Geoffrey John Atherden , credited also as Geoff Atherden, is an Australian television screenwriter and playwright, especially of comedy. He is best known for creating the sitcom Mother and Son.
Early life and education Atherden attended the School of Architecture at University of Sydney in the 1960s. He trained as an architect. Geoffrey Atherden, 'My Favourite... Tennis Courts' Sydney Morning Herald Good Weekend section, 3 October 1987 p.9
Architectural career Atherden practised as an architect until he was in his mid-thirties. He worked for the architectural firm of McConnel Smith and Johnson, and was responsible for designing the Law Courts Building in Queens Square, Sydney.
Writing career In 1969, the founders of Producers Authors Composers and Talent (now PACT Centre for Emerging Artists) attended a Sydney University Architecture Revue, with sets by Atherden and Grahame Bond, and invited Bond, Atherden, Peter Weir and his friend, composer Peter Best, a chance to do a show at the National Art School's Cellblock Theatre. Sir Robert Helpmann saw the show and took it to the Adelaide Festival, and soon afterwards Weir and Bond were commissioned to write a Christmas special TV show for ABC Television, called Man on a Green Bike. Atherden was later a contributor to The Aunty Jack Show, which starred Bond. He was script editor on a four-part sketch series, Jokes, which ran on ABC-TV in early 1979.Christine Hogan, "Playing for Laughs" Sydney Morning Herald 12 February 1979 p. 22 In the middle of the same year he scripted a seven-part comedy, One Day Miller.Mark Lawrence, "One-Day Miller a one-day wonder", Melbourne Age Green Guide section, 2 August 1979 p. 4 In 1981 he was writer on the series Ratbags (1981) and the soap opera Sons and Daughters the following year.
In 1976, Atherden designed sets for the rock opera Hero, produced by Bond.Roger Covell, "Rock Opera as Morality Play" Melbourne Age, 28 May 1976 p. 7
Atherden has written a number of plays. Prior to working in television he wrote Balloon Dubloon – the revue in 1965 and theatre show in 1970. He then concentrated on screenwriting, but continuing in writing for theatre again from 1994 onwards, including Hotspur (1994) and Black Cockatoo (2020).
He is perhaps best known for creating and writing the sitcom Mother and Son, which ran for over 10 years (January 1984 to March 1994). Other work includes the comedy-drama Grass Roots and the mockumentary BabaKiueria.
Other roles Atherden served as the president of Australian Writers' Guild and Australian Writers' Foundation. In 2016, Atherden joined the Screenrights Board, which licenses secondary users of broadcast content, along with other secondary functions.
He has also served two terms on the board of Screen NSW.
Recognition and awards Atherden was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2009, "For service to the television industry as a scriptwriter, and to the advancement of writers for performance through executive roles with professional organisations.".
Mother and Son won several awards.
Television scripts ProductionTypeYearCreditEpisodesNotes The Comedy GameTV series 1971Writer1 episode:"Aunty Jack's Travelling Show" Credited as "Geoff Atherden" The Aunty Jack ShowTV series 1972Writer6 episodes:-"The Aunty Jack Radio Show"-"The Aunty Jack War Show"-"The Aunty Jack Kulture Show"-"The Aunty Jack Anonymous Show"-"The Aunty Jack Family Show"-"The Aunty Jack Horror Show"Writer1 episode:"Unaired Pilot: Aunty Jack's Travelling Show" The Very Best of The Aunty Jack ShowTV special 1973Writer The Of ShowTV series 1977Writer6 episodes:-Six of One-Half a Dozen of the Other-The Sound of Of Awards-Bake Of-Prince Of Seduction-Son of Man The Little Big ShowTV movie 1978Screenwriter Tickled PinkTV series 1978Writer1 episode:"One Day Miller" One Day MillerTV series 1979Writer 7 episodes:-Birthday-The Big Day-The First Day-Day Out-Moving Day-Long Day-New Say JokesTV series 1979Writer RatbagsTV series 19819 episodes:#1.1 through to #1.9 Sons and DaughtersTV series 19825 episodes:- #1.9- #1.17- #1.23- #1.39- #1.47 BabaKiueriaTV short 1986Screenplay AustraliansTV series 19881 episode:"Jack Davey" EggshellsTV series 1991Writer Mother and SonTV series 1981–1991Creator and writer42 episodes Dad and DaveTV series 1985Writer (additional material) Keeping MumTV series 1997–1998Writer16 episodes Grass RootsTV series 2000–2003Creator and writer18 episodes Stepfather of the BrideTV movie 2006Written by
Selected theatre ProductionYear Revue: Balloon Dubloon 1965 Balloon Dubloon 1970 Short Circuits 1994 Hotspur 1994 Mother and Son 1990s–2014/2015 Various Productions The Anzac Project: Dear Mum and Dad/Light Begins to Fade Liberty Equality Fraternity Black Cockatoo 2020
References
External links
Geoffrey Atherden at Australian Screen