Richard talks to Simon Abrahams, the creative director & CEO of Melbourne Fringe. The Fringe has set up a new home called Common Rooms at Trades Hall where they will be running productions throughout the year. He hopes the shows will capture The Fringe's feeling of rebellion, inclusivity and support of independent arts.
Next Richard talks to playwright, director, performer and producer Rebecca Lister about her new work 2:20AM. The play covers the sensitive topic of suicide from the perspective of four people who have come together for a creative writing course. It's based off of Rebecca's experiences as a social worker, arts worker and a person who has been bereaved by a suicide. It has been created in association with Support After Suicide, SANE Australia and Jesuit Social Services and it will be having a metropolitan and regional tour in areas around Victoria that are particularly effected by suicide. If this interview brings up any issues you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Finally Richard talks to director Shareena Clanton and cast member Corey Saylor-Brunskill about their upcoming theatre production Conversations With The Dead. This is a work by Richard Frankland about his experiences working on the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The work is put on by Ilbijerri Ensemble and is a part of Future Echoes, which is a new initiative by the Arts Centre Melbourne to put on works by young artists.
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
