. (1981; Penguin, 1987) 
 What the Dickins! A symposium of pieces from the low life. (Penguin, 1985) 
 You’ll Only Go In for Your Mates. (Allen & Unwin, 1991) 
 Guts and Pity: The Hanging that ended Capital Punishment in Australia. (Currency Press, 1996) 
 Ordinary Heroes: Personal Recollections of Australians at War. (Hardie Grant Books, 1999) 
 Articles of Light: Reflections on lowlifes, ratbags and angels. (Penguin, 2000) 
 Black and Whiteley: Barry Dickins in search of Brett. (Hardie Grant Books, 2002)  Review 

Children's books
 My grandmother. (Penguin, 1989) 
 My grandfather: Years of hope and vigour. (Penguin, 1993) 
 Joey: A dog for all seasons. (Puffin, 1995) 

 References 

 Other websites 
 Interview from The Age
 Drawings
 Saint Dymphna's Bells  Poem

Category:1949 births
Category:Living people
Category:Writers from Melbourne
Category:Australian playwrights
Category:Australian painters
Category:Australian children's writers
Category:Artists from Victoria (Australia)