Anne Harvey's writing has developed from her work in the theatre as an actor and a director. She attended Melbourne University where she acted rather than studied, performing with the Melbourne University Dramatic Society and in university revues, often writing her own songs and sketches. After working as an actor in theatre and television, her career has combined directing, writing and teaching.
Reflecting her interest in using political comment, humour, music and songs, her scripts for the theatre have included revue sketches, songs, drama, music theatre, puppet plays, and plays for theatre in education and community theatre. Commissioned works include: Scripts for the Salamanca Theatre Company (Tasmania), The Marionette Theatre of Australia, Uncle Hector and the Bohemians, Adelaide Festival 1977 and True Patriots All, Q Theatre 1988.
From 1984 to 1987, Harvey was the Artistic Director of the Australian National Playwrights Conference. She has taught Literature courses for Sydney University Continuing Education and has led cultural tours to Italy.
Her short story 'Outplaced' was awarded first prize in the St Kilda Short Story competition, 1993, and her At The Coal Face, an adaptation of the oral histories of N.S.W. coal miners and their communities, was published by the CFMEU in 1998.
