The big news on the Melbourne art scene this week is the move of Gertrude Contemporary from Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, to High Street, Preston South, echoing the move of many artists and organisations over the past few years from the CBD's fringe to suburbs further out. Artistic DirectorMark Fearyis in the studio to discuss the reasons for the move, positives and negatives and the final exhibition at the original 200 Gertrude Street address,The End of Time. The Beginning of Time.
Awakeningis an adaptation of the 1891 German playSpring Awakening,dealing with issues of teenage sexual awakening and society's discomfort with it.Daniel Lamminwonders how a 130-year-old play is arguably more relevant than ever in 2017 and discusses themessage and intention of the production to contemporaryAustralian youth of all genders and orientations.
Yirramboi First Nations' Arts Festival opens May 5. One of the productions not to be missed isChasing Smoke, an offshoot of theBLAKflip masterclass program, encouraging Aboriginal andFirst Nations' people to get involved in circus arts.Davey Thompson (Circus Oz BLAKflip manager), Chasing SmokeDirector Natano Faanana and performer Lara Croydontalk the show's inception and theniche that Indigenous arts and circus occupy in this production.
About this program
Visual art, theatre, film and literature. Segments include:
- 'Art Attack' - fortnightly visual arts reviews with Ace Wagstaff and Tai Snaith.
- 'Shoot the Messenger' - fortnightly theatre news & reviews with Fleur Kilpatrick.
- 'Drawn Out' - monthly chat about comic books and graphic novels with Bernard Caleo.
Please email talks@rrr.org.au for all interview requests.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Richard Watts has many years experience working in the arts industry, including five years as the Artistic Director of the youth arts organisation Express Media, seven years on the Board of Melbourne Fringe (including three years as Chair), and six years on the Committee of Management at La Mama Theatre, where he currently serves as Chair. Richard has helped program a range of festivals including Next Wave, the National Young Writers' Festival, the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and the Emerging Writers' Festival (which he founded) and he has written for various broadsheets, journals, zines and magazines. Currently he pays the rent by working as the Performing Arts Editor at www.artshub.com.au. In his spare time he watches old Doctor Who episodes.
The podcast intro and outro theme is Soft Illusion and was generously provided by Andras.
https://andras.bandcamp.com/track/soft-illusion
