Australian novelist Craig Silvey’s books have been withdrawn from school curricula in Victoria and Western Australia, and a major stage adaptation of one of his works has been halted after he was charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material this week.
Silvey, 43, was arrested on Monday, January 12th, after detectives searched his Fremantle home. He appeared in the Fremantle magistrates court on Tuesday charged with distribution and possession of child exploitation material.He did not enter a plea.
Belvoir, a Sydney-based theater company, announced on Wednesday it would “indefinitely pause” sales, development, and promotion of its stage adaptation of Silvey’s children’s book, Runt, which was scheduled to open in August.
A Belvoir spokesperson called the situation “deeply distressing.”
“Belvoir is taking this matter very seriously, and stands firmly with survivors of child abuse and exploitation, and their families,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“While mr. Silvey isn’t directly involved with Belvoir’s stage adaptation of Runt, we have nonetheless indefinitely paused work on, promotion of, and sales for that production while these charges are dealt with by the police and the court.”
John Leary was adapting the book for the stage, and the play was to be directed by Belvoir’s former artistic director, Neil Armfield.
Silvey is an award-winning writer, best known for his critically acclaimed coming-of-age works jasper Jones and Runt, both of which have been adapted into feature films. Jasper Jones has also been adapted for the theatre and staged by Barking Gecko,Belvoir,Melbourne Theatre Company,Queensland Theatre,and the State Theatre Company of South Australia.
