Australian Folklore Unit with Warren Fahey

SUPERSTITIONS IN AUSTRALIA: STAGE AND THEATRE SUPERSTITIONS

INTRODUCTION

Another part of the Folklore of Sydney project involved surveying arts organizations to ascertain if actors, musicians, dancers etc were superstitious. I sent out several versions of the following email:

AUSTRALIAN FOLKLORIST COLLECTING THEATRE FOLKLORE AND SUPERSTITIONS

After leaving the record industry at the end of the last century
Warren Fahey has worked exclusively on folklore as an author, broadcaster, performer and collector.

His latest project is supported by a major grant from the Performing
Arts Board of the Australia Council for the Arts - and, hopefully, YOU can help him.

He is currently collecting folklore and superstitions connected with
performing artists, directors and associated theatre people. This is a previously ignored part of our theatre history.

Do you have lucky colours, clothing, emblems worn before a
performance or rituals performed prior to first night?
Are there things you avoid considering them bad luck?
Are there sayings you use for good luck?

I am also interested in hearing any stories about unlucky and haunted venues. Also sayings, bawdry or ditties peculiar to the theatre.

Contributions should be sent to wfahey@bigpond.net.au or PO Box 262.
Potts Point NSW 2011

Warren Fahey AM. Folklorist
Australian Folklore Unit

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