b"Williamson lives in a conservative state, though in what is arguably a progressive coastal enclave. Does that affect his viewpoint?I think it could, certainly, he says. Queensland is more conservative towards some social issues than the rest of Australia. Although that may be a stereotype because it voted solidly in favour of gay marriage. Its hard to generalise but I think the centre of progressive social attitudes is Victoria and the rest of the country is a little further behind.Retirement planIts hard to imagine Williamson stepping away from the theatre completely, but he insists thats the plan. There are a lot of new young playwrights doing very good stuff, he says.Might Williamson become some kind of mentor to younger writers?God, no, he laughs. The new generation don't need mentoring and they wouldn't want to listen to me in any case.But for now at least, it will feel like Williamson is as present as ever. Queensland Theatre Company is reviving his smash hit Emerald City in February. Melbourne audiences will see the production in March. A new play, Crunch Time, premieres at the Ensemble Theatre in Kirribilli, alsoin February.Family Values opens at Griffin Theatre in January before playing the Riverside Theatres.I couldnt be happier than having the circle close at Griffin, he says. John Bells production of The Removalists in 1972 was on that stageback when it was called the Nimrod Theatreand that established me as a writer more than anything else. My career as a playwright took off from there and its terrifically satisfying to come back to that wonderful place. I'm back where I started, but I'm terribly happy to be there.Family Values is playing at Riverside Theatres from 1821 March, 2020. 45"