Barry Dickins facts for kids

Barry Dickins (6 November 1949 – 13 July 2026) was a talented Australian writer, artist, actor, and teacher. He was famous for his plays about history and his stories about growing up in Melbourne. One of his most famous works was the play Remember Ronald Ryan. This play won an award and told the story of Ronald Ryan, a person involved in a significant historical event in Australia. Barry Dickins also wrote plays and comedies about many interesting people, like the poet Sylvia Plath, opera singer Dame Joan Sutherland, well-known figure Squizzy Taylor, actor Frank Thring, playwright Oscar Wilde, and artist Brett Whiteley.

He often wrote for smaller, independent theaters in Australia. He worked with many theater groups, including La Mama Theatre and Malthouse Theatre.

Barry Dickins' Early Life and Creative Journey

Growing Up and First Jobs

Barry Dickins was born in Reservoir, a suburb of Melbourne, on November 6, 1949. He left school early and worked in a factory for five years. After that, he became a set-painter for TV shows at Channel 7.

Starting in Theatre

His connection with La Mama Theatre helped him stage his first play in 1974. It was a new version of Ibsen's play Ghosts. Barry Dickins went on to write over 50 more plays. He also wrote many short stories, biographies, and books for children.

Award-Winning Plays and Teaching

His play Remember Ronald Ryan won the Victorian Premier's Literary Award in 1995. Barry Dickins was also a dedicated teacher for 41 years. He taught English and creative writing at schools in Melbourne. His experiences in the classroom inspired his 2013 book, Lessons in Humility: 40 years of teaching.

Acting on Stage and Screen

Barry Dickins was also an actor, appearing in many plays and films. His first acting role was in a play called The Ship's Whistles in 1978. He acted in several movies, including Man of Flowers (1983) and Golden Braid (1990), which he also helped write. He also had guest roles on TV shows like Winners and Wedlocked.

His stage performances included a play called The Balmain Boys in 1985. More recently, he gave a dramatic reading of Ryan, a follow-up to his famous play Remember Ronald Ryan. This was part of a special event at a Melbourne bookshop.

Writing His Own Story

In 2009, Barry Dickins published his memoirs titled Unparalleled Sorrow. This book shared details about his career.

In 2015, he released another memoir, A Line Drawing of My Father. This book told the story of his father, Len Dickins, who served in the Second World War. It also described life in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

University Role

Also in 2015, Barry Dickins worked as a Writer-in-Residence and lecturer at Victoria University in Footscray, Melbourne. He taught creative writing there for a short time.

Passing Away

Barry Dickins passed away on July 13, 2026, at the age of 76.