Summary

Record cover from the Eoan Group production of 'South Pacific', which was performed in 1968. 'Sylvia Booysen' is hand written along the side of the case. Sylvia Boyes joined the Eoan Group in 1966 and performed in a variety of operas. She met her future husband, Lindsay Motherwell, during the Eoan Group's production of 'South Pacific'.

Sylvia Boyes (a South African-born orphan) and Lindsay Motherwell (a Melbourne-born drummer) met in Cape Town, South Africa in 1967 through their theatre connections. They fell in love but due to apartheid laws were forced to leave South Africa to marry in London. They subsequently relocated permanently to Melbourne in 1970.

Physical Description

Record cover for a 45 RPM record. Cover matches the pattern on the cover of the programme for the production. On the back are the credits for the music, which states "Excerpts Sung by Eoan Group Stars. With Full Orchestra Conducted by Joseph S. Manca." SIDE ONE played "SOME ENCHANTED EVENING (Benjamin Arendse) and A COCKEYED OPTIMIST (Vera Gow)" SIDE TWO played "BALI HA'I (Sophia Andrews) and YOUNGER THAN SPRINGTIME (Martin Johnson)". It was recorded by FEATURE FILM SOUND (Pty.) Ltd.

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
This collection provides a significant opportunity to represent political and personal freedom as a motivation for migrating to Australia within the international context of both apartheid in South Africa and the end of the White Australia policy in Australia. The personal narrative is well documented and the objects provide a material way to follow the lives of both Lindsay and Sylvia, both separately and where they coincide in South Africa and onwards together to Melbourne. While this is ultimately a love story, it plays out through the collection against the backdrop of apartheid South Africa, sixties London and an increasingly multicultural Australia.

More Information