29 Facts About Alex Buzo

Alexander John Buzo was an Australian playwright and author who wrote 88 works.

The first school Alex Buzo attended was the Middle Harbour Primary School.

Alex Buzo attended The Armidale School where his interest in drama developed.

Alex Buzo formed a lifelong interest for both cricket and rugby in his youth where he participated as a player in team sports.

Alex Buzo returned to Australia and held a job at the Sydney Stock Exchange for a year.

Alex Buzo attended and was a successful student at the Australian National University.

At the time Alex Buzo worked as a barman in the Sydney suburb of Neutral Bay at The Oaks hotel.

Alex Buzo started acting with the inner Sydney New Theatre company after being inspired by director Aarne Neeme and the National Institute of Dramatic Art.

Later in Sydney he became a playwright at 21 and Alex Buzo emerged as a prominent figure among Australian dramatists, part of the New Wave group.

Alex Buzo was involved with the Melbourne based Australian Performing Group.

Alex Buzo's talent was nurtured and developed at the Producers Authors Composers and Talent Centre, founded in 1964.

Alex Buzo wrote The Roy Murphy Show, a satirical play about a rugby television panel show in 1971 and two others in 1972, Macquarie, exploring issues of Australian identity and the past and Tom.

At age 28, Alex Buzo became a resident playwright with the Melbourne Theatre Company.

Alex Buzo was at the height of his career as his plays were often sold out performances and well received by attending audiences.

In 1980 Alex Buzo wrote the Big River, in 1983 The Marginal Farm, in 1987 Stingray, in 1988 Shellcove Road and in 1995 Pacific Union.

Alex Buzo was one of the early playwrights of the New Wave group to gain international attention for Makassar Reef, Rooted and Tom, being well received in the US.

Alex Buzo's plays have been performed in south East Asia and the UK.

In later years Alex Buzo wrote fiction including prose and topics covered ranged from the misusage of everyday language to sport.

Two novels by Alex Buzo were The Search for Harry Allway in 1985 and Prue Flies North in 1991.

Alex Buzo wrote news articles about rugby and important books on cricket, the Legends of the Baggy Green and coauthored The Longest Game: A Collection of the Best Cricket Writing from Alexander to Zavos, from the Gabba to the Yabba.

Alex Buzo died in Sydney on 16 August 2006 after several years battling cancer.

Early in his career, Alex Buzo's writing style and use of wit was similar to his Australian playwright contemporary David Williamson.

The topic of social alienation was often explored in Alex Buzo's plays through their characters.

Alex Buzo was an observer of language and it was reflected in his writing style through wit, humour and clever use of colloquial Australian English.

Apart from theatre plays, Alex Buzo achieved success in most literary genres.

Alex Buzo wrote many witty and insightful books on Australian life, language and sport, and his articles on many varied subjects including reviews and travel writing were published in all the major newspapers and magazines in Australia.

Alex Buzo was married for forty years to Merelyn Johnson, an art teacher from Armidale and the couple had three daughters, Emma, Laura and Genevieve and several grandchildren.

Alex Buzo supported the North Sydney Bears and participated in the failed campaign to stop its demotion from the National Rugby League.

Alex Buzo is supported by the Buzo family and manages his estate.