Richard chats with Gideon Obarzanek and Hannah Fox, the co-artistic directors of RISING, a new festival taking the place of Melbourne Festival and White Night. RISING has put a call-out for new works from Victorian artists with the aim to showcase pieces that are bold, outside of the box and very Melbourne.
Richard also speaks with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young about the Green's push for a generous new arts package. For Hanson-Young it's about what kind of society we want to build with the stimulus that will necessarily take place after COVID. She shares the adage that "it's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease".
Finally Richard chats with Tahli Corin who is one of the co-creators of Mountain Goat Mountain. Corin says that part of their inspiration for the work was reading that theatre was not just a place for people to enjoy productions, but to connect. As such they have created an online, interactive theatre experience designed for the whole family to enjoy together.
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
