Lysicrates and Martin: Two arts patrons of history return to give again

Description

To all scribblers, daubers and assorted eggheads-a society's real treasures. Starting with the birth of democracy and theatre in ancient Athens, Lysicrates and Martin transports you to today's Australia, with side visits to Ireland, Byron's Greece and the horse boxes of Parramatta's Government House. ;;It tells the story of how a couple's stroll in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney sparked two marvellous restorations- the first, Sydney's graceful replica of Athens' Lysicrates Monument; the second, a drama competition for which the ancient monument was built to celebrate. ;;On the way you will meet the extraordinary unknown figure after whom the hub of Sydney is named, rub shoulders with playwrights, actors and directors, and learn about the arcane techniques of stonemasonry. ;And you will be intrigued that today in Australia, for the first time in 2500 years, the outcome of a free drama competition is decided by the votes of the audience, not the opinions of a panel or an artistic director. It is theatre for all. It is democracy.

The Lysicrates Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation promoting the performing and visual arts in Australia. It pursues its purpose by, among other things, staging an annual playwriting competition known as The Lysicrates Prize Competition and funding the maintenance of the Choregic Monument of Lysicrates in Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden.