Diving For Pearls

Set in Wollongong during the economic rationalism of the 1980s, Diving for Pearls remains startlingly relevant–the political decisions of that time planted the seeds of divide we continue to witness between those with opportunity, and those without.

With the town she grew up in changing all around her, Barbara is determined to change with it. Dreaming of a way out, she sets her sights on landing a job at one of the new resorts popping up all over town. Meanwhile, her partner Den is having change forced upon him. The steelworks he’s worked at his whole life has been sold and Den must reinvent himself to survive. The arrival of Barbara’s daughter, Verge, just might be the thing that tips Barbara and Den over the edge.

About the Author

Katherine Thomson is one of Australia’s most respected writers for theatre and screen. Her many plays include: Darlinghurst Nights, Navigating, Barmaids, Mavis Goes to Timor and Wonderlands, Her television credits include: Grass Roots, Wildside, Fallen Angels, GP and Something in the Air.

She has been nominated for five New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards (winning for Harbour), three Australian Film Institute Awards and has won multiple AWGIEs three in 2006 alone, two as co-writer of the television series Answered by Fire and a third for her screenplay for the film Unfolding Florence The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst.