Greek-Australian’s book to become ABC series

Greek-Australian author Christos Tsiolkas’ award-winning novel, “The Slap”, is to be turned into an eight-part series for ABC television. Production on the drama is due to begin in Melbourne in 2010.Tsiolkas’ work explores what happens when a man slaps a child who does not belong to him at a suburban barbeque.
He says the ABC has always felt like a natural home for his story. “It’s an opportunity to develop a ground-breaking piece of television that embodies a rawness and a diversity that we haven’t seen on our screens before,” Tsiolkas said.
ABC TV will partner with Matchbox Pictures to produce the series. Matchbox’s Helen Bowden says “The Slap” has been crying out to be adapted for television. “Christos has created a fascinating set of characters and a riveting tale … that explores issues of race, class, family and relationships in contemporary Australia and we hope to do it justice,” she said.
This year, The Slap has won the Commonwealth Writers Prize, the Australian Book Industry and Book Association’s Book of the Year awards and the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award. It was also short-listed for the Miles Franklin.
Source: Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC)