It was then re-written and performed in 1984 at the Stables Theatre in Sydney for the Griffin Theatre Company,[5] where it marked a turning point in Griffin's history as the play's success led to the cast and creatives being paid full professional rates.
[9] The play is centred on a Rugby league footballer, Kenny, who gets caught up in a preselection battle between two of his family members.
[6] Close to the Bone was written in collaboration with the Indigenous students at the Eora Centre, and first produced there in September 1991.
[9] In 2012 he contributed to a Federation Press anthology of monologues for drama students, No Nudity, Weapons or Naked Flames.
[9] and 2003 made for television crime film The Postcard Bandit (opposite the late Tom Long).
He has made guest appearances in numerous other television series including The Restless Years, Young Ramsay, Cop Shop, Bellamy, A Country Practice, Rafferty's Rules, Home and Away, Heartbreak High, Big Sky, Changi, White Collar Blue, All Saints, Offspring, Neighbours and Mr Inbetween.
In 2012, NewSouth Books published Manning's memoir of a life of school teaching, '"Playground Duty".
[21] The same year, he also released his debut novel "Painting the Light" – a love letter to his parents, published by Broadcast Books.
[22] Manning taught at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts where he was a Senior Examiner in HSC Drama, and developed a playwrighting program.