Perth play a hit in Europe

A PLAY about Paris, written in Perth, and performed in Sweden?

This improbable combination was achieved by WA playwright Bill Warnock, whose play, Paris Burning, had its European premiere recently near Stockholm.

Bill and his wife Diana, who is the State Member for Perth, went to Sweden for the opening night, and later on to Paris, where a reading of the work will be performed in a theatre in the European Spring. It may also be performed in Germany.

Paris Burning first appeared at the Festival of Perth several years ago, under the title of The Judgement of Paris.

Mr Warnock’s London agent was pleased by an enthusiastic response when he submitted the script to Sweden’s National Touring Company.

The Swedes were even more enthusiastic when they found that one of their countrymen had played an important part in the events described by Mr Warnock, as the liberation of Paris was imminent.

He obligingly wrote the role of a Swedish Consul into what had been a two-man production.

Paris Burning is based on dramatic events as Allied forces approached the French capital.

Paris Burning opened in the town of Nykopings, near Stockholm, in a packed century-old theatre and is being performed at many towns and cities throughout the country.

Mr Warnock has had a number of novels published, but this was the first of his plays to be performed professionally outside Australia.