Book review - "Floor of Heaven" by Richard Wherrett

Bright, entertaining memoir from Wherrett, who worked at the Old Tote, was one of the founders of the Nimrod in the 70s and the first artistic director of the STC. If you're interested in theatre you will love this - Wherrett sketches most of the figures in theatre (Sydney theatre, at least) from the time: Tyrone Guthrie, John Bell, Ken Horler, Mel Gibson, Ruth Cracknell. Not surprisingly, he chats longest about successes such as Away and Nicholas Nickleby but also about some of the productions that didn't so well. Apart from history, it also espouses a lot of useful things about directing and acting and forging a career in the arts - the bits on being pro active and making work should be required reading for emerging actors. On one hand its enjoyable to read because Wherrett's career was strong up until his death - even after leaving the STC he kept busy working for Disney, the Olympics, Harry M Miller, etc, - so we don't have to read a "my career went into major decline" chapter. On the other hand, he died very soon after the book came out - he was diagnosed with HIV in 1985 so it haunts us reading it, especially when he talks about death.