2001
Honorary award citation
Internationally renowned actor, director and dramatist Bille Brown will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree at a University of Queensland graduation ceremony.
The award recognises his distinguished career and his outstanding national and international contribution to the theatre.
An Adjunct Professor at the University since 1999, he will address 200 graduands from the Arts and Social and Behavioural Sciences Faculties at the 6pm ceremony at Mayne Hall, St Lucia.
Bille Brown traces his career from his 1969 enrolment as a University of Queensland arts student. Initially he read plays, poems and set texts on Thursday afternoons in the Abel Smith lecture theatre and on stage at the Avalon Theatre. Later he appeared at the Schonell in plays and University Revues.
He made his professional debut with Queensland Theatre Company (QTC) in 1971 but continued studying, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree and Diploma of Education in 1973.
He has lived and worked extensively in Australia, the USA and England, where he was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company playing in Stratford, London and throughout Europe. He now lives permanently in Australia.
