‘Did you hear the one about a doctor who walked into a stables …?’
In 1985, Dr Rodney Seaborn responded to an appeal for help placed in The Sydney Morning Herald by actress Penny Cook. The urgent SOS aimed to save The Stables Theatre, Kings Cross, then home to The Griffin Theatre Company, from being sold and demolished. As the Chair of the Company at the time, John Senczuk invited Dr Seaborn to a Griffin Board meeting …
In this inaugural lecture of the 2026 Winter Lecture Series, John recounts his memories of the remarkable story that led to the establishment of the Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation—now celebrating its 40th anniversary. He also discusses the Foundation’s enduring partnership with the Griffin Theatre Company.
Dr John Senczuk is a theatre polymath. His forty-five-year career as a director, designer, playwright and dramaturg has earned him numerous accolades. His work was performed nationally and internationally in commissions for opera, dance and drama. Concurrently, he was an academic (University of Wollongong, Toi Whakaari, NZ Drama School, and WAAPA).
John’s research interest is Australian theatre history. He is the inaugural S,B&W Foundation Research Fellow, and currently Senior Research Fellow, Griffith University. A regular contributor to THA, his recent publications include Griffin Rising (2019; shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s History Award); J.C.Williamson 1909 Diary (2019); Griffin Redux (2022); Funny Business: A Biography of Carol Raye (2022); ‘Those Remarkable Impresarios’: The MacMahon Brothers (2023); Griffin Remix (2026) and ATYP: A celebration of 60 years (2026).
Join us at 2.00pm on 26 July 2026 for The Stage on Sunday, a joint program with the Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation and Theatre Heritage Australia.
All are welcome. This event is free but bookings are essential and must be made through Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation.
Theatre Heritage Australia in partnership with Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation presents
The Stage on Sunday: Dr John Senczuk
2.00pm for afternoon tea with a 2:30pm start
Sunday 26 July 2026
Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation | Suite 10, 20 Young Street Neutral Bay NSW
Bookings: (02) 9955 5444