The Louis Esson Prize for Drama: Judges 2007

Peta Murray (Convenor)

Peta Murray is a playwright, dramaturg, and sessional teacher of writing at RMIT and the University of Melbourne.

Her best-known play Wallflowering has had numerous productions in Australia and overseas. Other works include Spitting Chips, an adaptation of Tim Winton’s Blueback, The Procedure and The Keys to the Animal Room. Salt won the Victorian Premier’s Award for Drama in 2001. Recent work includes Room, a chamber piece for Playworks and the Melbourne Writers’ Festival 2006.

Max Gillies

Max Gillies was a member of the Australian Performing Group and was its founding Chairman in 1971. He appeared in many productions at its home, Melbourne's Pram Factory Theatre, including A Stretch of the Imagination and The Hills Family Show. He subsequently undertook a series of satirical stage revues, including Squirts, A Night with the Right, A Night of National Reconciliation and The Gillies Summit. He has appeared in a number of satirical television series, including The Gillies Report, Gillies Republic and Gillies and Company (all ABC TV). Max has also performed in a diverse range of productions for MTC, STC, QTC, Belvoir St, Malthouse Theatre, Opera Australia and Black Swan. These include The Department, The Sisters Rosensweig, Little Shop of Horrors, Run for Your Wife, The Club, Noises Off, What the Butler Saw, and The Merry Widow.

Max has received a Logie, a Mo Award, a Variety Club Award, two TV Penguin Awards, and was named Best Actor in The National Theatre Awards (1976) and The Green Room Awards (2001). In 1990, Max was made a Member of the Order of Australia for Services to Australian Theatre.

Bruce Myles

Bruce Myles is one of Australia's most experienced actor/directors. His film credits include the AFI-award-winning feature film Ground Zero which he co-directed with Michael Pattinson and the short film Ruthven, selected as part of Film Vic's Urban Edge season in London and Washington. His feature film appearances include Evil Angels, Sweet Talker, Breakaway, The Bank and Peter Pan. His acting credits include the title roles in Hamlet, Richard III, Barney in Ray Lawler's Doll Trilogy and George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf.

He received Green Room Awards in 1983, 1992, 1994 and 1996. His major TV credits include the mini-series Bodyline, Waterfront and The Damnation Of Harvey McHugh. Bruce has sat on the Theatre Fund at the Australia Council, on the Board of Directors for the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Advisory Committee at the Performing Arts Museum.