Richard Lane (writer)
| Richard Lane | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Richard Hamilton Lane 18 January 1918 Coogee, New South Wales |
| Died | 20 February 2008 (aged 90) Sydney, New South Wales |
| Occupation | Dramatist and Playwright |
| Known for | Writing radio and television drama |
| Spouse(s) | Lynne Murphy |
Richard Hamilton Lane (OAM)), (18 January 1918 – 20 February 2008) was an Australian writer (dramatist and playwright) known particularly for his skillful adaptation of plays and films for radio. He is often called the father of Australian radio drama. His career spanned over 60 years, and he is recognised not only for his writing achievements but for his contribution to the Australian Writers' Guild. He also wrote for television, and was described after his death as "luminary of the Australian radio and television industries".
Richard Lane was born in the Sydney beach suburb of Coogee and went to school in Sydney's northern suburbs at Knox Grammar School in Wahroonga, where "he excelled as an athlete and edited the school magazine".
Lane married a few times, with his last wife being the Australian actor, Lynne Murphy.
Lane's first short story was published while he was still at school, and more of his stories were published in magazines in the following year. However, it was in radio drama, still in its infancy when he started, that he found his vocation. His first radio play was No Escape.
By the age of 21 Lane had had a number of plays produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and he was being recognised as "an exciting new talent".
He became senior playwright at Sydney's radio station 2GB, Australia's largest producer of radio drama. He adapted plays into one-hour dramas, and novels into serial form. He wrote and produced the long-running radio serial Dr Paul.
Actors such as Peter Finch appeared in his early plays.
By 1949, he was recognised as Australia's "foremost radio playwright". He decided at this time to go freelance, and directed as well as wrote radio drama. With the arrival of television in Australian in 1956, he began writing for that medium too. He wrote for the first Australian produced drama series, Autumn Affair. He adapted classic works, such as Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, into television plays, and Jon Cleary's You can't see 'round corners into a serial.
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