If This Is the Highway (I'Ll Take the Dirt Road)

An actor, presenter, producer, and director, David Branson was a dazzling fountain ofenergy whose artistic endeavors throughout Australia enlivened and advanced the careersof many performing artists. In this book, many of those share intriguing encounters with this particularly individualfigure of inspiration, reflecting upon and revealing how he and they helped to shapethe grass-roots avant-garde of the performing arts in Australia. Author Joel Swadling, who worked with Branson, highlights how Branson gained famethroughout Australia as one of the founders of Splinters Theatre of Spectacle, a twelve-yearexperiment in multimedia, cross-discipline outdoor ritual, and through other endeavors. After Branson s death, the avant-garde excitement of Canberra faded for a time withouthis spirit and guidance. If This Is the Highway (I ll Take the Dirt Road) celebrates and illuminates the impact ofone of the avant-garde s most talented titans.