Williamson says he was prompted to write the play by Robyn Nevin of the Melbourne Theatre Company who asked him to do something "about people losing power and status as they get older".
Williamson wrote Nothing Personal about a power struggle between two women in publishing, an older editor and her younger rival.
"[1] The STC and MTC declined to put on the play but they did hold a reading with Kate Fitzpatrick and Cate Blanchett.
Williamson described the reading as "electric... Cate is a spellbinding actor.
But at least I’ve heard her do one in a reading.”[1] Bob Ellis later accused David's wife of co-writing the play, an allegation Williamson passionately refuted.