Wendy Lewis is an Australian writer working inSydney who has written a number of non-fiction books about Australian people, history and events. She also writes for the stage, specialising in dark comedy and musical theatre. Some of her plays are published under the pen-name Julia Lewis.
See Australia and Die describes incidents resulting in harm to people travelling in Australia,[2][3] including from crocodile attacks, the sting ofIrukandji jellyfish, and death byhypothermia.
Events That Shaped Australia recounts details, personages, the images and after-effects of important events in Australia's history.[4][5][6]
Gone describes 25 kidnapping cases in various countries.[8]
Lewis' bookCelebrating 150 years of Rookwood Catholic Cemetery was commissioned by the Catholic church. The book launch was celebrated with a mass atSt Mary's Cathedral, followed by a cocktail party at theHyde Park Barracks, Sydney.[9]
Lewis has written plays entitledStatues of David,[10]The Baggage Handler (2006) andLife Drawing (2013).[11]
Lewis' musicalWhat's My Color?, co-written with Berlin-based composer Yuval Halpern, premiered in the US in October 2016.
Cast and crew ofWhat's My Color?, Opening night October 2016, Houston, TX, USA.
In 2018, Lewis adaptedThe Devil's Caress byJune Wright to stage. The production presented June Wright's classic murder mystery interwoven with her life and times in post-war Melbourne. It was produced by Factory Space Theatre Company.[12] The script was published by The Australian Script Centre.[13]
In 2020, Lewis wrote book, lyrics and music for the dark musical comedyDefeating Roger Federer. It was performed at theNew Theatre (Newtown)[14][15] in 2020 and returned to the stage in Cabaret form for the Sydney Fringe Festival 2022.[16]
In 2022, Lewis' mini musicalLost in Translation (with music by Yuval Halpern) premiered in 'schreib:maschine' at BKA Theatre Berlin.[17]
Lewis won a poetry competition in connection withRefresh Drummoyne, an urban art installation for theCity of Canada Bay in Sydney in 2010. Her winning entry wastypographed as a mural by a graphic designer in a manner that "refers to and resembles billboards, poster walls, newspaper headlines and antique film rolls."[18]
