Standing Room Only: Recent Episodes
RNZ
Standing Room Only is literally radio with pictures... and arts, theatre, film, comedy, books, dance, entertainment, pop culture, and music – all the things, in other words, that make life worth living.
Right now the country's public libraries want to have an even bigger role in their communities - in particular, actively helping schools to support the education of our tamariki. LIANZA - the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa - is planning a submission to the Future of Local Government Review. Librarians see this as the best chance they have to ring in some much-needed changes. Lynn Freeman spoke to retired librarian, Allison Dobbie who's leading LIANZA's submission, first asking her about local bodies' current financial support for libraries around the motu.
In the 47 years since Elizabeth Smither published her first poetry collection, Here Come the Clouds, she's won numerous awards and was our Poet Laureate in the early 2000s. Her latest collection My American Chair invites us to roam the world with her, through a series of memorable moments and encounters. But, as she tells Lynn Freeman, there are also many poems about home, aging, mortality, friendship and family. Auckland University Press has published Elizabeth Smither's new poetry collection, My American Chair.
Simon Devitt describes the houses he likes to photograph as "self-assured, poetic and sustainable". And he's brought together 30 of his favourites in a book called Cape to Bluff. Some are intriguing because of the building technique, or the tricky terrain. Others picked themselves because of how they're future-proofed against sea level rise, or were inspired by an old goldminer's hut. The photographs are accompanied by interviews with the homes' architects, talking about the initial plans, and the head-scratching problems they needed to solve while they built.. Simon Devitt's been a professional photographer for more than 25 years, and he tells Lynn Freeman the landscape is just as much a part of the story as the buildings.
For most people walking Te Araroa - the 3000-kilometre trail from Cape Reinga in the North to Bluff in the South - just putting one foot in front of the other is enough to think about. But Sarah Adam set herself the extra challenge of doing a small oil painting 'en plein air' every day of the trek. All up, she made 140 paintings and they've just gone on show in an exhibition she calls Late to the Hut. Sarah tells Lynn Freeman she's currently working for the Department of Conservation on the Hen and Chicks Islands in Northland and she's painting what she sees there too. Sarah Adam's new exhibition Late to the Hut has just opened at DEPOT Artspace in Tamaki Makaurau.
When Hannah Marshall was picked for the role of Head of Scripted Development at South Pacific Pictures, the only surprise, frankly, was that it took them so long to give her the job. Her track record in drama - sorry, "Scripted TV Shows" - is phenomenal, on both side of the Tasman. You've seen her in everything from Raised by Refugees - for which she was also the Story Producer - to Packed to the Rafters, for which she was nominated for a Logie. As well as an actor, she's an award-winning writer, director and creator of the acclaimed drama Alibi. So does her new job mean she's backing away from hands-on production and performance? Simon Morris talks with Hannah Marshall about her new job.
Radio drama is making a real comeback. Aside from the popularity of podcasts, there are new initiatives like the audio series from wahine Maori and va'ine Pasifika writers' collective Maranga Mai. The five radio plays were written as part of the Breaking Ground playwright's festival during the 2020 Lockdown. They'll all be broadcast here on RNZ National, as well as streaming on Kia Mau's digital platform Moana Nui. Lynn Freeman invited Miria George, who worked with the five writers on their scripts, and one of those writers, Stevie Greeks, to come and talk about the series. And then we play the first of the series...
History has just been made with the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award. For the first time in its 40-year history, the $10,000 prize goes to a team - two writers who together have written several award-winning productions. Eleanor Bishop and Karin McCracken are a dynamic duo whose company is called EBKM. Eleanor is also a stage director who works across theatre and opera..... Karin meanwhile is a theatremaker and performer who's just back from Canada where EBKM's production of Yes Yes Yes - a show for young people dealing with desire and consent - was performed in Montreal. Lynn Freeman asks Karin how they came to work together. The 2022 Bruce Mason Playwriting Award has just been announced at a ceremony at the Hannah Playhouse in Wellington.
Bit Part Actor is the name of Frank Edward's memoir, but he's selling himself short. Over a career of more than 60 years on stage and screen, he's also had some lead and really memorable roles. But those memories are shared with the disappointments, failed auditions and scenes ending on the cutting room floor that are all actor's lot. As a jobbing actor, Frank's worked on Wellywood's biggest hits - certainly many of Sir Peter Jackson's blockbusters - though you won't always see his name in the credits. Decades earlier he was there as demand for New Zealand stories took off in the 70s - on stage, TV and film. He also made several hundred programmes for the Correspondence School. Lynn Freeman talks with Frank Edwards about a lifetime of acting. Bit Part Actor by Frank Edward is published by Wayfarer, an imprint of The Cuba Press.
An imagined series of puzzling artefacts from a time travelling civilisation has taken out this year's top Portage Ceramic Award for their creator, Richard Penn. His collection's called Artefacts. Richard and his family moved to Aotearoa from South Africa just a couple of years ago. He's taught ceramics at Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland and Otago Polytechnic and held residencies at Auckland Studio Potters and at Driving Creek Pottery in the Coromandel. Lynn Freeman asks Richard about his winning entry, which he says is part of a much larger body of work:
There is a right way of washing dishes and a wrong way - and Kiwis do it the wrong way according to Joanna Cho's debut poetry collection, People Person. The South Korean-born, now Wellington-based, writer has a keen sense of irony and a refreshing honesty in her autobiographical poems. Joanna completed her MA in Creative Writing at the International Institute of Modern Letters in 2020 and received the Biggs Family Prize in Poetry. She talks with Lynn Freeman about her inspirations, and whether she actually is a People Person!
It's had more than 20 years championing the work of this country's print makers. Now Print Council Aotearoa New Zealand has published a book featuring a dazzling array of prints by its members. PCANZ has around 250 printmakers, and many of them are seriously pushing the boundaries with their techniques. In Proof : Two decades of printmaking each artist provides a short note describing their work - some breaking new ground, but many using traditional techniques, like screen printing, lino and wood cuts. Lynn Freeman spoke to two of the print makers who've worked on the book - Kathy Boyle and Heather Partel. Proof : Two decades of printmaking is published by Massey University Press.
This is undeniably a new Golden Age of television drama - both in quantity and quality. So much drama, so much variety of drama and - most important - so many outlets to play your drama. But how much has really changed? One person who would know is one of our finest screenwriters Fiona Samuel. And not just on the screen - we've just played her radio trilogy Hat Trick in our Classic Drama slot - and Fiona's recently conducted workshops on the secrets of creating brilliant TV. Mind you, Fiona's been doing that ever since she first stepped up with a mini-masterpiece called Marching Girls. Since then she's written too many series to mention - Outrageous fortune, Agent Anna, Brokenwood, Nothing Trivial and the brilliant one-off Consent The Louise Nicholas Story. Simon Morris talks to Fiona Samuel about the new landscape of TV series.
A "dysfunctional family epic" is how Ben Wilson's award-winning script Homemade Takeaways is described. The comedy-drama won the 2020 Playmarket Playwrights B4 25 competition and it's finally heading onto the stage. It's set in small-town New Zealand during Christmas with the 'chosen family' of four. These include a primary school teacher wants to write violent children's fiction, and a recently dumped self-help expert who is self-destructing. Ben Wilson talks with Lynn Freeman about Homemade Takeaways and the cachet the phrase "award-winning" gives a young writer. Homemade Takeaways premieres at Bats Theatre in Te Whanganui A Tara Wellington on Tuesday 22 November.
17 artworks spanning 25 years of paintings make up artist Glen Wolfgramm's first survey show of his intricate abstract works, all strongly reflexting his Tongan heritage. A'eva tokotaka he Pasifiki: Solo across the Pacific is also the Tamakai Makaurau-based artist's first solo exhibition in a public gallery. The "Solo" in the show's title also refers to how solitary the experience of painting is - though less so these days with children and a studio in the family home! Glen, who's a self-taught artist, is a past finalist in the Wallace Art Awards. His large-scale paintings have been described as dynamic, fractured and reverberating with Polynesian motifs. Lynn Freeman began by asking Glen about the survey show, which has allowed him to be reunited with work he hasn't seen for more than two decades. Glen Wolfgramm's A'eva tokotaka he Pasifik Solo across the Pacific is showing at Pataka: Art + Museum in Porirua in Wellington.
Christchurch writer Paul Cleave has released his latest thriller, The Pain Tourist just as filming is about to start on a TV show based on his first crime novel. Paul worked on the script for the Lionsgate-backed show, called Dark City -The Cleaner, that's set in his home town. Just as Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse did with Oxford, and Ian Rankin's Rebus did with Edinburgh, Paul's made Otautahi/Christchurch a literary crime hub! Unlike many crime novelists, Paul Cleave isn't wedded to the same detective in each novel. Though, as he tells Lynn Freeman, in The Pain Tourist we do see some familiar crime fighters. So what is a "pain tourist"? No word yet when Dark City - The Cleaner will screen, but Paul Cleave's novel The Pain Tourist is out now. It's an Upstart Press publication.
For 75 years the Matamata Dramatic Society has entertained its community while also training generations of performers and crew. Memories will flow at the upcoming celebration event and fundraiser for the Waikato-based society's significant anniversary. Two of the members heavily involved in the big night are Greg Dunn and his daughter Helen Drysdale-Dunn, who grew up on the stage and went on to win Waikato Younger Singer of Year Award 2020. Lynn Freeman talks with Greg and Helen, and first asks what the Dramatic Society means to Matamata after all these years. The Matamata Dramatic Society's 75th Anniversary Celebration & Fundraiser is on at the Pepper Street Café on 26 November.
Sound artist and composer Jesse Austin-Stewart has created an album of music vibration compositions, designed to be felt rather than heard. By holding a PlayStation Dualsense controller, the music can be experienced through the way changing patterns feel against your palms. Jesse is one of the 2022 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Springboard award winners, and has produced music with more than 1 million streams. For Music for PlayStation he's worked with the hearing-impaired community to create these works which will be available on streaming sites from 25 November. As someone with a disability, he tells Lynn Freeman that he wanted to create music that offers a shared experience for everyone.
Learning to speak Farsi as well as collaborating with around 50 musicians on several original tracks has taken up much of the last three years for Christine White. She's called it The Raven Project - six songs in digital and vinyl format, accompanied by three music videos. The first was called "Raven" and the second, "Taken" and the final one, "Starless Skies", will be released later this week. Christine's main collaborator in the music has been legendary composer John Psathas. And along with the music videos, she's publishing a book of her haiku-style poetry in English and Farsi. Lynn Freeman first asks her about her childhood musical influences... Christine White's complete Raven Project will be available online from Thursday, while the vinyl versions and the poetry will come out in mid December.
Art fairs have become a popular way to get artists' work in front of potential buyers who may not frequent dealer galleries. After a disrupted couple of years, the country's biggest contemporary art event, the Aotearoa Art Fair in Tamaki Makaurau is about to showcase the work of more than 180 artists. Some - like our next guest - have made a name for themselves internationally. Painter Judy Millar has twice represented New Zealand at the Venice Biennale. She has many awards, fellowships and residencies to her name. Judy has recently returned from the European arts hub of Berlin, and talks with Lynn Freeman about her feelings returning home. The Aotearoa Art Fair starts on 16 November at The Cloud in Auckland.
Writer Roderick Finlayson was right in the thick of it during a formative time in New Zealand's literary history. He was a friend and contemporary of other significant writers, including James K Baxter, Frank Sargeson and D'Arcy Cresswell. Roderick's not as well known now, despite being in some ways, ahead of his time. He wrote about race relations and environmental issues in his essays, articles, stories and letters, as early as the late 1930s. His first short story collection, Brown Man's Burden, was published in 1938. In recent years, publisher and writer Roger Hickin has championed Roderick's work. He first released a selection of his published and unpublished writing in 2020, and now a biography called Roderick Finlayson - A Man from Another World. He talks with Lynn Freeman about Roderick's reputation in 2022. Roderick Finlayson, A Man from Another World by Roger Hickin is published by Cold Hub Press.
The Manawatu Sinfonia epitomises the value of a community orchestra - helping to launch professional music careers, promoting the work of local composers and of course, entertaining people living in Palmerston North and the wider region. Its members are currently rehearsing for a concert featuring the work only of New Zealand composers - three of them from Palmerston North - and including two world premiere works. Just this year the Sinfonia and associated Manawatu Youth Orchestra between them saw seven string players snapped up for the National Youth Orchestra. Lynn Freeman talks with bassoonist Jeff McNeill on a break from the afternoon's rehearsals. 20 November is when the Manawatu Sinfonia will perform A Celebration of Local Composers at Palmerston North Boys High.
A nostalgic series of stylised paintings of state houses is about to go on show, the work of Pirongia-based artist Carmel Van Der Hoeven. Though, what with the thousands that have been sold off, knocked down and gentrified, those "little boxes" are getting harder to find! The "State House Series" makes up part of Carmel's Mortal Dreams show, that will also include the large, brightly-coloured, floral paintings she's best known for. Carmel's painted 60 works so far in the "State House Series", and she still goes searching for more on her travels. Lynn Freeman asked what got her started down this track... Carmel Van Der Hoeven's exhibition Mortal Dreams opens on Friday 18 Nov at Turua Popup Gallery on Khyber Pass Road in Tamaki Makaurau.
Writer Kevin Ireland has already written two memoirs - Under the bridge and over the moon, followed by Backwards to forwards. Now in his 90th year, Kevin tried an unpredictable experiment for his third memoir. He rummaged through half-forgotten moments in his life each day for 30 days and wrote them down. He found himself thinking about his first date - aged 8 - fishing in Southland, moments from his years living in London and the first time he saw a five pound note. He called it A month at the back of my brain, and Lynn Freeman was intrigued by the stories behind some of Kevin's poems. A month at the back of my brain, Kevin Ireland's third memoir is a Quentin Wilson Publishing publication.
Renée's small fictional rural town of Porohiwi is once again the scene of a murder. But why would anyone kill grumpy old mask collector Matthew Durrell in his home? Blood Matters is award-winning playwright and novellist Renée's second crime novel. In it, Puti has taken over both guardianship of her 10-year-old niece Bella Rose and ownership of the local bookshop, "Mainly Crime", after the death of her sister. Otaki-based Renée says she doesn't dwell on the forensics in her books. She's far more interested in the impact of a murder on the small community she's created. Lynn Freeman asks her what she enjoys about writing crime stories. Blood Matters by Renée is published by The Cuba Press.
Maori and Pasifika contemporary artists, whose work has enriched Aotearoa and captured the world's attention over the last half a century, share their stories in a new TV series, Waharoa: Art of the Pacific. Waharoa are gateways or portals. Telling the story of how traditional Maori and Pacific artforms have been referenced, adapted and transformed over the decades, is a daunting brief. Hosting the three-part series is art historian Emeritus Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku. She's travelled the motu talking to some 60 artists behind significant contemporary artworks to hear about their ideas, their practice and their hopes for the future. Lynn Freeman talks with Ngahuia about that journey. The series Waharoa: Art of the Pacific will premiere on Prime on 17 November. We can't recommend it highly enough!
Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid is the alluring title of the latest exhibition by sculptor Louise McRae. She's been described as an alchemist of materials for the way she manipulates everything from concrete to metals. In he Auckland show, brass, copper, alloy and enamel are combined and pleated with fabrics, then combined with material felts that she's painted. Louise tells Lynn Freeman that she took her exhibition's title from a book by conservation biologist Thor Hanson . Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change showed how animals and plants are currently responding and adapting to climate change. Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid by Louise McRae opens on 12 November at WRW. & Co furniture showroom in Matakana in Tamaki Makarau.
Risking a vaccination campaign in India against government orders puts a New Zealand doctor at great risk in the 1990s. That's the thumbnail description of a novel written by New Zealand GP David Whittet. The Road to Madhapur may be fiction, but David tells Lynn Freeman it includes many aspects of his own time working in India, and also in rural practice here at home. In the novel, Theo gets in trouble when he tries to take unapproved, vital medicines from New Zealand into a developing country. Disillusioned, he heads to India to try and make a difference as a volunteer doctor. Which is where he meets Elisha, the daughter of missionaries who's determined to help her parents' impoverished patients. The Road to Madhapur by David Whittet is published by CopyPress
Ahead of starting an artist residency at the Auckland Botanical Gardens, painter Neal Palmer is about to unveil his largest paintings yet - of kauri, flax and magnolias. It's part of his 27th solo exhibition called Under the Surface. Since moving to New Zealand from London more than 20 years ago, Neal has been drawing, painting and photographing native plants and trees. At first glance, his paintings may look like simply faithful representations of our flora. But he's asking us to dig deeper, particularly to think about our fragile ecology. Lybnn Freeman took Neal Palmer back to his first impressions of Aotearoa. Neal Palmer's show Under the Surface opens at Tamaki Makarau's Föenander Galleries on Thursday 10 November.
Australian installation artist and sculptor Emily Floyd is about to reveal to Dunedinites an exhibition about the history of childcare that she's created since coming to the city on a research visit earlier this year. Emily, the daughter of toymakers, investigates play in the show Keeping it Complex, Keeping it Connected, and includes lots of opportunities for children and their parents to interact with many of the sculptures. But she says there are a few fragile pieces in this show that may have to be kept up high! Her day job is Senior Lecturer in the Fine Art Program at Melbourne's Monash University. But this year she's also the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa International Visiting Artist for 2022. Emily Floyd tells Lynn Freeman that she uncovered some great material while carrying out research in Otepoti for this show. Keeping it Complex, Keeping it Connected opens on 12 November at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
Former shepherd turned activist Bill Bradford reflects on his many years, first looking after flocks of sheep and later disadvantaged workers in his first poetry collection, No Rising of the Sheep. Bill lives in Wellsford these days. While his later years were spent as a trade union organiser and activist, he's recently found himself writing a lot about his time on the land. Lynn Freeman talks with Bill Bradford about the rural memories that infuse so much of his poetry. No Rising of the Sheep, poems by Bill Bradford is a Mary Egan Publishing publication. The collection is filled with pencil drawings by Thomas Lauterbach
When Wellington's Downstage Theatre Company closed in 2013, many feared that was the end of the road for its long-time home, the Hannah Playhouse. After all, the 49-year-old concrete building stands on prime real estate, opposite Bats Theatre and the Embassy Cinema. But the charitable trust that owns the Hannah has made a three-year pilot scheme with Wellington City Council to invest $200,000 a year in it. It will be used primarily as an arts incubation space for top performers to develop their work. There may occasionally be public performances there too. First to benefit from the opportunity is Footnote Dance Company - rehearsals are under way for a new show to premiere later this month. Lynn Freeman talks with Stephen Blackburn, the council's city events manager, who's known the building since childhood. His father Ken was involved with Downstage Theatre right from the start: The Footnote Theatre production ChoreoCo 2022: Mea Uma opens at the Hannah Playhouse on 16 November.
Douglas MacDiarmid is remembered as one of our great expat artists, but a new book that coincides with the 100th anniversary of his birth in Taihape reveals a man who was also a consummate letter writer and lover of language. His niece and biographer Anna Cahill has spent years transcribing hundreds of Douglas' handwritten letters to his first great love, composer Douglas Lilburn. Along with some poems dating from 1944 to 2001, these are contained in a book called Letters to Lilburn - Douglas MacDiarmid's conversations from the heart. Douglas died from Covid-19 in Paris in August 2020, but Anna and others were determined that his centenary be celebrated in his homeland. Lynn Freeman asks Anna if she hopes that Letters to Lilburn will help people to see Douglas as a man who was eloquent with both paint and pen. Letters to Lilburn - Douglas MacDiarmid's conversations from the heart, a limited-edition volume, is launched in Wellington on 14 November, the date of his 100th birthday. As well as Anna's book, there will be the MacDiarmid Centenary Art Trail that's included in a new dedicated website.
Boris Bogdanovic spent years working with local communities in conflict areas of Afghanistan and Jordan to help them save their cultural heritage. Now back in New Zealand, Boris is a Conservation Advisor for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga's Northern Region. This involves helping owners of historic buildings - from individual homes to museums - conserve and if necessary extend or update their properties legally and sympathetically. He also works as a Conservation Architect. Lynn Freeman first talked with Boris about his pride in his Serbo-Croatian heritage.
Kapiti Coast artists and craftspeople will be flinging open their studio doors and inviting people inside for two weekends next month, for the region's annual Arts Trail. After two tough years, the 21st Art Trail is the biggest one yet. More than 300 artists' work will be on show in studios and in gallery group shows, from Raumati up the coast to Otaki Beach. It's not only a huge cultural event for the region, it's hopefully a financial shot in the arm for hospitality too. Lynn Freeman talks with two of the participating artists this year - award winning mosaic-maker Jane Santos, and jeweller Rebecca Bond, whose CV includes running the Kapiti Art Studio for differently abled people and being a WOW four-time finalist! The Kapiti Coast Art Trail is on next weekend (5-6 November) and the following one (12-13 November)
From the pandemic to climatic issues, traveling the world has become a lot harder - ethically challenging, more expensive and riskier, as the headlines have pointed out this week. In 1971, Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington photographer Grant Sheehan sold his treasured motorbike to buy a return ticket to Amsterdam and he's travelled extensively ever since. During the lockdowns, he had the chance to sort through his photographs and think about his experiences, which he shares in a book called in memory of travel. But,m as he tells Lynn Freeman, it's not all looking back. In the final chapter he considers the future of travel, from space tourism to digital tourism and virtual reality. Grant Sheehan's in memory of travel is published by Phantom House Books.
The Dark Cracks of Kemang - The Bajai Boys in Indonesia is the enticing title of a memoir by Napier-based poet Jeremy Roberts. The book concentrates on his and his friends' years in Indonesia, where Jeremy worked as an English language teacher and performance poet a decade ago. It's full to overflowing with poems he wrote during what proved to be a heady time in his life. Jeremy's life is pretty busy now too. He tells Lynn Freeman he's now a poetry editor and reviewer, he interviews poets on Radio Kidnappers and he's an MC at Napier Live Poets. Jeremy Roberts' book The Dark Cracks of Kemang - The Bajai Boys in Indonesia is published by Interactive Press.
Nahyeon Lee's original background was in film and TV - she's directed, written and produced films, web-series and docu-series. Next month she makes her playwriting debut with a show called The First Asian Prime-Time Sitcom, which she says she wrote in a "fit of fury"... The Tamaki Makarau-based all-rounder graduated from the University of Auckland in Screen Production, with first class honours for a Master of Arts in drama directing in 2020. She was one of the directors and writers on the feature film Kainga that debuted in this year's International Film Festival. Until now her theatre work has been as a producer, but her new play is a hard-hitting comedy about the frustrations experienced by an all-Asian cast and crew of a (fictitious) sitcom created for prime-time TV. Ahead of the play's premiere Lynn Freeman asked her about her initial decision to get into filmmaking. Nahyeon Lees play The First Prime-Time Asian Sitcom premieres on the 3rd of November at Auckland's Q Theatre.
Michael, Albert, Sefa and Stanley, the heroes of the hit 2006 movie Sione's Wedding, return to the screen - not as adults, but as a teenage gang, back where it all began. It's the 1980s - long before the wedding that threatened to break up the Duckrockers. The TV series starts when the four BFFs go to the 1984 DD Smash gig in Aotea Square that ended in the infamous "Queen Street riot". When a newspaper headline blames it on 'drunk Polynesian schoolboys', the four need an alibi - fast! Arts Laureate Oscar Kightley was Albert in Sione's Wedding 1 and 2. In the TV prequel Duckrockers he plays Albert's father Issac. He's also co-written the TV series with James Griffin and has directed it. Teuila Blakely who played Sefa's partner Lelani in the movies now plays her Mum, Lana. She also has a writing credit and is Associate Producer on the show. She tells Lynn Freeman that when James suggested a prequel, it just felt perfect: Duckrockers goes to air on TVNZ 2 and on TVNZ+ on November 2nd
The repatriation of art and artefacts to and from our cultural institutions, is one of the main issues up for discussion at this year's annual Art Crime Symposium. Academics and researchers will hear papers on topics that range from the return of taonga through the Treaty Settlement process, how to repatriate stolen and problematic artefacts and specimens, and what exactly is "the good faith buyer" defence? Delivering a paper on Repatriation will be art crime expert Arthur Tompkins. Lynn Freeman spoke to him and to fellow expert, author and member of the Art Crime Research Trust, Penelope Jackson. Penelope says that Repatriation as a theme was an obvious one. The 2022 Art Crime Symposium is on Saturday (5 November) at City Gallery, Wellington. NB: There is a free ticket to the symposium for one of our listeners who's like to attend. Please email artcrimenz@gmail.com and tell them in one sentence why you want to attend. It needs to be in to them by 5pm on the 2nd of November.
When immigrants arrived in New Zealand in the Nineteenth Century, they brought with them some enthusiastic musician / composers. Their success rate was a bit hit or miss, according to composer and musicologist Philip Norman, who's about to deliver a talk about our early composers.
Demand for locally produced audio books has never been bigger, but up till now there's been no way to scale up production and create a self-sustaining industry. To make this possible, the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) has received almost half a million dollars from Manatu Taonga the Ministry for Culture and Heritage's $28 million Cultural Regeneration Fund. In the first round of bids for the Fund, only five groups, out of 66 applicants, have received grants - adding up to $3 million. The remaining 25-million will be shared out over three more funding rounds. There are over 600 groups applying, all with ideas on how to support arts practitioners and communities now and into the future. But it was the audio book initiative that caught our eye. Lynn Freeman talks with Claire Murdoch who's a PANZ Council member and Head of Publishing at Penguin Random House New Zealand.
Peace Stick is a novel that started with a chat to a former East German schoolgirl about life behind the Iron Curtain during the Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years ago Author Stephen Johnson shares how he found the protagonist of his self-published work.
Mosaic artworks are currently on display at the biennial New Zealand Mosaic Art Exhibition in Whanganui. Contributing artists Achilles Botes and chair of New Zealand Mosaic Art Pat George discuss the intricacies of the art form.
The range of comedy, light drama and drama series on TV and streaming services in this country is astonishing right now. The days of "diversity" meaning "worthy and tucked away somewhere" are long gone. In fact these days being diverse seems to be a competitive edge - here and overseas. Pax Assadi's sitcom Raised by Refugees is going into its second series. So are Jewish comedy Kid sister, pre-colonial drama Kairakau, trans dramedy Rurangi, and the unique scifi/rural/Asian/sitcom mashup Creamerie. Simon Morris drags Creamerie showrunner Roseanne Liang and producer Bronwynn Bakker from Kevin and Co away from pre-production of the new series to talk about the New Diversity, along with one of the people who can take a bow for the success of the New Diversity, NZ On Air's Amie Mills.
It reads like a western and it's based on the Maungatapu Murders of 1866, when the notorious Burgess Gang killed five men in a crime that shocked the young colony. In his novel The Physician's Gun, John Evan Harris has woven a story around the historical events, but has created a hero in 15-year-old Henry Appleton. Henry dreams of being a cowboy, and bringing down the Burgess Gang becomes his mission after they kidnap and shoot him, leaving him for dead. The physician referenced in the book title is Zephaniah Smith, who comes to Nelson on personal mission to find a killer. John - a former TV producer and founder of Greenstone TV - talks with Lynn Freeman about turning our colonial history into a page-turner. The Physician's Gun by John Evan Harris is published by Roiall Emerald Publishing.
Ruth Bayley is a history graduate who's woven what she's read in second world war soldiers' diaries and telegrams into her first novel, Barefoot. It's set between Wellington and the battlefields of North Africa. Adelaide desperately misses her husband John who's sent to Egypt after enlisting. She becomes obsessed with the letters he writes her, using them to turn their home into a shrine. Excerpts from the novel were longlisted in the First Pages International Prize 2020, and then shortlisted in the NZSA New Zealand Heritage Literary Awards 2021. Lynn Freeman talks with Ruth about the completed book. Barefoot by R V Bayley is published by Eden Street Press.
Almost three tonnes of ice will soon be dangling high above Nelson's harbour while suspended dancers struggle to balance on it, as it melts over the course of a day. The city's Festival-goers will be the first in New Zealand to see THAW, a work asking viewers to think about how they can personally take action over the climate crisis. It's also about human adaptability and survival. THAW is performed by Australian physical theatre company Legs On The Wall and created by its Artistic Director, Joshua Thomson. Lynn Freeman talks to Joshua in Australia before he arrives in Nelson. THAW has its New Zealand premiere at the Nelson Arts Festival on 24 October.
Tired of being left off touring schedules by musicians, Whanganui is taking matters into its own hands. Over Labour Weekend it's launching a new festival, Lost Art Summer in the Square, with a line up of local and national musicians. Top of the lineup of electronic artists are partners in life and music, DJ Chiccoreli and MC Tali. Since moving back from London to Auckland 9 years ago, they're two of the biggest names in the Drum & Bass scene here. MC/vocalist Tali was the first solo woman in a decade to win the Vodafone New Zealand Music Award for "Best Electronic Artist" back in 2019. She's up for the award again this year. Chiccoreli meanwhile, has taken his distinctive soulful Drum & Bass - what he calls "Liquid Lowdown" - on stage and over the airwaves, most recently on George FM. They tell Lynn Freeman there's been a resurgence in interest in the music but there's more to do. DJ Chiccoreli & MC Tali will be performing on Saturday at the Lost Art Summer in the Square in Whanganui next weekend.
Wellington based, Filipino-born bassist and composer Seth Boy often combines the musical influences of his home country and of jazz greats like Duke Ellington, and John Coltrane in his work. Seth has a new work commissioned for Wellington's upcoming Jazz Festival. Farewell, Sweet Stranger is the name of the piece that touches on his feeling of being disconnected from the Philippines, and his concern about losing touch with his roots. Lynn Freeman speaks with Seth Boy - who's also the principal bassist of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band. Seth Boy is performing as part of Sunday Mixtape - three different commissioned performances one after the other, at the Opera House on Sunday 23 October, as part of the Wellington Jazz Festival.
Winning this year's $50,000 Dame Malvina Major Award is allowing Christchurch tenor Oliver Sewell to live the dream and forge an international career. Oliver's currently in Europe after recently winning first place in the Vincerò Worldwide Opera Competition in Naples, competing against 30 finalists in front of an international panel of judges. It was the award money that made it possible for him to attend the competition in Italy, and will help to fund his plans to move to Europe next year, with all the associated costs of travel, lessons and accommodation. Lynn Freeman spoke to him on the line to Dresden in Germany, and he explained why the Dame Malvina Major Award and the competition win have come at a pivotal point in his career.
Tatting, a form of lace making, was on an international 'seriously endangered craft' list until just a couple of years ago. Its rejuvenation is credited to the worldwide Covid lockdowns, when people had time to learn and make handicrafts. Fiona Sharp learnt how to tat as a child in the 1950s and has never looked back. Her work will be on show at the upcoming Wellington Heritage Crafts and Vintage Retro Fair. Lynn Freeman talks with Fiona about the origins - and future - of tatting. Fiona Sharp's tatting will be on show at the Wellington Heritage Crafts and Vintage Retro Fair at the Seatoun Village Hall in Wellington on 30 October.
Maori writer and scholar Alice Te Punga Somerville has launched her first poetry collection from her new home - in Canada. She has several academic books to her name but Always Italicise - How to write while colonised is a personal account of racism experienced in and out of academic institutions, and her fears for her baby daughter being brought up in Aotearoa. The title 'Always italicise foreign words', was advice from a friend, and you'll find that in Alice's poems, English is in italics, Maori is not. Alice talks to Lynn Freeman about the collection, inspired by an experience she had at a writer's festival. Always Italicise - how to write while colonised by Alice Te Punga Somerville is an Auckland University Press publication.
Tapping into his own New Zealand army career in Military Intelligence, and with the help of handy sources in the service, Darin Dance has written a spy novel set in Wellington. Whiskey Lima Golf sees army vet Tom (Tamati) Yelich in a wheelchair, and struggling with depression after being injured in Afghanistan. But shortly afterwards, he and his old army mate Devon find themselves entering the shady world of international espionage being played out on the streets of Te Whanganui a Tara. Lynn Freeman talks with Darin about spy novels, authenticity and his plans for Tom and Devon. Whiskey Lima Golf by Darin Dance is published by the Bach Doctor Press.
Massive jigsaws that traverse time and space, are the latest mind blowing creations from artist Zac Langdon-Pole. Almost 130-thousand pieces make up the jigsaws that combine the latest images from NASA's Hubble and James Webb Space telescopes, and 19th Century Romantic landscape paintings. Porous World is the name of the exhibition from an artist whose fascination with space also includes working with meteorite dust in his sculptures. Lynn Freeman asks Zac why he was so fascinated by the connection between the 19th Century "grand tours" and colonization, and today's exploration deeper and deeper into space. Zac Langdon-Pole's exhibition Porous World opens on Saturday October 15 at the Michael Lett Gallery in Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland.
The housing crisis has been headline news for some years now. But Wellington artist and activist Heleyni Pratley wants to delve deeper and ask people to share their own stories about how it's affecting them. The Kiwi/Greek conceptual artist and former union organiser is setting up a 'Housing Crisis Community Reflection & Assessment Centre'. People coming in for a look-see will be invited to talk about their experiences and thoughts on video. Heleyni will then edit these interviews together and project them onto a sculpture she's making out of paper. It's called A work about the housing crisis with an indoor outdoor flow is the Installation's name, and it will be on for a month from mid-October in central Te Whanganui a Tara/Wellington. Members of the public can also book an interview in advance via email. It's being supported by the Urban Dream Brokerage organisation.
The public's trust in the media is at an all time low. Perhaps it's time to simply hand over the newspapers, cameras and microphones to our children, to get their take on the news. This is the premise for a show called News News News that two British theatre-makers are creating with children from Mount Maunganui Primary for the Tauranga Festival. It'll be filmed in front of a live audience and broadcast online. Andy Field and Beckie Darlington have created similar shows overseas - so Lynn Freeman was curious to find out if Kiwi kids were bringing a new perspective to the studio. She spoke to three of the budding journalists - Indigo, Arlie and Laurie - and to Andy Field. News News News by Andy Field and Beckie Darlington - with Rosabel Tan & students from Mount Maunganui Primary - plays at the Addison Theatre in Tauranga on Saturday October 15.
When your debut novel sparks a publisher's bidding war, wins a slew of awards and nominations and tops the bestseller list, when do you have time to write the notoriously difficult second novel? Jacqueline Bublitz has managed to - in between media interviews and invitations to talk about that first book Before You Knew My Name. . The crime novel - told from the perspective of murder victim Alice - took out both the Best First Novel and Best Novel categories at the recent Ngaio Marsh Awards. Before you knew my name was set in Melbourne, and based on the 2014 murder of a woman who was out jogging in an area Jacqueline knows well. Her next book though will be set in Aotearoa. Jacqueline spends her time between Melbourne and New Plymouth. Lynn Freeman asked her if she was a big crime fiction reader before she started writing it.
When your debut novel sparks a publisher's bidding war, wins a slew of awards and nominations and tops the bestseller list, when do you have time to write the notoriously difficult second novel? Jacqueline Bublitz has managed to - in between media interviews and invitations to talk about that first book Before You Knew My Name. . The crime novel - told from the perspective of murder victim Alice - took out both the Best First Novel and Best Novel categories at the recent Ngaio Marsh Awards. Before you knew my name was set in Melbourne, and based on the 2014 murder of a woman who was out jogging in an area Jacqueline knows well. Her next book though will be set in Aotearoa. Jacqueline spends her time between Melbourne and New Plymouth. Lynn Freeman asked her if she was a big crime fiction reader before she started writing it.
Frankie McMillan explores wandering in all kinds of ways - through landscapes and through life - in her new collection of short and ultra short stories, The Wandering Nature of Us Girls. Many are based on snatches of her own memory, growing up with the freedom to take off with her sisters. But for others she's started imagining the lives of others, including Annie Edson who miraculously survived toppling down Niagara Falls inside a barrel in 1901. This is the award winning Christchurch writer's sixth book, and she's a two-time winner of the New Zealand Flash Fiction Day competition. Frankie chats with Lynn Freeman and reads from The Wandering Nature of Us Girls. Frankie McMillan's short story collection The Wandering Nature of Us Girls is a Canterbury University Press publication.
Frankie McMillan explores wandering in all kinds of ways - through landscapes and through life - in her new collection of short and ultra short stories, The Wandering Nature of Us Girls. Many are based on snatches of her own memory, growing up with the freedom to take off with her sisters. But for others she's started imagining the lives of others, including Annie Edson who miraculously survived toppling down Niagara Falls inside a barrel in 1901. This is the award winning Christchurch writer's sixth book, and she's a two-time winner of the New Zealand Flash Fiction Day competition. Frankie chats with Lynn Freeman and reads from The Wandering Nature of Us Girls. Frankie McMillan's short story collection The Wandering Nature of Us Girls is a Canterbury University Press publication.
The University of Canterbury Musical Theatre Society has performed around 80 productions over its 50-year history, and many of the members involved on and off stage are about to gather for a reunion to mark its anniversary. MUSOC was formed to not only entertain, but to encourage people to hone their skills - performing, writing and as crew. Past members include singer and lecturer Judy Bellingham, jazz maestro Tom Rainey,and more recently actor/comedian Brynley Stent and composer Luke Di Somma who was our guest on the Laugh Track recently. One of the first productions was Cinderolla & The Fairy Oddmother, penned in 1972 by a young Philip Norman, who of course has gone on to have a respected career as a composer, conductor and educator. Lynn Freeman talks to Philip and to one of the reunion organisers and former MUSOC director, Cam Stewart. MUSOC 's 50th reunion is on at Haere-Roa, University of Canterbury starting on the 7th of October.
The University of Canterbury Musical Theatre Society has performed around 80 productions over its 50-year history, and many of the members involved on and off stage are about to gather for a reunion to mark its anniversary. MUSOC was formed to not only entertain, but to encourage people to hone their skills - performing, writing and as crew. Past members include singer and lecturer Judy Bellingham, jazz maestro Tom Rainey,and more recently actor/comedian Brynley Stent and composer Luke Di Somma who was our guest on the Laugh Track recently. One of the first productions was Cinderolla & The Fairy Oddmother, penned in 1972 by a young Philip Norman, who of course has gone on to have a respected career as a composer, conductor and educator. Lynn Freeman talks to Philip and to one of the reunion organisers and former MUSOC director, Cam Stewart. MUSOC 's 50th reunion is on at Haere-Roa, University of Canterbury starting on the 7th of October.
Writing the rocky love story of a second-generation Chinese-New Zealander and a recent Taiwanese migrant has been the focus of writer Rose Lu's six-month writer's residency at the historic Randell Collage in Wellington. It's the 20th year of residencies at Randell Cottage. Rose's time there has just ended, so it felt like the perfect time for a catch up. Rose's first book was the prize-winning, 2019 essay collection All Who Live On Islands. Lynn Freeman wondered, was she leaving with the manuscript she'd planned to write there, one that was going to include a lot of tramping?
Writing the rocky love story of a second-generation Chinese-New Zealander and a recent Taiwanese migrant has been the focus of writer Rose Lu's six-month writer's residency at the historic Randell Collage in Wellington. It's the 20th year of residencies at Randell Cottage. Rose's time there has just ended, so it felt like the perfect time for a catch up. Rose's first book was the prize-winning, 2019 essay collection All Who Live On Islands. Lynn Freeman wondered, was she leaving with the manuscript she'd planned to write there, one that was going to include a lot of tramping?
For the three years before sculptor Peter Nicholls' death last year, he worked with his friend and editor Don Hunter on a biography charting his 60 years of creating often monumental work from found materials. While he didn't live to see the finished book, which he titled Dynamics / Memory / Grace: Peter Nicholls, he did proof a colour draft of it a fortnight before he died, in his 80s. Most of his sculptures, crafted mainly from 'found' native wood and steel, were designed for outdoor settings. But many are also in galleries and homes around the country. We have a selection on them on our webpage rnz.co.nz/standingroomonly. Peter also shared his expertise with the next generation of artists as a lecturer in Sculpture at the Dunedin School of Art, Otago Polytechnic from 1979 until 2001. That's where Don Hunter first met Peter, as he explains to Lynn Freeman.
For the three years before sculptor Peter Nicholls' death last year, he worked with his friend and editor Don Hunter on a biography charting his 60 years of creating often monumental work from found materials. While he didn't live to see the finished book, which he titled Dynamics / Memory / Grace: Peter Nicholls, he did proof a colour draft of it a fortnight before he died, in his 80s. Most of his sculptures, crafted mainly from 'found' native wood and steel, were designed for outdoor settings. But many are also in galleries and homes around the country. We have a selection on them on our webpage rnz.co.nz/standingroomonly. Peter also shared his expertise with the next generation of artists as a lecturer in Sculpture at the Dunedin School of Art, Otago Polytechnic from 1979 until 2001. That's where Don Hunter first met Peter, as he explains to Lynn Freeman.
The New Zealand landscape is dramatic and varied - a mecca for film makers these days, but long before them, for painters. But it's not just the beautiful beaches, rugged mountains and lush forests. It's also New Zealanders' often complicated relationship to the land that many artists have tried to capture. Te Papa has been rifling through its extensive art collection to look at just this in an exhibition called Hiahia Whenua: Landscape and Desire. Rebecca Rice, Curator Historical NZ Art, and Megan Tamati-Quennell, Curator Modern & Contemporary Maori & Indigenous Art, have collaborated on the exhibition. They have chosen early idyllic landscapes from the colonial period, and put them alongside contemporary works. As they explain to Lynn Freeman, landscapes in art have fallen in and out of fashion over the centuries. So why do they still have a place in our hearts? Hiahia Whenua: Landscape and Desire opens at Toi Art at Te Papa in Te Whanganui a Tara on Saturday (Saturday 8 October)
The New Zealand landscape is dramatic and varied - a mecca for film makers these days, but long before them, for painters. But it's not just the beautiful beaches, rugged mountains and lush forests. It's also New Zealanders' often complicated relationship to the land that many artists have tried to capture. Te Papa has been rifling through its extensive art collection to look at just this in an exhibition called Hiahia Whenua: Landscape and Desire. Rebecca Rice, Curator Historical NZ Art, and Megan Tamati-Quennell, Curator Modern & Contemporary Maori & Indigenous Art, have collaborated on the exhibition. They have chosen early idyllic landscapes from the colonial period, and put them alongside contemporary works. As they explain to Lynn Freeman, landscapes in art have fallen in and out of fashion over the centuries. So why do they still have a place in our hearts? Hiahia Whenua: Landscape and Desire opens at Toi Art at Te Papa in Te Whanganui a Tara on Saturday (Saturday 8 October)
A powerful dance work examines some of the reasons behind the shockingly high number of Aboriginal youth taking their own lives. It's about to premiere in Aotearoa. Aboriginal dancer, Dalisa Pigram is performing Gudirr Gudirr as part of Auckland's Tempo Dance Festival. Dalia is from Broome in Western Australia where efforts are being made to keep their language and culture alive. But, as she tells Lynn Freeman during a break in rehearsals, at the same time their young people are really struggling. Dalisa Pigram will perform Gudirr Gudirr at Auckland's Q Theatre October 3, as part of the Tempo Dance Festival: Te Rerenga o Tere.
A powerful dance work examines some of the reasons behind the shockingly high number of Aboriginal youth taking their own lives. It's about to premiere in Aotearoa. Aboriginal dancer, Dalisa Pigram is performing Gudirr Gudirr as part of Auckland's Tempo Dance Festival. Dalia is from Broome in Western Australia where efforts are being made to keep their language and culture alive. But, as she tells Lynn Freeman during a break in rehearsals, at the same time their young people are really struggling. Dalisa Pigram will perform Gudirr Gudirr at Auckland's Q Theatre October 3, as part of the Tempo Dance Festival: Te Rerenga o Tere.
It was so nearly lost. As the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral is being rebuilt, historian Edmund Bohan is releasing a history of the distinctive Gothic building. It shows it was controversial even before work started on designing it, let alone building in. From the laying of the foundations to the official opening, it took 40 years, after squabbles over pretty much every aspect of its construction - not to mention the huge problems raising the money to build it in the City Centre. In Heart of the City: The Story of Christchurch's Controversial Cathedral, Edmund is critical of the former Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews' determination to demolish the badly-damaged cathedral after the Canterbury earthquakes, to replace it with a modern church. And he tells Lynn Freeman he's very much looking forward to seeing the Cathedral restored to its former glory after a lengthy and pricey rebuild. But first he sets the scene. Back in the 1860s, there was controversy over where the cathedral should go, its design, whether it should be in stone or timber - even if there should be a cathedral built at all! Heart of the City: The Story of Christchurch's Controversial Cathedral, by Edmund Bohan is published by Quentin Wilson Publishing.
It was so nearly lost. As the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral is being rebuilt, historian Edmund Bohan is releasing a history of the distinctive Gothic building. It shows it was controversial even before work started on designing it, let alone building in. From the laying of the foundations to the official opening, it took 40 years, after squabbles over pretty much every aspect of its construction - not to mention the huge problems raising the money to build it in the City Centre. In Heart of the City: The Story of Christchurch's Controversial Cathedral, Edmund is critical of the former Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews' determination to demolish the badly-damaged cathedral after the Canterbury earthquakes, to replace it with a modern church. And he tells Lynn Freeman he's very much looking forward to seeing the Cathedral restored to its former glory after a lengthy and pricey rebuild. But first he sets the scene. Back in the 1860s, there was controversy over where the cathedral should go, its design, whether it should be in stone or timber - even if there should be a cathedral built at all! Heart of the City: The Story of Christchurch's Controversial Cathedral, by Edmund Bohan is published by Quentin Wilson Publishing.
Expat Vanessa McGowan calls in from Nashville to talk about her work as a music career coach helping those seeking, if not fame and fortune, at least enough gigs to make a living in the home of country music. Vanessa is an upright and electric bassist, vocalist, session musician, writer. Her band The Tattletale Saints have another album and NZ tour planned for 2023.
Expat Vanessa McGowan calls in from Nashville to talk about her work as a music career coach helping those seeking, if not fame and fortune, at least enough gigs to make a living in the home of country music. Vanessa is an upright and electric bassist, vocalist, session musician, writer. Her band The Tattletale Saints have another album and NZ tour planned for 2023.
Expat Vanessa McGowan calls in from Nashville to talk about her work as a music career coach helping those seeking, if not fame and fortune, at least enough gigs to make a living in the home of country music. Vanessa is an upright and electric bassist, vocalist, session musician, writer. Her band The Tattletale Saints have another album and NZ tour planned for 2023.
Over the summer Lynn spent two weeks as a volunteer warden on one of her favourite places, Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara sanctuary in Rakiura/Stewart Island. She took her trusty RNZ sound device with her to record her experiences and accounts from previous wardens over the years.
Over the summer Lynn spent two weeks as a volunteer warden on one of her favourite places, Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara sanctuary in Rakiura/Stewart Island. She took her trusty RNZ sound device with her to record her experiences and accounts from previous wardens over the years.
Over the summer Lynn spent two weeks as a volunteer warden on one of her favourite places, Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara sanctuary in Rakiura/Stewart Island. She took her trusty RNZ sound device with her to record her experiences and accounts from previous wardens over the years.
Meet Ben Scales, only in his 20s but CEO of KiwiFibre, a company landing international contracts for the fast growing natural fibre composites industry. Already a viable and more sustainable alternative to fibreglass and carbon fibre. Ben is a finalist in the Momentum Student Entrepreneur category of the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards.
Meet Ben Scales, only in his 20s but CEO of KiwiFibre, a company landing international contracts for the fast growing natural fibre composites industry. Already a viable and more sustainable alternative to fibreglass and carbon fibre. Ben is a finalist in the Momentum Student Entrepreneur category of the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards.
Meet Ben Scales, only in his 20s but CEO of KiwiFibre, a company landing international contracts for the fast growing natural fibre composites industry. Already a viable and more sustainable alternative to fibreglass and carbon fibre. Ben is a finalist in the Momentum Student Entrepreneur category of the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards.
Oud Virtuoso Rahim AlHaj is bringing his acclaimed work, Letters from Iraq, to Aotearoa New Zealand. It's a series of instrumental poems based on actual letters written by people desperately trying to survive in his war torn homeland. A powerful musical meditation on the consequences of war was written in 2017 but listening to it now with the war in Ukraine reminds makes it every bit as relevant now.
Oud Virtuoso Rahim AlHaj is bringing his acclaimed work, Letters from Iraq, to Aotearoa New Zealand. It's a series of instrumental poems based on actual letters written by people desperately trying to survive in his war torn homeland. A powerful musical meditation on the consequences of war was written in 2017 but listening to it now with the war in Ukraine reminds makes it every bit as relevant now.
Oud Virtuoso Rahim AlHaj is bringing his acclaimed work, Letters from Iraq, to Aotearoa New Zealand. It's a series of instrumental poems based on actual letters written by people desperately trying to survive in his war torn homeland. A powerful musical meditation on the consequences of war was written in 2017 but listening to it now with the war in Ukraine reminds makes it every bit as relevant now.
Wellingtonian Andrew Harding explains why his happy place is out with his metal detector searching for hidden treasure. Coins, rings, objects that take a while to identify. He has tips for people thinking of taking up dirt fishing.
Wellingtonian Andrew Harding explains why his happy place is out with his metal detector searching for hidden treasure. Coins, rings, objects that take a while to identify. He has tips for people thinking of taking up dirt fishing.
Wellingtonian Andrew Harding explains why his happy place is out with his metal detector searching for hidden treasure. Coins, rings, objects that take a while to identify. He has tips for people thinking of taking up dirt fishing.
Composting, growing from seed, avoiding the dreaded brassica bolt - David Neill and Ruth Bayne from the Dunedin Vegetable Growers Club with advice on how to get the most out of your vege patch.
Composting, growing from seed, avoiding the dreaded brassica bolt - David Neill and Ruth Bayne from the Dunedin Vegetable Growers Club with advice on how to get the most out of your vege patch.
Composting, growing from seed, avoiding the dreaded brassica bolt - David Neill and Ruth Bayne from the Dunedin Vegetable Growers Club with advice on how to get the most out of your vege patch.
Grounded in the Celtic musical traditions, multi-instrumentalist Rennie Pearson is about to head around the North Island as he releases his new solo album filled with traditional music of Ireland, Scotland and Maritime.
Grounded in the Celtic musical traditions, multi-instrumentalist Rennie Pearson is about to head around the North Island as he releases his new solo album filled with traditional music of Ireland, Scotland and Maritime.
Grounded in the Celtic musical traditions, multi-instrumentalist Rennie Pearson is about to head around the North Island as he releases his new solo album filled with traditional music of Ireland, Scotland and Maritime.
Mrinali Kumar believes animal-free foods taste better. She has linked that belief with another, trying to reduce food waste. This summer her cauliflower ice cream Kinda, produced from vegetables destined to be discarded, will go on sale. Mrinali is a finalist in the Momentum Student Entrepreneur category of the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards.
Mrinali Kumar believes animal-free foods taste better. She has linked that belief with another, trying to reduce food waste. This summer her cauliflower ice cream Kinda, produced from vegetables destined to be discarded, will go on sale. Mrinali is a finalist in the Momentum Student Entrepreneur category of the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards.
Mrinali Kumar believes animal-free foods taste better. She has linked that belief with another, trying to reduce food waste. This summer her cauliflower ice cream Kinda, produced from vegetables destined to be discarded, will go on sale. Mrinali is a finalist in the Momentum Student Entrepreneur category of the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards.
Three of the country's top board game designers Amanda Milne, Richard Durham and Julia Schiller talk about the enduring appeal of rolling the dice and moving counters, and the kinds of homegrown board games that are hitting the market.
Three of the country's top board game designers Amanda Milne, Richard Durham and Julia Schiller talk about the enduring appeal of rolling the dice and moving counters, and the kinds of homegrown board games that are hitting the market.
Three of the country's top board game designers Amanda Milne, Richard Durham and Julia Schiller talk about the enduring appeal of rolling the dice and moving counters, and the kinds of homegrown board games that are hitting the market.
Eddie Game is an acoustic ecologist, and the Lead Scientist & Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy's Asia Pacific region. Rainforests are his favourite places and he's doing his best to save them from further degradation. He's recorded in wilderness areas including those in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Myanmar, Australia, and Gabon where logging is one of the biggest threats to local wildlife.
Eddie Game is an acoustic ecologist, and the Lead Scientist & Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy's Asia Pacific region. Rainforests are his favourite places and he's doing his best to save them from further degradation. He's recorded in wilderness areas including those in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Myanmar, Australia, and Gabon where logging is one of the biggest threats to local wildlife.
Eddie Game is an acoustic ecologist, and the Lead Scientist & Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy's Asia Pacific region. Rainforests are his favourite places and he's doing his best to save them from further degradation. He's recorded in wilderness areas including those in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Myanmar, Australia, and Gabon where logging is one of the biggest threats to local wildlife.
Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha University of Canterbury Librarian Lisa Davies (Kai Tahu) is determined to make te reo more accessible. She's also a jazz musician, so she's brought both together. She's part of Nga Reo Tioriori, a collective of Maori jazz musicians who'll be performing a gala concert at the Christchurch Big Band Festival next month.
Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha University of Canterbury Librarian Lisa Davies (Kai Tahu) is determined to make te reo more accessible. She's also a jazz musician, so she's brought both together. She's part of Nga Reo Tioriori, a collective of Maori jazz musicians who'll be performing a gala concert at the Christchurch Big Band Festival next month.
Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha University of Canterbury Librarian Lisa Davies (Kai Tahu) is determined to make te reo more accessible. She's also a jazz musician, so she's brought both together. She's part of Nga Reo Tioriori, a collective of Maori jazz musicians who'll be performing a gala concert at the Christchurch Big Band Festival next month.
Competing at the top level is a mind game. Elite athletes are under pressure to meet expectations, not just of themselves but of their country too. So how do you retire after being driven to succeed most of your life? How do you adjust to life without the adrenaline rush? A candid conversation with Silver Fern Amelerianne Ekenasio, retired rower Nathan Twaddle, and sports psychologist Rod Corban.
Competing at the top level is a mind game. Elite athletes are under pressure to meet expectations, not just of themselves but of their country too. So how do you retire after being driven to succeed most of your life? How do you adjust to life without the adrenaline rush? A candid conversation with Silver Fern Amelerianne Ekenasio, retired rower Nathan Twaddle, and sports psychologist Rod Corban.
Competing at the top level is a mind game. Elite athletes are under pressure to meet expectations, not just of themselves but of their country too. So how do you retire after being driven to succeed most of your life? How do you adjust to life without the adrenaline rush? A candid conversation with Silver Fern Amelerianne Ekenasio, retired rower Nathan Twaddle, and sports psychologist Rod Corban.
Ruth Delaney, the main organiser from DIA's Visits and Ceremonial Office team and Rachel Hayward, Acting Secretary of the Cabinet/ Clerk of the Executive Council, are coordinating the State Memorial Service inside St Paul's Cathedral, and the screening of the on Parliament Grounds for the public, rain or shine. They talk to Lynn about the logistics of this afternoon's official Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Service in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington.
Ruth Delaney, the main organiser from DIA's Visits and Ceremonial Office team and Rachel Hayward, Acting Secretary of the Cabinet/ Clerk of the Executive Council, are coordinating the State Memorial Service inside St Paul's Cathedral, and the screening of the on Parliament Grounds for the public, rain or shine. They talk to Lynn about the logistics of this afternoon's official Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Service in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington.
Ruth Delaney, the main organiser from DIA's Visits and Ceremonial Office team and Rachel Hayward, Acting Secretary of the Cabinet/ Clerk of the Executive Council, are coordinating the State Memorial Service inside St Paul's Cathedral, and the screening of the on Parliament Grounds for the public, rain or shine. They talk to Lynn about the logistics of this afternoon's official Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Service in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington.
It's been a while, but finally a play about a black lesbian couple wanting to adopt a child is about to hit the stage. Estelle Chout's script for Po' Boys and Oysters was nominated for an Adam's NZ Playwriting Award in 2021 and the comedy's debut was originally scheduled a year ago. But Covid-19 meant the production had to be abandoned...twice. The show will go on later this week with Estelle, who was born in the French Caribbean country of Martinique, in one of the leading roles. She tells Lynn Freeman one of the inspirations of the play was that she simply wasn't seeing stories she could relate to - about Caribbean Kiwi queer life - on our screens or stage. .Po' Boys and Oysters written by and starring Estelle Chout will finally have its debut on the 27th of September at The Basement Theatre in Tamaki Makarau.
It's been a while, but finally a play about a black lesbian couple wanting to adopt a child is about to hit the stage. Estelle Chout's script for Po' Boys and Oysters was nominated for an Adam's NZ Playwriting Award in 2021 and the comedy's debut was originally scheduled a year ago. But Covid-19 meant the production had to be abandoned...twice. The show will go on later this week with Estelle, who was born in the French Caribbean country of Martinique, in one of the leading roles. She tells Lynn Freeman one of the inspirations of the play was that she simply wasn't seeing stories she could relate to - about Caribbean Kiwi queer life - on our screens or stage. .Po' Boys and Oysters written by and starring Estelle Chout will finally have its debut on the 27th of September at The Basement Theatre in Tamaki Makarau.
It's been a while, but finally a play about a black lesbian couple wanting to adopt a child is about to hit the stage. Estelle Chout's script for Po' Boys and Oysters was nominated for an Adam's NZ Playwriting Award in 2021 and the comedy's debut was originally scheduled a year ago. But Covid-19 meant the production had to be abandoned...twice. The show will go on later this week with Estelle, who was born in the French Caribbean country of Martinique, in one of the leading roles. She tells Lynn Freeman one of the inspirations of the play was that she simply wasn't seeing stories she could relate to - about Caribbean Kiwi queer life - on our screens or stage. .Po' Boys and Oysters written by and starring Estelle Chout will finally have its debut on the 27th of September at The Basement Theatre in Tamaki Makarau.
Sharron Came's first book Peninsula, which won the 2021 Adam Foundation Prize for best MA folio, has been described as ''A novel in stories''. The stories follow three generations of a Northland farming family, the Carltons. It's a period of huge changes in farming, mirrored by upheavals within the family. While some embrace the lifestyle, others yearn to leave. Sharron lives in Wellington, but she opted to set her stories where she grew up, in rural Northland. She talks to Lynn Freeman about separating real life and fiction. Peninsula by Sharron Came is published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.
Sharron Came's first book Peninsula, which won the 2021 Adam Foundation Prize for best MA folio, has been described as ''A novel in stories''. The stories follow three generations of a Northland farming family, the Carltons. It's a period of huge changes in farming, mirrored by upheavals within the family. While some embrace the lifestyle, others yearn to leave. Sharron lives in Wellington, but she opted to set her stories where she grew up, in rural Northland. She talks to Lynn Freeman about separating real life and fiction. Peninsula by Sharron Came is published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.
Sharron Came's first book Peninsula, which won the 2021 Adam Foundation Prize for best MA folio, has been described as ''A novel in stories''. The stories follow three generations of a Northland farming family, the Carltons. It's a period of huge changes in farming, mirrored by upheavals within the family. While some embrace the lifestyle, others yearn to leave. Sharron lives in Wellington, but she opted to set her stories where she grew up, in rural Northland. She talks to Lynn Freeman about separating real life and fiction. Peninsula by Sharron Came is published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.
Nelson is about to host its first Clay Week, celebrating all things ceramic. It will bring together potters from around the country to share their knowledge through conversations, masterclasses and workshops thoughout the region. Attending a bunch of the workshops will be Lyttelton-based potter Sam Elise, who's keen to soak up some advice from the experienced ceramicists who'll be there. Lynn Freeman spoke to Sam, and also one of the organisers of Nelson Clay Week, Tom Baker. Tom's co-owner of both the Hot Clay Gallery and the Kiln Studio in the city. He says they decided to create something similar to Nelson Jewellery Week which started last year. The first Nelson Clay Week starts on the 1st of October and runs for 9 days.
Nelson is about to host its first Clay Week, celebrating all things ceramic. It will bring together potters from around the country to share their knowledge through conversations, masterclasses and workshops thoughout the region. Attending a bunch of the workshops will be Lyttelton-based potter Sam Elise, who's keen to soak up some advice from the experienced ceramicists who'll be there. Lynn Freeman spoke to Sam, and also one of the organisers of Nelson Clay Week, Tom Baker. Tom's co-owner of both the Hot Clay Gallery and the Kiln Studio in the city. He says they decided to create something similar to Nelson Jewellery Week which started last year. The first Nelson Clay Week starts on the 1st of October and runs for 9 days.
Nelson is about to host its first Clay Week, celebrating all things ceramic. It will bring together potters from around the country to share their knowledge through conversations, masterclasses and workshops thoughout the region. Attending a bunch of the workshops will be Lyttelton-based potter Sam Elise, who's keen to soak up some advice from the experienced ceramicists who'll be there. Lynn Freeman spoke to Sam, and also one of the organisers of Nelson Clay Week, Tom Baker. Tom's co-owner of both the Hot Clay Gallery and the Kiln Studio in the city. He says they decided to create something similar to Nelson Jewellery Week which started last year. The first Nelson Clay Week starts on the 1st of October and runs for 9 days.
NZ Barok - New Zealand's Baroque instrument orchestra is about to reunite after a lengthy hiatus, putting their own spin on famous and lesser-known examples of Baroque - classical music of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. . Graham McPhail is co-artistic director of NZ Barok, and a professor in early music at University of Auckland's School of Music. The orchestra members are leading Baroque specialists from all over the motu and are coming together to play three concerts alongside eight Baroque singers. Lynn Freeman spoke with Graham about Baroque music, in particular the music of Bach and Handel. NZ Barok's Court to Cathedral concert takes place at St Luke's Church in Remuera in Tamaki Makaurau for 3 nights starting on September 30.
NZ Barok - New Zealand's Baroque instrument orchestra is about to reunite after a lengthy hiatus, putting their own spin on famous and lesser-known examples of Baroque - classical music of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. . Graham McPhail is co-artistic director of NZ Barok, and a professor in early music at University of Auckland's School of Music. The orchestra members are leading Baroque specialists from all over the motu and are coming together to play three concerts alongside eight Baroque singers. Lynn Freeman spoke with Graham about Baroque music, in particular the music of Bach and Handel. NZ Barok's Court to Cathedral concert takes place at St Luke's Church in Remuera in Tamaki Makaurau for 3 nights starting on September 30.
NZ Barok - New Zealand's Baroque instrument orchestra is about to reunite after a lengthy hiatus, putting their own spin on famous and lesser-known examples of Baroque - classical music of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. . Graham McPhail is co-artistic director of NZ Barok, and a professor in early music at University of Auckland's School of Music. The orchestra members are leading Baroque specialists from all over the motu and are coming together to play three concerts alongside eight Baroque singers. Lynn Freeman spoke with Graham about Baroque music, in particular the music of Bach and Handel. NZ Barok's Court to Cathedral concert takes place at St Luke's Church in Remuera in Tamaki Makaurau for 3 nights starting on September 30.
The Royal New Zealand Navy has a new taonga - a quilt sewn by 12 serving and retired female naval personnel with each of the 49 squares telling a story of their time in service. Those stories cover 6 decades, with the sewers aged from their 30s to their 80s. It's taken 18 months to complete, with the sewers repurposing old navy uniforms, buttons and braid to create the squares. It's about to be shown to the public in an exhibition called Threads Through Time at the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum in Devonport. Lynn Freeman spoke to two of the contributors - Chief Petty Officer Fiona Carter who's working within Fleet Personnel at the Devonport Naval Base, and to Sandy Watson who served in the Navy as an Able Signals Wren 1969-71, and then in the 1980s with the Reserves. Threads Through Time opens to the public at Auckland's Torpedo Bay Navy Museum on the 1st of October as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival.
The Royal New Zealand Navy has a new taonga - a quilt sewn by 12 serving and retired female naval personnel with each of the 49 squares telling a story of their time in service. Those stories cover 6 decades, with the sewers aged from their 30s to their 80s. It's taken 18 months to complete, with the sewers repurposing old navy uniforms, buttons and braid to create the squares. It's about to be shown to the public in an exhibition called Threads Through Time at the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum in Devonport. Lynn Freeman spoke to two of the contributors - Chief Petty Officer Fiona Carter who's working within Fleet Personnel at the Devonport Naval Base, and to Sandy Watson who served in the Navy as an Able Signals Wren 1969-71, and then in the 1980s with the Reserves. Threads Through Time opens to the public at Auckland's Torpedo Bay Navy Museum on the 1st of October as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival.
The Royal New Zealand Navy has a new taonga - a quilt sewn by 12 serving and retired female naval personnel with each of the 49 squares telling a story of their time in service. Those stories cover 6 decades, with the sewers aged from their 30s to their 80s. It's taken 18 months to complete, with the sewers repurposing old navy uniforms, buttons and braid to create the squares. It's about to be shown to the public in an exhibition called Threads Through Time at the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum in Devonport. Lynn Freeman spoke to two of the contributors - Chief Petty Officer Fiona Carter who's working within Fleet Personnel at the Devonport Naval Base, and to Sandy Watson who served in the Navy as an Able Signals Wren 1969-71, and then in the 1980s with the Reserves. Threads Through Time opens to the public at Auckland's Torpedo Bay Navy Museum on the 1st of October as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival.
Simone Kaho's poetry collection HEAL! offers up an uncompromising account of an assault that left her traumatised with PTSD, and at times, seemingly without hope. But the Tongan-Pakeha writer is a survivor, and there is hope within these poems, even if she's still scarred and still angry. Simone is also a journalist, filmmaker and performance poet, and she's this year's Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. Her second collection comes six years after her first, Lucky Punch, was published. It's the first publication from Saufoi Press. She tells Lynn Freeman that writing HEAL! has been part of years of hard work to recover after being ambushed and assaulted: PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS INTERVIEW CONTAINS REFERENCES TO VIOLENCE AND SELF HARM. HEAL! by Simone Kaho is published by Saufoi Press. If this interview has raised concerns for you then contact LIFELINE on 0800 543 354
Simone Kaho's poetry collection HEAL! offers up an uncompromising account of an assault that left her traumatised with PTSD, and at times, seemingly without hope. But the Tongan-Pakeha writer is a survivor, and there is hope within these poems, even if she's still scarred and still angry. Simone is also a journalist, filmmaker and performance poet, and she's this year's Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. Her second collection comes six years after her first, Lucky Punch, was published. It's the first publication from Saufoi Press. She tells Lynn Freeman that writing HEAL! has been part of years of hard work to recover after being ambushed and assaulted: PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS INTERVIEW CONTAINS REFERENCES TO VIOLENCE AND SELF HARM. HEAL! by Simone Kaho is published by Saufoi Press. If this interview has raised concerns for you then contact LIFELINE on 0800 543 354
Simone Kaho's poetry collection HEAL! offers up an uncompromising account of an assault that left her traumatised with PTSD, and at times, seemingly without hope. But the Tongan-Pakeha writer is a survivor, and there is hope within these poems, even if she's still scarred and still angry. Simone is also a journalist, filmmaker and performance poet, and she's this year's Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. Her second collection comes six years after her first, Lucky Punch, was published. It's the first publication from Saufoi Press. She tells Lynn Freeman that writing HEAL! has been part of years of hard work to recover after being ambushed and assaulted: PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS INTERVIEW CONTAINS REFERENCES TO VIOLENCE AND SELF HARM. HEAL! by Simone Kaho is published by Saufoi Press. If this interview has raised concerns for you then contact LIFELINE on 0800 543 354
When the old Datsun 120Y that belonged to his late father is about to be sold, a teenage boy takes his younger brother and cousin out for a final road trip. This is the start of Datsun, the latest short film by Kiwi Mark Albiston. Things quickly spiral out of control - drugs, explosions, and a high speed chase. Datsun has already picked up awards at overseas festivals, and won People's Choice at last year's Covid-affected New Zealand International Film Festival. Now it's about to be shown as part of the Show Me Shorts Festival. Mark's previous shorts - Run in 2007 followed by The Six Dollar Fifty Man - each received a Special Distinction award at Cannes. His first feature - the well-received Shopping - came out in 2013. He talks to Lynn Freeman about directing and co-writing the script for Datsun. Datsun will show in "The Sampler" section of the 17th Show Me Shorts Festival. It will show at 36 cinemas and community venues nationwide from the 7th of October.
When the old Datsun 120Y that belonged to his late father is about to be sold, a teenage boy takes his younger brother and cousin out for a final road trip. This is the start of Datsun, the latest short film by Kiwi Mark Albiston. Things quickly spiral out of control - drugs, explosions, and a high speed chase. Datsun has already picked up awards at overseas festivals, and won People's Choice at last year's Covid-affected New Zealand International Film Festival. Now it's about to be shown as part of the Show Me Shorts Festival. Mark's previous shorts - Run in 2007 followed by The Six Dollar Fifty Man - each received a Special Distinction award at Cannes. His first feature - the well-received Shopping - came out in 2013. He talks to Lynn Freeman about directing and co-writing the script for Datsun. Datsun will show in "The Sampler" section of the 17th Show Me Shorts Festival. It will show at 36 cinemas and community venues nationwide from the 7th of October.
When the old Datsun 120Y that belonged to his late father is about to be sold, a teenage boy takes his younger brother and cousin out for a final road trip. This is the start of Datsun, the latest short film by Kiwi Mark Albiston. Things quickly spiral out of control - drugs, explosions, and a high speed chase. Datsun has already picked up awards at overseas festivals, and won People's Choice at last year's Covid-affected New Zealand International Film Festival. Now it's about to be shown as part of the Show Me Shorts Festival. Mark's previous shorts - Run in 2007 followed by The Six Dollar Fifty Man - each received a Special Distinction award at Cannes. His first feature - the well-received Shopping - came out in 2013. He talks to Lynn Freeman about directing and co-writing the script for Datsun. Datsun will show in "The Sampler" section of the 17th Show Me Shorts Festival. It will show at 36 cinemas and community venues nationwide from the 7th of October.
A 2020 UNICEF report found that only 64.4% of 15-year-olds in Aotearoa have more than a basic proficiency in reading and maths. Research also shows that, over the last 10 years, the proportion of young people who are reading for pleasure has decreased significantly. Read NZ is one of the organisations trying to halt and reverse these depressing statistics. One thing that historically gets kids to read is a wildly popular book - Harry Potter famously got 11-year-old boys reading in millions! Other famous page turners include The Hunger Games and the comedies of David Walliams. Which suggests that one way to turn around this country's appalling literacy rates is to get more authors into our schools. For the past six years, Read NZ's Programmes Manager Kathryn Carmody has beefed up its Writers in Schools programme, where authors spend time in classrooms answering questions about their books and offering tips to the next generation of writers. It covers early childhood through to secondary school children. Now Kathryn's handing the baton on to Simie Simpson who's been in the book trade for more than 20 years. Lynn Freeman invited Kathryn and Simie into the studio, where Kathryn first talked about how the programme works.
A 2020 UNICEF report found that only 64.4% of 15-year-olds in Aotearoa have more than a basic proficiency in reading and maths. Research also shows that, over the last 10 years, the proportion of young people who are reading for pleasure has decreased significantly. Read NZ is one of the organisations trying to halt and reverse these depressing statistics. One thing that historically gets kids to read is a wildly popular book - Harry Potter famously got 11-year-old boys reading in millions! Other famous page turners include The Hunger Games and the comedies of David Walliams. Which suggests that one way to turn around this country's appalling literacy rates is to get more authors into our schools. For the past six years, Read NZ's Programmes Manager Kathryn Carmody has beefed up its Writers in Schools programme, where authors spend time in classrooms answering questions about their books and offering tips to the next generation of writers. It covers early childhood through to secondary school children. Now Kathryn's handing the baton on to Simie Simpson who's been in the book trade for more than 20 years. Lynn Freeman invited Kathryn and Simie into the studio, where Kathryn first talked about how the programme works.
A 2020 UNICEF report found that only 64.4% of 15-year-olds in Aotearoa have more than a basic proficiency in reading and maths. Research also shows that, over the last 10 years, the proportion of young people who are reading for pleasure has decreased significantly. Read NZ is one of the organisations trying to halt and reverse these depressing statistics. One thing that historically gets kids to read is a wildly popular book - Harry Potter famously got 11-year-old boys reading in millions! Other famous page turners include The Hunger Games and the comedies of David Walliams. Which suggests that one way to turn around this country's appalling literacy rates is to get more authors into our schools. For the past six years, Read NZ's Programmes Manager Kathryn Carmody has beefed up its Writers in Schools programme, where authors spend time in classrooms answering questions about their books and offering tips to the next generation of writers. It covers early childhood through to secondary school children. Now Kathryn's handing the baton on to Simie Simpson who's been in the book trade for more than 20 years. Lynn Freeman invited Kathryn and Simie into the studio, where Kathryn first talked about how the programme works.
Two historic stone wall specialists will be talking at the upcoming UPSURGE Festival in the Bay of Islands. Kate Ballard's book Stone Wall Country: The Dry Stone Walls of Bay of Islands and Kaikohe was based on interviews with local residents, including direct descendants of the original wall builders. At her talk "Stories behind walls" she'll be joined by fellow enthusiast Bill Edwards, Heritage New Zealand's area manager. There are hundreds of kilometres of dry stone walls, made from volcanic rocks in the region, so they're an important part of the landscape. Lynn Freeman talks with Kate and Bill, and first asks how these walls were built. Kate Ballard and Bill Edwards' "Stories behind walls" takes place on Saturday 24 Sept at the Plough & Feather in Kerikeri. It's part of Upsurge the Bay of Islands Arts Festival.
Two historic stone wall specialists will be talking at the upcoming UPSURGE Festival in the Bay of Islands. Kate Ballard's book Stone Wall Country: The Dry Stone Walls of Bay of Islands and Kaikohe was based on interviews with local residents, including direct descendants of the original wall builders. At her talk "Stories behind walls" she'll be joined by fellow enthusiast Bill Edwards, Heritage New Zealand's area manager. There are hundreds of kilometres of dry stone walls, made from volcanic rocks in the region, so they're an important part of the landscape. Lynn Freeman talks with Kate and Bill, and first asks how these walls were built. Kate Ballard and Bill Edwards' "Stories behind walls" takes place on Saturday 24 Sept at the Plough & Feather in Kerikeri. It's part of Upsurge the Bay of Islands Arts Festival.
Two historic stone wall specialists will be talking at the upcoming UPSURGE Festival in the Bay of Islands. Kate Ballard's book Stone Wall Country: The Dry Stone Walls of Bay of Islands and Kaikohe was based on interviews with local residents, including direct descendants of the original wall builders. At her talk "Stories behind walls" she'll be joined by fellow enthusiast Bill Edwards, Heritage New Zealand's area manager. There are hundreds of kilometres of dry stone walls, made from volcanic rocks in the region, so they're an important part of the landscape. Lynn Freeman talks with Kate and Bill, and first asks how these walls were built. Kate Ballard and Bill Edwards' "Stories behind walls" takes place on Saturday 24 Sept at the Plough & Feather in Kerikeri. It's part of Upsurge the Bay of Islands Arts Festival.
Several children from a small New Zealand town go missing, one after the other. An unlikely detective enters the police investigation in the form of Lorraine. She's usually found in the bowels of the station keeping all the paperwork in order. This is the premise of Paper Cage, the debut novel by Tom Baragwanath, last year's winner of the Michael Gifkins Literary Prize. Tom now works in Paris but his novel is based where he grew up - in Masterton in the Wairarapa. Paper Cage by Tom Baragwanath is published by text.
Several children from a small New Zealand town go missing, one after the other. An unlikely detective enters the police investigation in the form of Lorraine. She's usually found in the bowels of the station keeping all the paperwork in order. This is the premise of Paper Cage, the debut novel by Tom Baragwanath, last year's winner of the Michael Gifkins Literary Prize. Tom now works in Paris but his novel is based where he grew up - in Masterton in the Wairarapa. Paper Cage by Tom Baragwanath is published by text.
Several children from a small New Zealand town go missing, one after the other. An unlikely detective enters the police investigation in the form of Lorraine. She's usually found in the bowels of the station keeping all the paperwork in order. This is the premise of Paper Cage, the debut novel by Tom Baragwanath, last year's winner of the Michael Gifkins Literary Prize. Tom now works in Paris but his novel is based where he grew up - in Masterton in the Wairarapa. Paper Cage by Tom Baragwanath is published by text.
If you've ever seen a Tibetan Buddhist sand mandala you'll appreciate the potential for this under-appreciated art material - at least away from the beach. Marcus Winter aka The Sandman is as much magician as he is artist in the way he uses grains of sand to create images. Marcus is collaborating with two other Maori creatives on an immersive show for the 2022 Koanga Festival at Auckland's Basement Theatre. And he tells Lynn Freeman the aim is to build our connection to the tohu of the natural world through storytelling, taonga puoro and sand. Marcus Winter aka The Sandman is appearing in Nga Tohu o Te Taiao, It opens at the Basement Theatre on Tuesday as part of the Koanga Festival.
If you've ever seen a Tibetan Buddhist sand mandala you'll appreciate the potential for this under-appreciated art material - at least away from the beach. Marcus Winter aka The Sandman is as much magician as he is artist in the way he uses grains of sand to create images. Marcus is collaborating with two other Maori creatives on an immersive show for the 2022 Koanga Festival at Auckland's Basement Theatre. And he tells Lynn Freeman the aim is to build our connection to the tohu of the natural world through storytelling, taonga puoro and sand. Marcus Winter aka The Sandman is appearing in Nga Tohu o Te Taiao, It opens at the Basement Theatre on Tuesday as part of the Koanga Festival.
If you've ever seen a Tibetan Buddhist sand mandala you'll appreciate the potential for this under-appreciated art material - at least away from the beach. Marcus Winter aka The Sandman is as much magician as he is artist in the way he uses grains of sand to create images. Marcus is collaborating with two other Maori creatives on an immersive show for the 2022 Koanga Festival at Auckland's Basement Theatre. And he tells Lynn Freeman the aim is to build our connection to the tohu of the natural world through storytelling, taonga puoro and sand. Marcus Winter aka The Sandman is appearing in Nga Tohu o Te Taiao, It opens at the Basement Theatre on Tuesday as part of the Koanga Festival.
It's easy to imagine that a new collection of Climate Change poetry from around the Pacific could be overwhelmingly a picture of doom and gloom. But what the four Kiwi editors of No Other Place to Stand have achieved, is a balance of the angry and the philosophical, the sad and the satirical. One of the editors, Canterbury poet Rebecca Hawkes, talks to Lynn Freeman about the collection's range. The other editors involved with No Other Place to Stand are Jordan Hamel, Erik Kennedy and Essa Ranapiri. It's published by Auckland University Press.
It's easy to imagine that a new collection of Climate Change poetry from around the Pacific could be overwhelmingly a picture of doom and gloom. But what the four Kiwi editors of No Other Place to Stand have achieved, is a balance of the angry and the philosophical, the sad and the satirical. One of the editors, Canterbury poet Rebecca Hawkes, talks to Lynn Freeman about the collection's range. The other editors involved with No Other Place to Stand are Jordan Hamel, Erik Kennedy and Essa Ranapiri. It's published by Auckland University Press.
It's easy to imagine that a new collection of Climate Change poetry from around the Pacific could be overwhelmingly a picture of doom and gloom. But what the four Kiwi editors of No Other Place to Stand have achieved, is a balance of the angry and the philosophical, the sad and the satirical. One of the editors, Canterbury poet Rebecca Hawkes, talks to Lynn Freeman about the collection's range. The other editors involved with No Other Place to Stand are Jordan Hamel, Erik Kennedy and Essa Ranapiri. It's published by Auckland University Press.
Verdi's opera Macbeth is very true to Shakespeare's tale of a well-regarded military leader corrupted by his conviction he's destined to become King. Playing the lead role in NZ Opera's new interpretation of the opera is Kiwi baritone Philip Rhodes, under the direction of Netia Jones and opposite his Lady Macbeth, Amanda Echalaz.
Verdi's opera Macbeth is very true to Shakespeare's tale of a well-regarded military leader corrupted by his conviction he's destined to become King. Playing the lead role in NZ Opera's new interpretation of the opera is Kiwi baritone Philip Rhodes, under the direction of Netia Jones and opposite his Lady Macbeth, Amanda Echalaz.
Verdi's opera Macbeth is very true to Shakespeare's tale of a well-regarded military leader corrupted by his conviction he's destined to become King. Playing the lead role in NZ Opera's new interpretation of the opera is Kiwi baritone Philip Rhodes, under the direction of Netia Jones and opposite his Lady Macbeth, Amanda Echalaz.
This is a shocking statistic in 2022. Just 3% of annual publishing in New Zealand features Maori and tagata moana writers. Facing these woeful figures, it's clear a strategy is needed to support and encourage the moana creative sectors who are trying - but clearly failing - to get their voices heard. Where are 2022's Whiti Ihimaera, Selina Tusitala Marsh, Alan Duff and Tusiata Avia? Kim Meredith is the Manager for the Coalition for Books. She's working on a national strategy along with Reading Warrior publisher David Riley and published poet, playwright and short story writer Courtney Sina Meredith. Lynn Freeman talks to Kim Meredith and Courtney Sina Meredith about the shout out they're doing to creative moana communities for feedback and ideas.
This is a shocking statistic in 2022. Just 3% of annual publishing in New Zealand features Maori and tagata moana writers. Facing these woeful figures, it's clear a strategy is needed to support and encourage the moana creative sectors who are trying - but clearly failing - to get their voices heard. Where are 2022's Whiti Ihimaera, Selina Tusitala Marsh, Alan Duff and Tusiata Avia? Kim Meredith is the Manager for the Coalition for Books. She's working on a national strategy along with Reading Warrior publisher David Riley and published poet, playwright and short story writer Courtney Sina Meredith. Lynn Freeman talks to Kim Meredith and Courtney Sina Meredith about the shout out they're doing to creative moana communities for feedback and ideas.
This is a shocking statistic in 2022. Just 3% of annual publishing in New Zealand features Maori and tagata moana writers. Facing these woeful figures, it's clear a strategy is needed to support and encourage the moana creative sectors who are trying - but clearly failing - to get their voices heard. Where are 2022's Whiti Ihimaera, Selina Tusitala Marsh, Alan Duff and Tusiata Avia? Kim Meredith is the Manager for the Coalition for Books. She's working on a national strategy along with Reading Warrior publisher David Riley and published poet, playwright and short story writer Courtney Sina Meredith. Lynn Freeman talks to Kim Meredith and Courtney Sina Meredith about the shout out they're doing to creative moana communities for feedback and ideas.
2022 is the Year of the Tartan. It's also the 50th anniversary of the delivery of Te Petihana Reo Maori to Parliament demanding recognition of te reo. Artist Mitchell Manuel is about to open an exhibition of work in Scotland called Woven Identities, where he brings together tartan and koru, celebrating his own Scottish-Maori mixed ancestry. More broadly, he's also exploring the whakapapa, the genealogical and cultural connections between Maori and Scottish people. Lynn Freeman first asked Mitch why the Scots are so heavily represented in New Zealand? Mitch Manuel's exhibition Woven Identies opens on Wednesday at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Scotland
2022 is the Year of the Tartan. It's also the 50th anniversary of the delivery of Te Petihana Reo Maori to Parliament demanding recognition of te reo. Artist Mitchell Manuel is about to open an exhibition of work in Scotland called Woven Identities, where he brings together tartan and koru, celebrating his own Scottish-Maori mixed ancestry. More broadly, he's also exploring the whakapapa, the genealogical and cultural connections between Maori and Scottish people. Lynn Freeman first asked Mitch why the Scots are so heavily represented in New Zealand? Mitch Manuel's exhibition Woven Identies opens on Wednesday at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Scotland
2022 is the Year of the Tartan. It's also the 50th anniversary of the delivery of Te Petihana Reo Maori to Parliament demanding recognition of te reo. Artist Mitchell Manuel is about to open an exhibition of work in Scotland called Woven Identities, where he brings together tartan and koru, celebrating his own Scottish-Maori mixed ancestry. More broadly, he's also exploring the whakapapa, the genealogical and cultural connections between Maori and Scottish people. Lynn Freeman first asked Mitch why the Scots are so heavily represented in New Zealand? Mitch Manuel's exhibition Woven Identies opens on Wednesday at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Scotland
Deciding which creatives get a cut of the limited government funding pie is always contentious. Art is subjective after all. There are inevitably claims of favouritism on panels selected to recommend winners and losers. And those who miss out, understandably, often feel aggrieved. The Manatu Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage regularly comes in for criticism over previous allocations. Last year, for instance, it found itself in hot water with the arts community after awarding $500,000 from its Covid Response Innovation fund to a hitherto unknown, start-up group called Narrative Muse, that had promised an online platform to match readers and books. So now Culture and Heritage is trying something radically different, as it decides how to allocate the new 28 million dollar Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund it's responsible for. There have been more than 660 proposals from groups and individuals keen for a piece of the action. And the Ministry is going to the public, to ask which ones they support, and why. Deputy Chief Executive Joe Fowler talks with Lynn Freeman, first explaining what this Fund is specifically for. Feedback closes on the 26th of September. Here's the form you'll need to fill out for your suggestions..
Deciding which creatives get a cut of the limited government funding pie is always contentious. Art is subjective after all. There are inevitably claims of favouritism on panels selected to recommend winners and losers. And those who miss out, understandably, often feel aggrieved. The Manatu Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage regularly comes in for criticism over previous allocations. Last year, for instance, it found itself in hot water with the arts community after awarding $500,000 from its Covid Response Innovation fund to a hitherto unknown, start-up group called Narrative Muse, that had promised an online platform to match readers and books. So now Culture and Heritage is trying something radically different, as it decides how to allocate the new 28 million dollar Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund it's responsible for. There have been more than 660 proposals from groups and individuals keen for a piece of the action. And the Ministry is going to the public, to ask which ones they support, and why. Deputy Chief Executive Joe Fowler talks with Lynn Freeman, first explaining what this Fund is specifically for. Feedback closes on the 26th of September. Here's the form you'll need to fill out for your suggestions..
Deciding which creatives get a cut of the limited government funding pie is always contentious. Art is subjective after all. There are inevitably claims of favouritism on panels selected to recommend winners and losers. And those who miss out, understandably, often feel aggrieved. The Manatu Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage regularly comes in for criticism over previous allocations. Last year, for instance, it found itself in hot water with the arts community after awarding $500,000 from its Covid Response Innovation fund to a hitherto unknown, start-up group called Narrative Muse, that had promised an online platform to match readers and books. So now Culture and Heritage is trying something radically different, as it decides how to allocate the new 28 million dollar Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund it's responsible for. There have been more than 660 proposals from groups and individuals keen for a piece of the action. And the Ministry is going to the public, to ask which ones they support, and why. Deputy Chief Executive Joe Fowler talks with Lynn Freeman, first explaining what this Fund is specifically for. Feedback closes on the 26th of September. Here's the form you'll need to fill out for your suggestions..
Artist Andrew Bogle has embraced the opportunity to market his art online, on the website "Artfull" which profiles the work of New Zealand artists to a national and international audience. Former curator at the Auckland Art Gallery, Andrew started out as as a printmaker before experimenting with painting on wood panels. He talks to Lynn Freeman about the pros and cons of selling art online.
Artist Andrew Bogle has embraced the opportunity to market his art online, on the website "Artfull" which profiles the work of New Zealand artists to a national and international audience. Former curator at the Auckland Art Gallery, Andrew started out as as a printmaker before experimenting with painting on wood panels. He talks to Lynn Freeman about the pros and cons of selling art online.
Artist Andrew Bogle has embraced the opportunity to market his art online, on the website "Artfull" which profiles the work of New Zealand artists to a national and international audience. Former curator at the Auckland Art Gallery, Andrew started out as as a printmaker before experimenting with painting on wood panels. He talks to Lynn Freeman about the pros and cons of selling art online.
After 140 years displaying art from around the country, the fate of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts now hangs in the balance. Hopes of saving it rely on the generosity of the charitable trust's members, and an upcoming auction of donated art. The galleries are based at the heritage Wharf Offices Apartments building in central Wellington. Wayne Newman recently took over as President of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and, as he tells Lynn Freeman, he's spearheading the last-chance fundraising efforts
After 140 years displaying art from around the country, the fate of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts now hangs in the balance. Hopes of saving it rely on the generosity of the charitable trust's members, and an upcoming auction of donated art. The galleries are based at the heritage Wharf Offices Apartments building in central Wellington. Wayne Newman recently took over as President of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and, as he tells Lynn Freeman, he's spearheading the last-chance fundraising efforts
After 140 years displaying art from around the country, the fate of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts now hangs in the balance. Hopes of saving it rely on the generosity of the charitable trust's members, and an upcoming auction of donated art. The galleries are based at the heritage Wharf Offices Apartments building in central Wellington. Wayne Newman recently took over as President of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and, as he tells Lynn Freeman, he's spearheading the last-chance fundraising efforts
Creatures trying to survive as the world around them burns express their fears, their anger and their hopes in Naming the Beasts, the visceral new poetry collection by Auckland writer, Elizabeth Morton. In the world of the poems, habitat destruction and climate change have turned the world into a war zone. But all may not be lost. Elizabeth puts herself in the skin and minds of animals - from hens and cows to native birds, pangolins and one of her favourite creatures, wolves. Elizabeth Morton's poetry collection Naming the Beasts is published by Otago University Press.
Creatures trying to survive as the world around them burns express their fears, their anger and their hopes in Naming the Beasts, the visceral new poetry collection by Auckland writer, Elizabeth Morton. In the world of the poems, habitat destruction and climate change have turned the world into a war zone. But all may not be lost. Elizabeth puts herself in the skin and minds of animals - from hens and cows to native birds, pangolins and one of her favourite creatures, wolves. Elizabeth Morton's poetry collection Naming the Beasts is published by Otago University Press.
Creatures trying to survive as the world around them burns express their fears, their anger and their hopes in Naming the Beasts, the visceral new poetry collection by Auckland writer, Elizabeth Morton. In the world of the poems, habitat destruction and climate change have turned the world into a war zone. But all may not be lost. Elizabeth puts herself in the skin and minds of animals - from hens and cows to native birds, pangolins and one of her favourite creatures, wolves. Elizabeth Morton's poetry collection Naming the Beasts is published by Otago University Press.
It's the ultimate example of taking art to the people - a bright yellow electric cargo bike filled with art supplies is about to hit the streets of Christchurch. It's the idea of artist Isaac Tait, made possible with the help of The White Room Creative Space and a fundraising campaign. It's also versatile. The bike's about to make its first official appearance at the Otautahi Zinefest, where it'll become a mobile zine library. Lynn Freeman talks to Simon Gray, the White Room's Art Coordinator, and to Isaac who explains when he had the idea. Look out for the bright yellow electric cargo bike - "The White Room On Wheels" - in action on the streets of Christchurch soon!
It's the ultimate example of taking art to the people - a bright yellow electric cargo bike filled with art supplies is about to hit the streets of Christchurch. It's the idea of artist Isaac Tait, made possible with the help of The White Room Creative Space and a fundraising campaign. It's also versatile. The bike's about to make its first official appearance at the Otautahi Zinefest, where it'll become a mobile zine library. Lynn Freeman talks to Simon Gray, the White Room's Art Coordinator, and to Isaac who explains when he had the idea. Look out for the bright yellow electric cargo bike - "The White Room On Wheels" - in action on the streets of Christchurch soon!
It's the ultimate example of taking art to the people - a bright yellow electric cargo bike filled with art supplies is about to hit the streets of Christchurch. It's the idea of artist Isaac Tait, made possible with the help of The White Room Creative Space and a fundraising campaign. It's also versatile. The bike's about to make its first official appearance at the Otautahi Zinefest, where it'll become a mobile zine library. Lynn Freeman talks to Simon Gray, the White Room's Art Coordinator, and to Isaac who explains when he had the idea. Look out for the bright yellow electric cargo bike - "The White Room On Wheels" - in action on the streets of Christchurch soon!
"Jukebox musicals" are shows based on existing hits from famous bands and songwriters. And for years, Broadway and London's West End have been dominated by shows like We will rock you and Mamma Mia, using the songs of Queen and Abba. And now it's the turn of local songwriter Andrew London - not on the West End or Broadway, but at Coastlands Theatre up the Kapiti Coast. Andrew writes songs with one purpose - to entertain. Witty, silly, pointed and fiendishly catchy, he's been singing them around the country for years. And now - like Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Lionel Bart before him - Andrew's putting on a show of London ditties, with the help of longtime collaborator, playwright April Phillips. Right now they're rehearsing a musical called, appropriately enough, Let's talk about me. April and Andrew take a break to chat to Simon Morris.
"Jukebox musicals" are shows based on existing hits from famous bands and songwriters. And for years, Broadway and London's West End have been dominated by shows like We will rock you and Mamma Mia, using the songs of Queen and Abba. And now it's the turn of local songwriter Andrew London - not on the West End or Broadway, but at Coastlands Theatre up the Kapiti Coast. Andrew writes songs with one purpose - to entertain. Witty, silly, pointed and fiendishly catchy, he's been singing them around the country for years. And now - like Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Lionel Bart before him - Andrew's putting on a show of London ditties, with the help of longtime collaborator, playwright April Phillips. Right now they're rehearsing a musical called, appropriately enough, Let's talk about me. April and Andrew take a break to chat to Simon Morris.
"Jukebox musicals" are shows based on existing hits from famous bands and songwriters. And for years, Broadway and London's West End have been dominated by shows like We will rock you and Mamma Mia, using the songs of Queen and Abba. And now it's the turn of local songwriter Andrew London - not on the West End or Broadway, but at Coastlands Theatre up the Kapiti Coast. Andrew writes songs with one purpose - to entertain. Witty, silly, pointed and fiendishly catchy, he's been singing them around the country for years. And now - like Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Lionel Bart before him - Andrew's putting on a show of London ditties, with the help of longtime collaborator, playwright April Phillips. Right now they're rehearsing a musical called, appropriately enough, Let's talk about me. April and Andrew take a break to chat to Simon Morris.
What is a 'good' Chinese woman? That's one of the questions Hong Kong-born writer and performer Cynthia Hiu Ying Lam interrogates in her new play. She weaves together the stories of her two grandmothers and her mother. with her own experiences in , Oy-mahmah - Love Mum. Their stories are set during the Second World War, Hong Kong's post-war years and finally to the mass exodus of its residents in the 1990s after the unpopular transition from British colonial rule back to communist China. Sharing those concerns, Cynthia's family moved from Hong Kong to New Zealand when she was five. Lynn Freeman talks to Cynthia about what inspired the play. Oy-mahmah,(Love, Mum) by Cynthia Lam and directed by Kanta Kochhar-Lindgren, premieres this Friday at the Herald Theatre in Tamaki Makaurau as part of the Auckland Fringe festival. It'll also be available to be streamed for 48 hours following the second performance. Just a note - it's deemed suitable for those 16 years and above as it deals with themes of depression and mental health.
What is a 'good' Chinese woman? That's one of the questions Hong Kong-born writer and performer Cynthia Hiu Ying Lam interrogates in her new play. She weaves together the stories of her two grandmothers and her mother. with her own experiences in , Oy-mahmah - Love Mum. Their stories are set during the Second World War, Hong Kong's post-war years and finally to the mass exodus of its residents in the 1990s after the unpopular transition from British colonial rule back to communist China. Sharing those concerns, Cynthia's family moved from Hong Kong to New Zealand when she was five. Lynn Freeman talks to Cynthia about what inspired the play. Oy-mahmah,(Love, Mum) by Cynthia Lam and directed by Kanta Kochhar-Lindgren, premieres this Friday at the Herald Theatre in Tamaki Makaurau as part of the Auckland Fringe festival. It'll also be available to be streamed for 48 hours following the second performance. Just a note - it's deemed suitable for those 16 years and above as it deals with themes of depression and mental health.
What is a 'good' Chinese woman? That's one of the questions Hong Kong-born writer and performer Cynthia Hiu Ying Lam interrogates in her new play. She weaves together the stories of her two grandmothers and her mother. with her own experiences in , Oy-mahmah - Love Mum. Their stories are set during the Second World War, Hong Kong's post-war years and finally to the mass exodus of its residents in the 1990s after the unpopular transition from British colonial rule back to communist China. Sharing those concerns, Cynthia's family moved from Hong Kong to New Zealand when she was five. Lynn Freeman talks to Cynthia about what inspired the play. Oy-mahmah,(Love, Mum) by Cynthia Lam and directed by Kanta Kochhar-Lindgren, premieres this Friday at the Herald Theatre in Tamaki Makaurau as part of the Auckland Fringe festival. It'll also be available to be streamed for 48 hours following the second performance. Just a note - it's deemed suitable for those 16 years and above as it deals with themes of depression and mental health.
'Such a fine, sunny day' was the last thing 21-year-old resistance fighter Sophia Scholl said, before being executed in Munich after a Nazi show-trial in 1943. It's also the name of a new song cycle by New Zealand composer Alan Griffiths who imagines how Sophie, a member of the student-led White Rose group, might have reacted to today's world. Performing the premiere of the song-cycle is internationally in-demand Kiwi bass-baritone Paul Whelan, accompanied by pianists Anna Maksymova and Nicholas Young Alan explains to Lynn Freeman why Sophia's last words resonate so strongly with him. 'Such A Fine, Sunny Day' premieres at The Piano in Christchurch on September 17th. Also premiering at the concert will be several other of Alan's compositions performed by pianist Nicholas Young, and a violin duet with local violinist Rose Light. 'Such A Fine, Sunny Day' will be included in Alan's next album Land No More? due out next year.
'Such a fine, sunny day' was the last thing 21-year-old resistance fighter Sophia Scholl said, before being executed in Munich after a Nazi show-trial in 1943. It's also the name of a new song cycle by New Zealand composer Alan Griffiths who imagines how Sophie, a member of the student-led White Rose group, might have reacted to today's world. Performing the premiere of the song-cycle is internationally in-demand Kiwi bass-baritone Paul Whelan, accompanied by pianists Anna Maksymova and Nicholas Young Alan explains to Lynn Freeman why Sophia's last words resonate so strongly with him. 'Such A Fine, Sunny Day' premieres at The Piano in Christchurch on September 17th. Also premiering at the concert will be several other of Alan's compositions performed by pianist Nicholas Young, and a violin duet with local violinist Rose Light. 'Such A Fine, Sunny Day' will be included in Alan's next album Land No More? due out next year.
'Such a fine, sunny day' was the last thing 21-year-old resistance fighter Sophia Scholl said, before being executed in Munich after a Nazi show-trial in 1943. It's also the name of a new song cycle by New Zealand composer Alan Griffiths who imagines how Sophie, a member of the student-led White Rose group, might have reacted to today's world. Performing the premiere of the song-cycle is internationally in-demand Kiwi bass-baritone Paul Whelan, accompanied by pianists Anna Maksymova and Nicholas Young Alan explains to Lynn Freeman why Sophia's last words resonate so strongly with him. 'Such A Fine, Sunny Day' premieres at The Piano in Christchurch on September 17th. Also premiering at the concert will be several other of Alan's compositions performed by pianist Nicholas Young, and a violin duet with local violinist Rose Light. 'Such A Fine, Sunny Day' will be included in Alan's next album Land No More? due out next year.
Shortly, the next generation of elite New Zealand opera singers won't have to win a scholarship, find tens of thousands of dollars, or be separated from their families to train overseas for an international career. Next year the University of Waikato is opening Te Pae Kokako, The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio, aimed at preparing talented young New Zealand singers to be career ready when they graduate. It's the long held dream of Dame Malvina Major, one of our most successful international opera singers. Heading the programme is soprano Madeleine Pierard, the inaugural Dame Malvina Major Chair in Opera at the University of Waikato. Lynn Freeman asked Madeleine why the studio weas so important to Dame Malvina.
Shortly, the next generation of elite New Zealand opera singers won't have to win a scholarship, find tens of thousands of dollars, or be separated from their families to train overseas for an international career. Next year the University of Waikato is opening Te Pae Kokako, The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio, aimed at preparing talented young New Zealand singers to be career ready when they graduate. It's the long held dream of Dame Malvina Major, one of our most successful international opera singers. Heading the programme is soprano Madeleine Pierard, the inaugural Dame Malvina Major Chair in Opera at the University of Waikato. Lynn Freeman asked Madeleine why the studio weas so important to Dame Malvina.
Shortly, the next generation of elite New Zealand opera singers won't have to win a scholarship, find tens of thousands of dollars, or be separated from their families to train overseas for an international career. Next year the University of Waikato is opening Te Pae Kokako, The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio, aimed at preparing talented young New Zealand singers to be career ready when they graduate. It's the long held dream of Dame Malvina Major, one of our most successful international opera singers. Heading the programme is soprano Madeleine Pierard, the inaugural Dame Malvina Major Chair in Opera at the University of Waikato. Lynn Freeman asked Madeleine why the studio weas so important to Dame Malvina.
The circus has always been a symbol of escape, from children being amazed, amused - and often bemused - by their first experience of a live show, to disgruntled rebels running away to join the circus. Which is what 16-year-old Xanthe Naylor did - she ran off to join Dunedin's annual Circulation Festival. Ten years later, she's the Festival Director, and she's bringing a new show to Otepoti. It's a unique blend of circus and cabaret called Star Dust. Lynn Freeman first asked Xanthe about her first steps into the circus arena. Dunedin's annual Circulation Festival runs in October. Meanwhile, director Xanthe Naylor is part of Star Dust which plays in the city from this Thursday at Te Whare o Rukutia.
If the only way to address the global population crisis and the degradation of the planet was to limit everyone's lifespan to just 70 years, would you go along with it happily? Or would you fight to live? In Patricia Donovan's novel The Collections set in 2041, this is the task facing Claris, who works in a government Collections Depot. They're responsible for ensuring 70 year olds are euthanased, then their bodies are processed so they can be returned to the earth as ecologically sound mulch. The Collections is the third novel by the Kapiti Coast based writer. Lynn Freeman talks with her about the rival merits of life and ecological disaster. Patricia Donovan's The Collections was published by Mary Egan Publishing.
In poker, a slow roll is the ultimate example of bad etiquette. It's when a player knows they've got the best hand but waits until their opponent thinks they've won the pot before showing the winning cards. In his novel The Slow Roll, Auckland-based advertising executive Simon Lendrum has introduced a new kind of sleuth to the New Zealand crime scene - O'Malley, a hugely successful poker player who investigates the occasional crime. First O'Malley's asked to find a man's missing teenage daughter, but then there's a murder of one of his poker circle: The Slow Roll by Simon Lendrum is published by upstart press
Ditching the rat-race to go travelling around Aotearoa in a campervan - for some that sounds like a dream come true, for others - not so much. In her new play The Campervan, Kathryn Burnett pits a husband and wife against each other when Hugh wants to give away his multi-million dollar fortune to charity and live the simple life on the road. The play is Kathryn's 10th birthday present to Tadpole Productions at the PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna. Kathryn and director Simon Prast talk to Lynn Freeman about what happens when the wheels fall off your comfortable life! The Campervan premieres at the PumpHouse in Tamaki Makaurau on September 8.
Carterton artist Ngaire Kearney has the steadiest of hands and nerves of steel. She needs them - she etches intricate images into glass and stone, or burns them into wood. Most of her designs are created on objects she finds in second hand shops - glass vases, school desks, even family heirlooms that people bring to her for an artistic makeover. Ngaire trades as "Burnt Offerings" and her work's included in the upcoming Big Wai Art Sale in the Wairarapa, alongside other local artists and some from further afield. Ngaire tells Lynn Freeman she's self taught and started burning wood about 20 years ago. The Big Wai Art Sale starts at the Carterton Event Centre on September 9.
A new play exploring the intersection of grief, faith and sexuality has shocked the playwright when it become the target of a hate campaign. Catholic-raised Tatiana Hotere was also involved for many years with Evangelic Christian churches. But once word got out about her play Skin Hunger, she was deluged with messages linking to sermons, hymns and 'Jesus saves' memes. Among other things there were furious accusations that she was a terrible role model to her daughters. Tatiana tells Lynn Freeman it was very hurtful, and particularly surprising because the play is by no means anti-Christian. Skin Hunger opens at Auckland's Basement Theatre on September 13 as part of the Auckland Fringe.
It's astonishing what magic one actor can produce on stage when they have a great script and the ability to play many roles simply through movement and voice.. TAHI - New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance brings together soloists - from emerging first or second-timers through to well-established performers - from around Aotearoa for 10 days of performances and conversations about this specialist theatrical form. This year marks the fourth TAHI and it'll be hosted in Wellington - 18 shows across four venues and ten days. Lynn Freeman talks with two of this year's participants - Sacha Copland and Helen Fletcher. TAHI: New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance starts on September 8 at Bats Theatre in Te Whanganui A Tara/Wellington.
Maori visual artist Dr Maureen Lander is a visionary, a leading exponent of weaving, both customary and experimental, an installation artist and a mentor to many. Added to her extensive list of achievements is now being named as one of our latest Arts Foundation Laureates. Back in 1984 Maureen learnt flax harvesting, processing and weaving techniques from the hugely respected weaver and artist, Diggeress Te Kanawa. While honouring these traditional techniques, the Elam Art School graduate also integrates them with Western art materials like nylon fishing line and mesh. In 2020 Dr Maureen Lander became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Maori art. She talks with Lynn Freeman about her life, her work and her recent collaborations with the wahine Maori Mata Aho Collective, also named as one of this year's Arts Laureates.
The sound of the country's top secondary school choirs resonated through the Christchurch Town Hall last night for the National Finale of New Zealand's largest choral event: The Big Sing. It's the first such event in three years. The event's been running for more than 30 years, and in the lead-up to the Finale more than 8,000 singers in around 250 choirs had entered the regional competitions. It's described as more a celebration than a competition. Lynn Freeman talks with one of the adjudicators Igelese Ete, and two members of the Rangi Ruru Girls' School choir, "Resolutions". Helen Charlton is the choir's director, and Millie Trusttum is the student choir leader.
What if somebody claims to know a distressing secret about your partner, and then challenges you via Twitter to find out what happened. This is the situation Kiwi journalist Joy Manville finds herself in, as the protagonist of Richard Woolley's novel Detachment Theory. Joy writes for the lightly fictional New Zealand Bugle, while her British husband Stephen currently works at the University of Auckland as a Professor in Film Studies. Author Richard Woolley - another expat Brit - is also an academic as well as a former film screenwriter and director. Detachment Theory is his 7th novel. Lynn Freeman first asked him whether he approaches a film script differently from a novel.
After two disrupted years, Christchurch is looking forward to its WORD literary festival complete with real life audiences. Trustee, MC, poet - and occasionally chauffeur - for the festival, Daisy Speaks, can't wait. Daisy will be hosting Confluence 2022, at which Pasfika and Maori musicians and poets will celebrate the cultural, musical and ancestral connections between the islands of Polynesia and Aotearoa. Lynn Freeman talked with Daisy Speaks, who descends from Samoan orators, and first asked her why she's so invested in WORD? Daisy is chairing Confluence 2.0, part of the WORD Festival on Saturday the 3rd of September at the Piano on Christchurch.
Surprised, honoured and just a bit intimidated... That's how our new Poet Laureate Chris Tse feels about his new role. Given he's only in his thirties, he also sees this acknowledgement as a real boost to his confidence. Bill Manhire, Jenny Bornholdt, Selina Tusitala Marsh and David Eggleton are among his predecessors. For the next two years the queer Asian-Kiwi writer will promote poetry and publish more work. We spoke to Chris earlier this year about his third poetry collection, Super Model Minority. Lynn Freeman talked to him as he got ready to take part in the Auckland Writers Festival.
A very personal film about an out-of-wedlock pregnancy is the first in this year's Someday Stories, a platform that helps emerging filmmakers to create their first professionally-funded, short film project. Mary Mary is written and directed by Ella Gilbert, and it will be released tomorrow. It's the sixth series of Someday Stories, which has now delivered a total of 36 short films. The project mentors filmmakers aged between 18 and 29, and helps them tell their own stories. Ella Gilbert, currently appearing in Circa Theatre's production of Skin Tight in Wellington, talks to Lynn Freeman about why the story of Mary Mary was so important to her. Ella Gilbert's film Mary Mary is released tomorrow as part of Someday Stories Series 6.
It's called The Artist's Resale Royalty Blockchain Manifesto - part artwork, part provocation and part legal document. And it's about to be launched at the prestigious Wellington Club later this week. The Manifesto is the creation of artist and curator Reuben Friend and neurosurgeon Reuben Johnson. The aim is to radically transform the contemporary art market, making it fairer to those artists whose work keeps making substantial profits for owners down the track, while offering nothing to the people who actually created it.. If "blockchain" and "non-fungible tokens" are still a bit of a mystery to you, all is about to be revealed, as Reuben explains the Manifesto to Lynn Freeman.. Its release coincides with the Government's recent announcement of a 5% royalty payment, planned to be introduced late next year. It will go to visual artists or their estates each time their work sells on the re-sale market.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for 2022 has just wrapped up, with New Zealand performers among the fan favourites. For the first time in its long history, the Tattoo had to be cancelled over the last two years, so its return was much anticipated. Kiwi Michael Braithwaite was in charge of making it both honour traditions and move with the times. Among the crowd inside the grounds of Edinburgh's Castle was RNZ producer Melanie Phipps. Lynn Freeman spoke with her in the closing moments to find out why the Tattoo is still so special?
The Second World War has probably inspired more films, plays, novels and documentaries than any other 6-year period in history. But there's no substitute for the accounts of the people who were there. Now, with the last participants in their nineties and even older, those first-hand accounts are coming to an end. A couple of years ago, the documentary Spitfire told the story of the fighter planes and their pilots who won the Battle of Britain, and inspired the nation to help win the Second World War. But it was later British planes - the Lancaster bombers - that did much of the heavy lifting, and their story is finally told in Lancaster. It's likely to be the last eye-witness account to be made about the War. Like Spitfire it was co-directed by David Fairhead and Anthony Palmer. Simon Morris talks with Anthony Palmer on the line from the UK. Lancaster is released throughout the country on September the 1st.
It's apparently the first ever compilation of Australian and New Zealand crime short stories, but already several more anthologies are being planned to follow. Dark Deeds Down Under (Volume 1) is edited by Craig Sisterson, an expat champion of Australasian crime writing. Craig has already written a reader's guide to the crime fiction - in books, film, and TV - of New Zealand and Australia. He also founded the Ngaio Marsh Awards and Rotorua's Noir festival of crime writing. Lynn Freeman asked Craig how he approached editing a trans-Tasman crime anthology... Dark Deeds Down Under (Volume 1), edited by Craig Sisterson, is published by Clan Destine Press.
An acerbic wit and and astute observations dominate the poems in A Riderless Horse, the latest collection by Palmerston North wordsmith, Tim Upperton. Tim's two previous poetry collections were A House on Fire and The Night We Ate the Baby. He's a three-time winner of the Caselberg International Poetry Competition, and he's both a creative writing teacher and landscape gardener. Most of the poems in A Riderless Horse have had an earlier life, having been seen in a range of publications. But Tim tells Lynn Freeman he's reworked most of them for this collection. A Riderless Horse by Tim Upperton is published by Auckland University Press.
Remembering the random murder of his friend in Wellington's CBD in 1980 was the starting point for Alistair Luke's crime novel One Heart One Spade. Although it still takes place in Te Whanganui a Tara, Alistair's set the story in the late 1970s, with all the racism, misogyny, and colonialism of the era. A young woman from a privileged home is missing. Wellington Detective Lucas Cole is in charge of an investigation that becomes more and more puzzling. And he's also struggling in his personal life with his partner Tess. One Heart One Spade by Alistair Luke, is self-published.
Photographing the glue residue that remains when signs or notices are removed became the unlikely obsession of Wellington photographer Alan Knowles. He's even come up with a name for them - "Glueglyphs" - and has launched a book of his images at the biennial PhotobookNZ Festival at Te Papa yesterday. Alan's past photobooks include ones about biscuits, sports, and Wellington city with an emphasis on its wildflowers. Alan Knowles talks with Lynn Freeman about Glueglyphs. Glueglyphs is published by Wai-te-ata Press, Victoria University of Wellington.
The brutality endured by First World War internees on Wellington's Matiu/Somes Island is remembered by Dunedin author Paddy Richardson in her latest novel. Many of the interns, who had German heritage, had already faced hostility from their neighbours even before they were impounded by New Zealand officials. By the Green of the Spring also tells of the grief suffered by the interns' families and partners. In the novel, engaged couple Pansy and Otto live happily in Blackball on the South Island West Coast. But when Otto is carted off by the wartime authorities, Pansy quickly marries their mutual friend Clem rather than have Otto's child out of wedlock. Lynn Freeman first talks to the author about the dark history of Somes Island. By the Green of the Spring by Paddy Richardson is published by Quentin Wilson. It's the sequel to her novel Through The Lonesome Dark.
Right now there are dozens of major film shoots happening all over the country. But the independent sector is doing well too - particularly one project from the top of the South Island. Northspur was shot on a shoestring budget in the Marlborough and Nelson regions, privately funded. And it's already made a breakthrough. The rights for distribution have just been sold to a major US film studio. One of the stars of Northspur is veteran trans-Tasman actor Marshall Napier (Bellbird) who sadly died a week ago, just before the premiere in Blenheim next month. Marshall plays a curmudgeonly loner defending his isolated cabin in a violent, post-pandemic world. Lynn Freeman talks to Northspur's screenwriter Justin Eade and director Aaron Flavely about the film, and the support from the local community for the growth of film industry in the Nelson-Marlborough region. Northspur premieres in Blenheim on the 1st of September at the Event Cinema, before opening around the country.
Photographs of 140 fictional missing people, all with their own backstories, make up the latest exhibition by Auckland mixed-media artist and poet Lyn-Marie Harris. Missing will go on show at the upcoming Auckland Fringe Festival where visitors will be invited to have their photographs taken and added to the wall of faces. Lyn-Marie says people from around the work contributed their selfies to the show, then she created stories about their lives and their last known whereabouts. While many are lighthearted, the show also highlights the fact that many people do go missing. Lyn-Marie Harris tells Lynn Freeman that a percentage of the proceeds from Missing will be donated to Youthline New Zealand.
A country that's too small for most artists to make a living and one that has been both fickle and under-appreciative when it comes to arts... That's how a critic, poet and filmmaker Roger Horrocks sees the eight decades of New Zealand art that he covers in his new book. But Culture in a Small Country, The Arts in New Zealand also celebrates what our artists have, and continue to achieve, despite all the obstacles in their way. Roger Horrocks is an Emeritus Professor of the University of Auckland. He's also one of the founders of the Auckland International Film Festival, Script to Screen and NZ on Screen. In the book, he expresses his frustration and scepticism when it comes to things like arts funding, the downgrading of arts education in our schools and the digital era. Rogers tells Lynn Freeman that, while artists are producing world class work in Aotearoa, it's often despite rather than because they live here. Culture in a Small Country: The Arts in New Zealand by Roger Horrocks is published by Atuanui Press. Roger will be discussing the book this Tuesday at the Aotea Centre as part of the Auckland Writers Festival.
Balancing the intense demands of being a mother with desperately wanting to continue as an artist can prove overwhelming for many new mums. Auckland performer Sally Stockwell has lived through it and now sings about the experience in her new show, We've Got So Much To Talk About. As well as singing and playing, Sally has worked extensively on stage and screen. She brings all these skills to a show she describes as "an experimental mashup of electronic sound, song, movement and rebellion." Sally explains to Lynn Freeman that, like most new mothers, she wasn't prepared for what was to come. We've Got So Much To Talk About premieres at Auckland's Basement Theatre on Tuesday.
He's kept us waiting for 13 years, but Owen Marshall, one of our finest short story writers, has just put out a new collection, Return to Harikoa Bay. The characters in the 33 stories are often unnervingly familiar, wherever they live and whatever their situation. That's part of Owen's magic touch as a writer of stories firmly planted in Aotearoa. He's also a novelist, poet and anthologist, with his name on the title of 30 books. Lynn Freeman talks with Owen, first welcoming him back to our book shelves! Return to Harikoa Bay, Owen Marshall's new short story collection, is published by Random House NZ Vintage.
After asking their fans on social media which story they'd most like to see turned into an irreverent play, Wellington's A Slightly Isolated Dog company chose the Trojan War from the dozens of suggestions. Once they delved deeper into the story of Paris, Helen and the fall of Troy, they discovered parallels with our current chaotic times. The Trojan War is the third in a series of reinterpreted classics - after Don Juan and Jekyll & Hyde - that were performed around the country, as well as Australia and Edinburgh. Director Leo Gene Peters first explains to Lynn Freeman the unorthodox play selection process. The Trojan War premieres at BATS Theatre in Wellington on Tuesday, before heading to Auckland's Basement Theatre from August the 23rd.
The only reason any of Shakespeare's plays have survived is because canny publishers saw a market for them amongst a populace hungry for material to read. In the 1600's the novel as a genre didn't really exist in England, so it was poetry and particularly plays that people were reading for pleasure - and titillation. Dr. Hannah August is the Senior Lecturer in English at Massey University. She's been researching the habits and the surviving publications owned by 16th and 17th century readers for her book Playbooks and their Readers in Early Modern England. She talks to Lynn Freeman about the appeal of plays in a century where printed plays were best-sellers. Playbooks and their Readers in Early Modern England by Dr Hannah August is published by Routledge Hannah is giving a lecture on it this Wednesday at the University of Otago's Centre for the Book.
No matter how famous they become overseas, our opera singers are often keen to come home to perform. Munich- based Eliza Boom is no exception. Eliza's in the lineup of in-demand young operatic talent in the upcoming Auckland Opera Studio Annual Gala. She'll be singing arias by Verdi, Puccini, Korngold, Mozart, and one of her new favourite composers, Richard Strauss. Since September 2020, Eliza's been working at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, taking part in their Opera Studio training programme, and performing roles on the main stage. Eliza tells Lynn Freeman that, like so many singers before her, she honed her vocal cords singing gospel music in church, alongside her parents and five siblings. Soprano Eliza Boom will be performing at the Auckland Opera Studio Opera Gala on the 21st of August at the Auckland Town Hall.
A new book argues that art copyists get a bad rap. They're not always forgers out to scam the unwary. In fact, there's an art to copying art that deserves its own place in art history. Former public art gallery curator and director Penelope Jackson is the chair of the New Zealand Art Crime Research Trust. She's delved into the history and the many reasons - legitimate and nefarious - for people to copy works of art over the centuries. Some are student artists making copies as part of their training. Some are creating props for movies. Penelope explains to Lynn Freeman why she thinks art copyists have a valid place in art history. Penelope Jackson's The Art of Copying Art is out this month, published by Palgrave Macmillan.
What were your favourite sweets growing up? Chewy milk bottles? Jaffas? Gobstoppers and chocolate fish? Sculptor Simon Lewis-Wards has made a name for himself casting large and small glass candies, combining his interest in Kiwiana and the nostalgia that accompanies it. You might have seen his dozens of suspended giant glass jet plane lollies at Auckland's Sylvia Park. He credits that commission with allowing him to branch out to try new techniques, to refine the art he produces not only in glass but also ceramics and brass. Simon's self taught, coming to sculpture after working in various trades, and tells Lynn Freeman why his glass sweets caught on to quickly. Simon Lewis-Wards will be talking about his sculptures at the Ramp Festival at Wintec in Waikato, that starts on Tuesday.
Here's a question. How many major film dramas - including top-end TV series - are currently being shot here at the moment? Eight? Twelve? Not even close! By our reckoning there are over 30 - from overseas productions like James Cameron's Avatar sequels and Taika's Time Bandits, to TV hits like Brokenwood, Creamerie and Panthers. There's never been a better time, it seems, to be a New Zealand actor, or film crew member. There's a boom going on - new films from Lee Tamahori and Christine Jeffs, international shoots like Power Rangers and Minecraft - and above all TV shows, reflecting the fact that many of these are being snapped up overseas. Producer Phil Smith of Great Southern is part of that boom, coming off the hit series One Lane Bridge, and with a new series Dry Creek about to shoot in Kaikoura. He talks to Simon Morris about the boom - and how we can keep it going.
"Vallery" is a campervan transformed into a contemporary art gallery on wheels. It's just headed out on its maiden voyage. It showcases more than 50 works by 26 artists from the Manawatu, Whanganui, and Taranaki regions. Aimee Ralfini is the curator who's spent six months on the campervan's reinvention. She takes a break in Tamaki Makarau, where she talks with Lynn Freeman about the mobile gallery. Look out for Vallery in a region near you!
It's been a big wait and an even bigger investment. But this weekend sees the official opening of the final piece of Hastings' cultural precinct, Toitoi - the restored Municipal Building. It's taken eight years to finish the earthquake strengthening for the over 70-year-old Category One heritage building. Today the community was invited to come and explore it. People from around the country who'd danced in the building's famous Assembly Hall from 1950 to when it was closed in 2014 were invited to do it again on the restored, original sprung dance floor. Megan Peacock-Coyle knows the precinct well. She's the Arts & Culture Manager for Hastings District Council and she talks with Lynn Freeman about the past - and now the future - of the Municipal Building.
It was destined to be sold off by the Christchurch city council - but a last minute change of heart means the heritage-listed Rolleston House is to be converted into a community arts venue. It's getting a new name too, Toi Auaha. When the council considered getting rid of the over 100-year-old building, local artists lobbied to keep it. They worked with the council's Principal Arts Advisor Kiri Jarden, who heads the city's ambitious Arts Strategy Toi Otautahi. Rolleston House was built in the late 1890s, and for most of its life it's been used as a hostel. But Kiri Jarden tells Lynn Freeman that the building's been empty since the Youth Hostel Association closed its doors in 2019. It had been due to be sold off before its last-minute reprieve.
A private investigator promised never to return to his home town. But when he belatedly decides to go back, it puts him on a crash course with his former friends and police colleagues. The Wrong Woman is the fifth novel by expat crime writer J P Pomare, who currently lives in Melbourne. In it he describes why his character Reid was forced to leave the town of Manson, and what lured him back ten years later. Lynn Freeman talks with Josh Pomare about how to construct a crime novel. The Wrong Woman is published by Hachette.
Sabreen Islam revisits her teenage years when she was severely bullied, and describes her new-found peace of mind in her new self-published collection of poetry, spring clean. Sabreen started writing these poems when she was 15. She's now about to turn 20, and the Muslim writer and singer-songwriter is studying law at the University of Auckland. In spring clean, she explores the psychology of abuse and why so many victims can't leave the toxic relationships they're in. Sabreen reads one of the later poems and talks with Lynn Freeman about spring clean:
In what's believed to be a first for Aotearoa, a pianist is playing the full Beethoven Piano Concerto cycle over three consecutive days in the same city. Englishman Paul Lewis is undertaking the Beethoven marathon with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Lynn Freeman caught up with Paul in Colorado where he was performing at the Aspen Music Festival, ahead of his trip to Aotearoa. She asked him if he's also in training to perform the five Beethoven piano concertos on the trot. Pianist Paul Lewis's Back to Back Beethoven three-nIght series starts on Friday August 12 in the Auckland Town Hall.
A quarter of a century after its premiere, Oscar Kightley's play Dawn Raids - dealing with the injustice of the 1970's government crackdown on overstayers - is being reimagined. The incident was still a raw, shameful memory when Dawn Raids was first performed in 1997. But now for many it's become a piece of our history. They may have barely heard of these events. Even if they have, they may not realise the damage done to Pasifika families who were ripped apart by the early morning raids on their homes. Lynn Freeman talks with Troy Tu'ua, director of the new ATC production of Dawn Raids. She first asked him how much he knew of the original raids. Dawn Raids opens at the ASB Waterfront Theatre in Tamaki Makaurau on August 16th.
A work called "Red" handed by multimedia artist Emma Hercus this year's $20,000 National Contemporary Art Awards. The collage on MDF of an abstract masked figure with upraised hands, was chosen from more than three hundred entries. All the finalists' works are on show at Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato. It's an event that's often hit the headlines since it started more than 20 years ago. The media are notoriously sceptical of "modern art" and occasionally struggle to get their head around the winning work! Lynn Freeman spoke to Emma and to the judge, artist Reuben Paterson, who describes the winning piece as "a celebration of adversity". 2022 Runner Up and winner of the $5,000 Hugo Charitable Trust Award Raukura Turei for He Tukuna V (onepu, oil and pigment on linen). 2022 Friends of Waikato Museum $1,000 Merit Award winner Sara (Hera) Tautuku Orme for Ko Te Awa Ko Au -Darling (Darz) (photograph). 2022 Random Art Group $1,000 Merit Award winner Oleg Polounine for Dits and Dahs (aluminium foil sculpture).
It's been a good year for New Zealand film-makers - Dame Jane's Oscars, Taika topping the charts with the new Thor epic, Sam Neill back where he belongs in a Jurassic movie, and Thomasin McKenzie starring on big and small screens. But most of these are paid for by big overseas studios. Are we doing enough with our own truly homegrown efforts? Are we making the right films, do they reflect who we are? And should they do that, or should we simply aim at making big, fat hits. After all, how hard can it be to try and guess what the public will want in the three or four years it takes to get a film written, produced and released? Simon Morris talks with Leanne Saunders, the Head of Development and Production for the New Zealand Film Commission. Her background is in production - she produced Born to Dance, The Devil's Rock and our biggest hit, Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Upcoming cinema releases include dramas Muru, Millie Lies Low and Punch, as well as documentaries Gloriavale,and More than Gold: Valerie Adams.
Briar Wood has reimagined the lives of Rongo and Te Rangahau, two 19th century tu puna of her iwi, Ngapuhi, in a new collection of time travelling poetry.Rongo was the daughter of leader and warrier Hongi Hika and married another, Hoone Heke. Te Rangahau lived on the Hokianga with her husband, stevedore John Leaf, and cared for their twelve children. Briar's also a writer of fiction and essays, and now lives in Whangaarei after growing up in South Auckland and working in Britain. Briar's been shortlisted for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards and her poetry widely published and anthologised. Briar Wood tells Lynn how this collection is very personal. It also stretches across time into today's world with poetry about contemporary Te Tai Tokerau.
A play about a worm that almost never saw the light of day, is about to premiere in Tamaki Makarau. It comes from the vivid imaginations of father and son Peter and Carl Bland, and it's the latest production by the boundary-pushing NIGHTSONG company. THE WORM is Nightsong's first foray into theatre aimed at families - their previous plays include Mr Redlight, Te Po, 360, and Head. Ben Crowder is directing THE WORM after securing a cast that includes Dave Fane, whose not long off the TV show Our Flag Means Death. It's a free show, after the company successfully applied to the Local Activation Fund which is administered by Auckland Unlimited. Ben Crowder - THE WORM premieres on the 30th of June at the Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre in Auckland.
Lynn meets Wellington poet James Brown, whose latest collection is called The Tip Shop. It's a treasure trove of surprises and appropriately includes some 'found poems'. The collection also offers glimpses into Jame's life from his time as a nightime supermarket shelf filler, learning how to roll boulders through to a rather long list of musts and must nots. James Brown describes himself as 'a Sunday poet who fell in with the wrong crowd'.
Gracie Matthews is bringing new life to old clothes. In the latest in our occasional series about people who repair and restore, we focus on the intricacies of repairing often fragile vintage clothing. Gracie Matthews offers a variety of costume and sewing services, her skills honed by nearly 18 years working on costumes for theatre and film. She's now based in Clevedon and often travels offering sewing and repair workshops. She tells Lynn about some of the special TLC vintage clothes require to survive the rigors of 21st century life.
Two strangers meet at a miniature garden and are invited to dig up a ceramic vegetable or eel, to gift to the other to take home. This is the idea behind Twin Cultivation - a two-week installation created by ceramic artist Cindy Huang , (wharng) designer Micheal McCabe, and producer Rosabel Tan. It's a work for our times, encouraging people to be kind, gentle and generous with each other.
After the death of a close friend in 2003, a group of Tauranga based mothers decided to stage an extravaganza to offer women over 40 the chance to express themselves however they damn well please. The inaugural Tarnished Frocks and Divas in 2005 was a relatively modest affair, for one night only to an audience of 180. Fast forward, and audiences now flock to the venue in their thousands, making it a highlight of Tauranga's entertainment calendar. A new documentary Frocks and Divas, follows the production of the 2019 Tarnished Frocks and Divas show from auditions through to the big event. Lynn talks with the film's directors, Paul and Sass Innes.
Creating a distinctive Maori orchestral sound by integrating the style and colour of traditional Maori music with the vast range of an orchestra, is the goal of award winning composer and sonic artist, David Mason. He's busy working on five new compositions this year as the National Youth Orchestra's Composer in Residence. The orchestra is about to premiere one of them, Wahi Ngaro. Lynn speaks to David about how he explores the juxtaposition of his Maori heritage with his work as a classical composer. David Mason will be performing at the Michael Fowler Centre on Thursday 7 July, and the Christchurch Town Hall on Saturday 9 July.
Film, ballet, television, theatre and opera - Emma Kingsbury has made a name for herself as a designer across them all. Her latest commission is to design a new interpretation of Cinderella for the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company, in a style she describes as Avant Baroque Maximalism. Emma's TV show designs include Blacklight and HBO's Finding Magic Mike, while ballet commission include The Crucible for Scottish Ballet and The Firebird for Texas Ballet. She arrived in New Zealand earlier in the week and joins Lynn to talk about Cinderella, opening at the newly refurbished St James Theatre in Wellington.
An art collective of self proclaimed ex-pat misfits that formed in London back in 2018, is about to unveil their first exhibition over here in Aotearoa. The Water Tastes Different Here includes work by international DJ Lady Shaka, fashion designer Lyall Hakaraia, and our guest Jessica Palalagi who's the queer-led Interis*land Collective's co-founder. Jessica's returned to New Zealand after 16 years in London, to take over as General Manager of the Arts Foundation, and to continue her work with the Collective from here. Lynn Freeman took Jessica back to 2018 to find out about the collective's early ambitions. The Water Tastes Different Here will open at Auckland's Tautai Gallery later this week.
The last decade's gone by in a flash for the organisers - 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of National Flash Fiction Day. As part of the celebrations, today sees posters go up around the motu, starting a national 'Languages of Aotearoa' campaign. The winner of the annual Flash Fiction award will also be announced today. And to set the scene, Lynn Freeman talks to organisers Vaughan Rapatahana and Michelle Elvy. Incidentally, they've also launched a new call for submissions for a book of micros in translation, or with translingual elements.
It is her dream job but one that carries a massive responsibility to the country's contemporary Maori artists. Larissa McMillan, Ngapuhi, is the first director of the Wairau Maori Art Gallery, part of the Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whangarei. Larissa's an experienced freelance arts writer. She's only been in the job for two months, but has big plans for the gallery. She tells Lynn Freeman that promoting Maori artists, Maori curators, and Maori culture are all priorities - particularly growing national and international audiences for the work. Lynn asked Larissa why she applied for the role of Te Ringa Hautu Toi/Gallery Director.
Artist Stevei Houkamau originally planned to study Ta Moko before she was seduced by the feeling of clay in her hands and her ability to carve into it. It was 2011 when she met members of the Nga Kaihanga Uku - the Maori Clayworkers Collective. They included the late Manos Nathan, Baye Riddel and the artist who would become her Tuakana or teacher, Wi Taepa. Stevei's gone on to establish her own distinctive style of uku carving, referencing whakapapa, customary vessels and tattoo practices of Ta moko and Tatau. She's just opened her first solo exhibition - Ira Tangata Ira Atua - in the South Island/Te Waipounamu at Nelson's Suter Gallery. Stevei tells Lynn Freeman that her first encounter with the Collective uku artists got off to a shaky start.
When six books by Dr Seuss were withdrawn from publication last year over their content, Nelson playwright and Seuss fan Judene Edgar started wondering how the writer would feel about it, were he still alive. Those musings have turned into a play - called Horton Hatches a Controversy - that's about to premiere as part of the city's Fringe Festival. Judene believes Seuss would agree with the decision made to stop publication of some of his books because of racist and insensitive imagery. She talks with Lynn Freeman about the play, and about the life of Theodore Geisel, before he started writing children's books as Dr Seuss. Horton Hatches A Controversy premieres on the 23rd of June at Red Door Theatre as part of Nelson Fringe Festival.
Several years after feeling unsafe while at a notorious bus shelter in Tauranga, artist Sara Hughes is transforming it into a brightly coloured and illuminated work of art. It will be suspended above the Willow Street bus shelter, and wrapped around the wall and front of Tauranga Art Gallery to Wharf Street creating a corridor that bathes those walking through it in coloured light. The artwork's big, covering about 260 square metres of glass panels. It's called Midnight Sun, referring to times when the sun remains visible through the night at the Poles - just as the artwork will be illuminated 24/7. Sara is a past winner of the Wallace Art Award. She also made her name creating public art on a grand scale. She built the largest integrated public art work in Aotearoa when she covered all four sides of the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland. But it's her new Tauranga public art work that Lynn Freeman first asks her about. Midnight Sun will be unveiled on the 21st of June at the Willow Street bus shelter in Tauranga.
The Director of Photography on the new film Whina, Leon Narbey, actually filmed the 1975 land march that the cast and crew were recreating for the movie about the Maori matriarch who led it. Leon was able to tap into both the documentary he worked on and his own memories of spending time with the protesters, to add authenticity to the film. Dame Whina Cooper campaigned tirelessly on behalf of her people and he was delighted to be able to revisit her story through being part of the Whina team. Leon's previous films include Whale Rider, The Orator, No. 2, Dean Spanley, and Illustrious Energy, which he directed in 1987. Fun fact : When he's not filming he's making award winning olive oil! He talks to Lynn Freeman about his feelings when he was invited to be DOP on Whina: Whina, starring Rena Owen and Miriama McDowell, goes into general release around the country on June 23.
Was the woman featured in Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" really a maid from his household, as portrayed in the Scarlett Johanssen movie? Are there hidden messages in Leonardo's "The Last Supper"? Did Van Gogh really only sell one painting in his lifetime? Exploring the unexpected, the slightly odd, and the strangely wonderful in Art History is the raison d'etre of the long running American podcast, ArtCurious. One of the most intriguing proposition they explored recently was whether Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" was actually a self-portrait in drag? ArtCurious is now into its 11th season. Lynn Freeman spoke to its host, contemporary arts curator Jennifer Dasal:
The Devil Took Her: Tales of Horror is the first time Whangarei-based short story writer Michael Botur has dipped his toe into this popular genre. He's written 12 stories, leading us, as he descibes it, "to the dark extremes of human behaviour". For example, when a couple of high school introverts bond after skipping school, it descends into something unexpectedly frightening. There are unexpected repercussions for a teen prankster who plays a vicious joke against her tutor. While a woman trapped in a coal cellar finds she must die a little, to live. One of the stories 'Test of Death,' won last year's Australasian Horror Writers Association Robert N Stephenson Short Story Award. Lynn Freeman asks Michael why the switch, from often unnerving short stories to pure horror? The Devil Took Her: Tales of Horror, by Mike Botur is published by The Sager Group.
Pacific nations often have a Motutapu, or sacred island, positioned at the entrance of their harbours. Aotearoa has Motutapu Island in Waitemata Harbour in Tamaki Makaurau, and there are others in Tonga and Rarotonga too. Long-time friends, and now collaborators, artist Benjamin Work and photographer Brendan Kitto became fascinated with these islands with which they have deep family connections. So over four years they visited all three sites. And that work has just gone on show in an exhibition called Motutapu, at Te Uru in Tamaki Makarau. There's also a book of their images and some accompanying essays. Lynn Freeman first asked Brendan and Benjamin how they first met:
The day before he was due to received his ONZM at the Governor General's house last month, potter Ross Mitchell-Anyon passed away. His niece Milly Mitchell-Anyon is a curator at Whanganui's Sarjeant Gallery. She was already working on an exhibition of the pottery that he'd given his parents over five decades, much of which has now been gifted to the gallery. The exhibition is called The Pool Room - named after a scene in the family's favourite film, The Castle. Milly's curated another show for the Sarjeant that's opening at the same time. Testing Ground looks at the future of craft, working with a range of contemporary craft artists. But Lynn Freeman starts by talking about The Pool Room, and Milly's connection with her Uncle Ross's pottery: The Pool Room and Testing Ground open at the Sarjeant Gallery in Whanganui on the 18th of June.
We look at repairing wind instruments - which include flutes, clarinets, oboes and bassoons. Wood instruments can swell when they get damp so the rainy winter months are particularly hard on them. Jennifer Weigel knows all too well. She's repaired many over her years as a specialist repairer and restorer of woodwinds, brass instruments, and orchestral strings.
Jolt must be just about the busiest dance company in the country at the moment, with live shows in the UK, a biennale featuring all its dancers, and two projects with Chamber Music New Zealand - a tour, and a new music programme called The Big I for people with intellectual disabilities. The UK trip was actually supposed to happen in 2020. It will include performances and a short film called Sam that'll be presented at the end of this month in London. It's part of the Amici Dance Theatre Company's 40th anniversary production: One World. It was Amici, which includes disabled and non-disabled performers, that inspired Lyn Cotton to set up Jolt in Aotearoa 21 years ago. Now, well over 100 dancers with intellectual disabilities make up the Christchurch-based company. Joining Lyn on the UK trip is Carl Te Tone Huia. He'll be performing "Takiwatanga", an autobiographical work that speaks to his whakapapa, wairua and lived experience of autism. He's performing the work at New Zealand House for the Ngatai Ranana London Maori Club Matariki Ball. Lynn Freeman talks with Lyn Cotton and Carl Te One Huia, as well as Cathy Irons from Chamber Music New Zealand. To help raise money for the UK trip, Jolt dancers are performing at a fundraising event at 4pm today at the Shirley Boys' and Avonside Girls' High School Auditorium. The Big I will be presented in Dunedin, Nelson, Wellington and Tauranga later this year..
A blend of Pacific and Mediterranean of ancient and right now, is promised in a new dance film series shot by Daniel Belton and scored by Dame Gillian Whitehead.
Criminal law is a mainstay of books and TV shows, think John Mortimer's Rumpole of the Bailey through to L A Law and Boston Legal. But novelist Les Allen's drawing on his time with legal firms, where private clients and businesses needed legal representation. If That's What It Takes is set in the early 1980s.
Off the back of his band The Jac taking out the 2021 Tui for Best Jazz Artist, Wellington-based alto saxophonist and composer Jake Baxendale is about to reveal a new suite of compositions based on the idea of 'Fantasia' - a style of musical composition that includes elements of free-form.
A razor blade left in a gay activist's mailbox and a series of dolls dressed in garments based on costumes worn by contestants in Samoa's first Fa'afafine beauty pageant in the 1980s, are included in an exhibition of takatapui and queer objects.
Lynn Freeman spoke with Pauline and to Anahera Morehu who's the convenor of the Te Kura Pounamu Award panel to discuss why children's literature is so important
The film industry has been drastically upset by Covid over the past two years. The big blockbusters get the big publicity, unsurprisingly. The studios have a lot at stake, but they also have other income streams. Small films are often worse hit, with production shut down for months, no income and crews scattered around the world. Take a documentary called Off the Rails, which features young men taking ridiculous risks - jumping off buildings, climbing up narrow bridges, riding on top of fast-moving trains.
Using a 110-year-old Auto Graflex camera, press photographer Geoff Dale has photographed one of the most high tech sports there is - the super yachts of the America's cup.
The upcoming Booktown event in Featherston in the Wairarapa has invited three publishers to talk about their experiences in an event called Taking a Publishing Punt. Today Lynn Freeman gets a taste of what Ash Davida Jane from We Are Babies Press, Murdoch Stephens of Lawrence & Gibson Publishing, and Chris Holdaway of Compound Press will be discussing.
The Dunedin Symphony Orchestra's concert progrmme for 2022 is starting mid year. But given the events of the last two years, that's understandable. It also means the orchestra has been able to confirm an overseas conductor in the mix, something that couldn't have been confirmed until recently. The invited soloists are all homegrown.
Miscommunication between couples and families features prominently in the first short story collection by Devonport writer and artist, Vivienne Lingard. Pocket Money & Other Stories is the title of the collection, written over some 15 years.
Complex and yet a celebration of simplicity, poet Richard von Sturmer uses the "Tanka" poetic form to explore big themes in a very few words in his latest collection. Resonating Distances shows Richard's mastery of the Japanese form of poetry, with the short form sequences leading into related prose passages.
She's performed in hotel rooms, abandoned buildings, a shipping container - even a palace in Denmark! Now Kiwi actor Sabrina Martin is taking on a solo stage role made famous by British actor Carey Mulligan, of Promising Young Woman fame.
"Conjuring sound patterns that began eons ago and will continue into eternity" is what's being generated for a new music project called Bio Electricity Co-founder of Fat Freddy's Drop, Toby Laing is collaborating with composer Riki Gooch and music producer Parks for the show. It'll premiere at the upcoming Loemis Festival in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, in a giant glasshouse and under a super full moon.
In 2010 Kiwi Ché Zara Blomfield was instrumental in setting up a collaborative art space in London called The Composing Rooms. Artists were welcomed into the space and encouraged to talk to each other - and work together - on arts and writing projects. Its 10 year lifespan is recorded in a new book Ché's been working on since she returned to Aotearoa in 2020. It's called The Composing Rooms, 2010-2020.
In 2019, Kylie Jenner, part of the Kardashian clan, became the youngest 'self-made' billionaire in history thanks to social media and her reputation as an influencer and entrepreneur. On her Instagram account alone she has a reported 341 million followers. That's slightly more than the entire population of the United States. British playwright Jasmine Lee-Jones examines Jenner's popularity and personality, as well as friendship, cancel culture, cultural appropriation and queer identity in seven methods of killing kylie jenner.
Los Angeles-based Lydia Emily was a highly respected political street artist when she was diagnosed with MS. Now she has to use shoelaces to secure paintbrushes to her weakened hands to complete her art.
A five-novel series about the impact of the Vietnam war on veterans and their families has just wrapped up with the release of Carole Brungar's book The Return.In the last book, she's thinking about the experiences of the orphans of the Vietnam war, many of whom were removed from the country. In The Return, Jackie Coles fulfills a promise to her stepfather to return to her homeland of Vietnam to find her birth family. It's not great timing for her budding romance with Jeff, whose family was also impacted by the Vietnam War. "Satisfying but at times traumatic" is how Carole describes to Lynn Freeman the last few years interviewing, researching and writing the series. The Return by Carole Brungar is self-published.
Eight interlinked stories of ordinary people whose lives are touched by the gods make up a new collection by Iranian/American/Kiwi writer Mahyar Amouzegar. The Hubris in an Empty Hand is his fourth book. Some of the characters understand they've received - or are in the presence of - a gift from a god. Others are oblivious. Friendships and relationships are tested, and those who receive a gift to do good don't always know what to do with it. They can find themselves addicted to the ability, and unwilling to do what must be done to keep it alive and pass it on to another person. Mahyar reads from the collection and talks to Lynn Freeman. The Hubris of an Empty Hand was published by University of New Orleans Press.
Small domestic miracles, from a sleeping baby and walking along the beach to the promise of fruit are examined in words and pictures in a book called Bordering on Miraculous Saskia Leek and Lynley Edmeades have worked on the fourth in the korero series helmed by writer Lloyd Jones. He brings together artists and writers to colloborate on books that blend poetry and paintings. Saskia explained to Lynn Freeman that initially she'd been paired with Bill Manhire. Bordering on Miraculous is published by Massey University Press.
Rotorua is hosting a literary festival specifically for Maori writers that the organisers hope will in turn encourage Maori readers. Kupu: Nga Ringa Tuhituhi will celebrate past and present Maori writers, with a view that many generations will tell their stories. On the Kupu board is Robyn Bargh who's a long time champion of Maori literature, including her involvement with the HUIA publishing house. Among the list of invited writers are Patricia Grace, this year's Ockham Book Award winner Whiti Hereaka, Becky Manawatu, and Shilo Kino whose book The Porangi Boy won The Young Adult Book of the year at the 2021 Children and Young Adult NZ Book Awards In fact Lynn Freeman discovers that Shilo was very much behind getting the Kupu Festival off the ground. Kupu: Nga Ringa Tuhituhi will start on the 12th of June in Rotorua.
It's one of the best-known - and often-told - stories in our history: Sir Ed Hillary and Sherpa Norgay Tenzing's momentous climb to the top of Mt Everest on May 29th, 1953. But Matt Kambic's new play The Sherpa & the Beekeeper - Summit on Everest explores the downside of fame and other long term effects - both good and bad - on not only the mountain's conquerers, but also the local Nepalese people. When Hamilton's Meteor Theatre did a shout-out for new scripts for its Boil-up programme, Matt sent in his script. Now, after a few Covid-related curve balls, it's about to go on stage. The Raglan based writer and director told Lynn Freeman that the play comes from a lifetime of fascination with the Everest story. The Sherpa & the Beekeeper - Summit on Everest premieres at the Meteor Theatre in Kirikiriroa/ Hamilton on Wednesday May the 25th.
Taranaki's stunning coast is also one of the fastest eroding coastlines in the world. Since 2000, photographer Pat Greenfield has walked it, documenting the impact of storms, earthquakes and erosion. She calls it a photographic and scientific journey of discovery - and it's been a sobering one for her. For example two of the rock stack formations that she calls the Three Sisters and Four Brothers, have been decimated by storms. A selection of her photographs of the Tongaporutu Coastline are on show at New Plymouth's Puke Ariki. Pat explains to Lynn Freeman why this stretch of northern Taranaki coastline means to much to her. Pat Greenfield's exhibition Impermanence - The Tongaporutu Coastline, A twenty year odyssey has just opened at Puke Ariki Library in New Plymouth.
Wellington's Chamber Orchestra is about to celebrate its 50th birthday with a flourish. The amateur orchestra has launched many professional careers over five decades, and also has musicians who've been in its ranks for most of that time. Lynn Freeman caught up with conductor Rachel Hyde and cellist Gary Wilby, currently rehearsing for the big celebratory concert. The Wellington Chamber Orchestra plays its 50th anniversary concert on Saturday May 28 at the Alan Gibbs Centre at Wellington College. Among the highlights will be Gareth Farr's Terra Incognito and The Planets by Gustav Holst.
New Zealand-made screen sound and music received a BAFTA, one Emmy, two APRA Silver Scrolls, two NZ TV Awards and three Golden Reels for work on film and gaming last year alone. But members of the Screen Music and Sound Guild are issuing a stark warning about the future of the industry, one they say is under appreciated and under resourced. Lynn Freeman speaks with Neil Aldridge who's a Lecturer at Te Rewa O Puanga - the Massey's School of Music and Creative Media Production and prolific screen composer Graeme Revell who has worked on American TV shows Gotham and CSI: Miami, and movies including Sin City and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Also part of the conversation is John Mckay, chief executive of POW Studios and a committee member of the NZ Screen Music and Sound Guild..
In 1995 a TV series not only established New Zealand as the fantasy location of the world, but it launched the career of its star. The show was Xena Warrior Princess. The star was Lucy Lawless. These days Lucy Lawless is better known for upholding the law rather than breaking it. Her popular TV show My life is Murder is in production for series three in Auckland. But she's taken on many roles between Xena and Alexa including Lucretia in the Spartacus series, a recurring role in the American sitcom Parks and Recreation, she played Ruby in Ash vs Evil Dead, and is a popular voice actor. Lynn Freeman caught up with Lucy Lawless to find out how filming is going.
The history of handbags over the past century is unpacked in a new exhibition in Upper Hutt via Italy, featuring more than 50 examples from the world famous to the curious and tiny. Carry Me: 100 years of Handbags includes the Lady Dior made famous by Lady Diana, the Jackie and Kelly bags, the Baguette made famous on the Sex and the City TV show, and the Chanel Bag with shoulder straps that's described as one of the most iconic fashion creations of the 20th Century. The handbags are all from Italian private collections but they're not all by famous fashion houses. And they're not all what you'd call practical. I spoke to the exhibition organiser Dr Alex Susanna in Italy, and to Leanne Wickham from Whirinaki that is hosting the exhibition.
A collection of short stories which span more than a hundred years but are connected by a building, make up Anthony Lapwood's new book Home Theatre. The stories are set in the Repertory Apartments. In their time they've housed an enticing range of people, as well as being home to theatre performances and workshops, to arguments and terror - and even time travel Anthony sat down with Lynn Freeman.
It's been a huge year for ingenious instrument inventor and self styled sound mechanic, Neil Feather. The former Baltimore resident, who now calls Auckland home, combines experimentation, curiosity and physics to create his instruments for himself and bandmates to play. Since arriving in Aotearoa a couple of years ago Neil Feather's collaborated on several projects with local musicians, including Rosie Langabeer. New Zealand will host the premiere of a documentary about Neil, called Sound Mechanic, and filmed in 2019-2020 just before he left the States. There's also an exhibition of his drawings and videos on show at the Audio Foundation in Auckland, and a double album called Instrumentory. Lynn Freeman caught up with Neil to find out where the moniker "Sound Mechanic" came from.
"What might we find when we stop looking?" That's what Otautahi sound artist Dr Jo Burzynska asks us, in her new multisensory exhibition. She recorded numerous walks throughout the city, guided by what she could hear, feel or smell, rather than what she could see. With the help of a range of people, Jo also foraged wild foods and experienced live in the city for the visually impaired. Her exhibition invites visitors to touch, smell, taste and listen the work. Lynn Freeman talks to her about her work.
In what's believed to be a New Zealand first, musicians have played all 3D-printed instruments in a live concert. The concert was held at Depot Artspace in Devonport, which is hosting an interactive exhibition of the instruments called Synthesis as part of New Zealand Music Month. Lynn Freeman talks to Professor Olaf Diegel from The University of Auckland's Creative Design and Additive Manufacturing Lab, and one of the musicians from the concert, Liam Barr Jones.
Traditions under threat from changing attitudes and new generations who have different expectations, is one of the ideas being investigated in a new play being presented by Auckland's Prayas Theatre company. In Dhaba on Devon Avenue a multi generational Indian family who run a restaurant serving traditional Sindhi food, are facing bankruptucy if something doesn't change. But there's strong resistance from the matriarch to meddling with the cuisine. Dhaba on Devon Avenue was written by American Madhuri Shekar and the setting translocated from Chicago to Wellington. Lynn Freeman is joined by writer and director Sananda Chatterjee and actor founding member of Prayas, Amit Ohdedar.
For more than 20 years, Dave Simpson has been competing with other photographers to capture those split-second, unique images of music legends performing on stage. Elton John, Alice Cooper and Robbie Williams are included in his extensive portfolio along with local talent include Benee, Six60 and Reb Fountain. RollingStone, Vanity Fair, Billboard, Getty Images, and several American and British newspapers are just some of the organisations who buy his photos. Dave has also just judged this year's Music Photography Awards, part of the Auckland Festival of Photography
Ilan Wittenberg wants visitors to his new exhibition of photographic portraits not to see subjects in front of a camera, but real people. To do this, he's asked those who sit for him to stare straight into his camera lens. It means visitors can't avoid making direct eye contact with people photographed around the world in their own homes or work places. Lynn Freeman asks Lynn why eye contact is so important in human connection. Ilan Wittenberg's exhibition Faces of Humanity opens at Parliament Building in the Beehive's Executive Wing on the 12th of May.
20 years of playing and 75 works commissioned specially for them over that time - the NZTrio is heading out around the country to celebrate their latest milestone this month. There are three new commissions included in three different Legacy concerts, performed by cellist Ashley Brown, violinist Amalia Hall and pianist Somi Kim. Ashley's been there from the start while Amalia and Somi joined him in a new look NZTrio four years ago. Amalia explains to Lynn Freeman that it's not just the excellence of the playing of the individual musicians that makes a great Trio. The NZTrio's Legacy 1 concert is on the 18th of May in Wellington. The Legacy 2 and 3 concerts will take place later in the year.
Finalist lists for pretty much every major New Zealand book award these days usually feature several self-published authors. And contrary to the preconception that these are all newbies who can't get publishing houses interested, many are established writers who choose this course. Self publishing may come with the freedom from anyone changing word of your precious script, but that's also one of the potential fishhooks. How do you use self-publishing to your advantage? Angela Curtis has set up SPINZ - the Self-Publishing Institute of New Zealand - as a social enterprise to offer advice to authors wanting to go down this track. The first online course starts this weekend. Lynn Freeman asks Angela what the reaction has been so far.
A new exhibition in Auckland aims to bring the visual artists out from behind the camera and canvas and into the spotlight. The people involved have photographed, painted, even collaged other artists in the same show, The Artists on Artists show includes Maori, Samoan, Chinese, Pakeha, Sri Lankan, Filipino, Czech and Middle Eastern artists, who've each come up with a portrait of one of the other participants. Lynn Freeman spoke to the curator Lindsey Horne whose work also features in the exhibition alongside another of the artists, photographer Abhi Chinniah, Lindsey says she had the idea in the midst of last year's winter lockdown. Artists on Artists opens at Toi Tu in Tamaki Makauru Auckland on the 12th of May.
Composer John Psathas came up with the music for a new double percussion concerto The All-Seeing Sky after reading Dante's Inferno. Big emotions and big ideas are contained in the piece, which he's composed for an award-winning Swiss percussion duo, Luca Staffelbach and Fabian Ziegler. The concerto has been co-commissioned by Orchestra Wellington, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Swiss City Light Symphony Orchestra. Lynn Freeman asked John about working with musicians for the first time, and whetherf he does a deep dive into their technique before composing for them:. Luca Staffelbach and Fabian Ziegler will perform the new concerto by John Psathas for the first time with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in Otautahi on the 14th of May, and in Te Whanganui-a-Tara with Orchestra Wellington on May the 21st.
It's been a long wait - around 20 years - but the Wakitipu community is about to get its very own state of the art multidisciplinary arts space. Two former commercial spaces in the Frankton shopping centre have been converted into more than 20 spaces. They'll house theatre and dance, a recording studio and both an art gallery and workshop. It's been a huge undertaking for the trust which was tasked with finding almost $4 million for the refit. The centre's called Te Atamira - meaning a stage or platform.. It hasn't even opened yet and it's all but booked out for the next few months. Lynn Freeman talks with Olivia Egerton, the centre's Development Director. Queenstown's Te Atamira opens on the 16th of May.
If New Zealand had an equivalent of Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn, it would have to be singer, songwriter and survivor Jodi Vaughan. Jodi's back with a new album For the love of country - her 10th - just about entirely self-penned. Jodi was country when it was hardly cool, but regularly sold truck-loads and topped the TV ratings in shows like That's Country back in the Eighties. And her life continued to echo the best country songs - ups, downs, triumphs, disasters, and at one memorable moment a punchup with the Ku Klux Klan in a gay bar in Texas! But above all, she had that heart-breaking voice, that perky personality and later the songs she wrote. Simon Morris invites Jodi Vaughan to look back on her legacy, and forward to two new albums. The album For the Love of Country can be purchased as a CD signed by Jodi from www.key2store.com and shipped to your door!
There are awards to encourage new generation creatives, and ones to recognise the work of arts veterans. But what about those hard workers who are in mid-career? Welcome to the FAME Mid-Career Awards. Lynn Freeman talks to one of this year's winners - actor, writer, dancer, choreographer, producer and director Amanaki Lelei Prescott-Faletau, who's of Tongan descent. Her career has included scripts for film and TV, and several appearances in front of the camera in The Breaker Upperers, The Panthers and The Pact. Amanaki plans to use the $15,000 FAME prize to take one of her own shows on tour. In 2013, she co-founded the performing arts collective Fine Fatale to amplify the voices of Maori and Pasifika Trans and Queer artists and launched the Tamaki Makaurau based F.I.N.E Festival. Amanaki tells Lynn why the award recognition meant so much to her.
He's kept us waiting for more than a decade but writer Robert Sullivan has just published a new poetry collection in which he examines both his Maori and Pakeha lineage. The poems in Tunui Comet are deeply personal. They encompass the distant past and the future, while Te Reo and English stand confidently together in some of the works. Lynn Freeman talks with Robert - who's currently teachng at Waitaki Boys High School in Oamaru. He reads one of the poems from the collection - and it's a true story: Robert Sullivan' s Tunui Comet is published by Auckland University Press.
The often difficult relationship between fathers and sons is one of the ideas Tamaki Makarau-based poet Michael Steven thinks about in his latest collection, Night School. In another series of poems subtitled "Dropped Pins", Michael whisks us from Pigeon Mountain in East Auckland, to New Brighton, even to South India. There's also a long series of poems based on long-distance bus trips he's taken over the years. The collection won the 2021 Kathleen Grattan Poetry Award, and has just been published. Lynn Freeman asked him first about the title. Michael Steven's collection Night School is published by Otago University Press.
A popular party game has been morphed into a live theatre experience that promises to exploit our fear of the unknown. Theatre collective Binge Culture has specialised in interactive productions over the years , finding willing audiences for them here and at the Edinburgh Fringe . The company's about to tour their latest show, Werewolf. Lynn Freeman talks to director Joel Baxendale and dramaturg Ralph Upton about interactive shows - and the appeal of parlour games. .
Lithography, the oldest form of printmaking, is the art-form of choice of Muriwai-based Kylie Rusk. It's physical - very physical - unpredictable and time-consuming. Landscapes and seascapes are what Kylie loves to represent in her limited edition prints, created on chunks of imported limestone. Her solo show Luminous is about to open at Auckland's Turua Gallery. It's a series of prints that focus on her family farm, on islands she can see from the shorelines she's constantly walking, and on Muriwai itself. Kylie talks to Lynn Freeman about the history of lithography, and what it takes to make a limited edition print: Luminous - Solo Exhibition by Kylie Rusk opens at Turua Gallery in Auckland on the 6th of May.
Maori playwright Sherilee Kahui wants to shake things up with her new work, Mokomoko. She's asking some hard questions and presenting some hard truths in the play, about a woman suffering from a personal trauma that has its roots in a genocide dating back several generations. Worse still, it's an atrocity has never been acknowledged. Mokomoko tells of a woman whose road to recovery from personal trauma is to discover her origin story, Sherilee tells Lynn Freeman she wants her play to empower Wahine Maori. Mokomoko - written and directed by Sherilee Kahui - will open on the 10th of May at Wellington's Bats Theatre in Wellington.
If you're in New Zealand's screen industry, the answer to the question "Where did you get that hat?" is often milliner Hayley May. Hayley's meticulous hat and glove making skills have been put to the test on many screen projects over the years - on Xena Warrior Princess and Lord of the rings, then later Cowboy Bebop and Mulan. And when there's a gap in the film schedule, she tops up the bank balance by crafting items to sell to the public. These include her trademark reversible sunhats. Lynn Freeman asks her where her fascination with headgear came from, and what makes a great movie hat? Instagram @hmbyhmnz
When a marriage is seriously in trouble, especially where there are children involved, the stakes are incredibly high. In his latest novel, award winning writer Brannavan Gnannalingam leads the family's main breadwinner Kavita and her hardworking but emotionally drained husband Vishal, to a crossroads. Slow Down, You're Here is about the need to find yourself, but is also something of a cautionary tale of life in a time of Covid lockdowns.. . Brannavan reads from his novel, then talks to Lynn about the pressures on modern-day marriage - particularly when an old flame enters the picture.:
A Russian composer living in New Zealand has written two works directly responding to the current invasion of Ukraine. Tatiana Riabinkina says she is horrified at what's happening in the country under attack by her homeland's leader. Over the past few weeks she's composed a work that the New Zealand String Quartet is about to premiere.
It's one of the most appealing stories from World War One - certainly featuring New Zealand troops - though it's surprisingly not commonly known here. Not compared to Gallipoli, say, or the Battle of the Somme. But it's different in the small French town of Le Quesnoy where the streets reflect their enthusiasm for Aotearoa. Streets like Rue de la Nouvelle Zélande, Rue Hélène Clark and Place des All Blacks... Now finally we're setting up a commemoration of how New Zealand liberated the town without the loss of a single civilian life. And we're bringing in the big guns. The New Zealand Memorial Museum Trust has employed Weta Workshop's Andrew Thomas to lead the project, fresh off a similarly huge undertaking - the New Zealand Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Lynn Freeman asked Andrew why the story resonated so much with him.
Jade Townsend disentangles weaves of beach mats which she then paints, using them to create colourful veils. They've usually been displayed on the walls of galleries, but now she's made a large, free-standing veil sculpture that she's inviting people to walk through. The installation - "Neke Neke, You are free" - explores the relationship between power and religion. It's part of a group show at the Gus Fisher Gallery in Auckland called Turning a page, starting a chapter. And behind it, Jade's collaborated with musician Riki Gooch to create a soundscape they call "Ship's Bell". Jade Townsend is also co-owner of a new gallery in downtown Tamaki Makaurau - Season Gallery. It opened just as this year's lockdown ended, which shows a bold leap of faith in the market! Lynn Freeman talks to Jade about "Neke neke" - particularly her launch into sound with Riki: Turning a page, starting a chapter opens on the 30th of April at Gus Fisher Gallery in Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland.
Exploring how the mind can play tricks on us is what choreographer Rose Philpott is exploring in her first full length touring show, Dry Spell. She's created it for Footnote NZ Dance and it's about to head out around the country. While Rose has created several smaller works for Footnote over the years, this is her first full-length touring show. Lynn Freeman asks Rose about translating philosophic ideas into moviement. The Footnote NZ Dance company tour starts in Auckland/Tamaki Makaurau on the 30th of April at the ASB Waterfront Theatre before heading out around the North Island.
In Erik Kennedy's second poetry collection, Another Beautiful Day Indoors, he pinpoints both the weirdnesses of contemporary life but also many harsh realities we can't afford to ignore. The Otautahi Christchurch poet is a master at titles. "The Please Stop Killing Us and Destroying Everything That Sustains Us Society", "Nineteenth-Century Road Rural Road-Builders" and "Notes Towards a Definition of Essential Work"... Erik covers a lot of ground. Even the poems that are technically magic realism feel uncomfortably within the realm of possibility. As he tells Lynn Freeman, many address one of the issues that most concerns him - climate change. Another Beautiful Day Indoors by Erik Kennedy is published by Te Herenga Waka Press.
"Matarau" refers to a multi-pronged spear used for fishing and eeling by early Maori. It's the name art curator Shannon te Ao has chosen for an exhibition of work by Maori artists who are exploring aspects of daily life in surprising ways. The work's going on show at City Gallery Wellington. Lynn Freeman spoke with Shannon and with one of his selected artists, Paekakariki based, Levin raised artist Hemi Macgregor. Matarau opens on the 30th of April at City Gallery Wellington.
They may look like a bunch of comfortable places to sit down and relax. But the lounge suites and other furniture that are about to pop up in shop windows along Dunedin's main street are in fact interactive musical instruments in disguise. Dunedinites are being invited to come and play on musical furniture throughout New Zealand Music Month. Oscillations, squeaks, drones, and chirps - there's a wide range of sounds available to anyone visiting Monocle - Musical Furniture. It's a new project commissioned by the Dunedin Dream Brokerage from a group called Spectacle. Lynn Freeman talks with Jess Covell, the Project Director, and Music Director Chris Miller. Monocle starts on the 1st of May along Otepoti's George Street, between Frederick Street and Moray Place.
Peter Cranson is from a family of clock repairers. Now based in Mt Maunganui where he trades as Peter Cranson Clock Repairs, he was brought up in Palmerston North. He and his dad did the maintenance on the city's much loved historic Hopwood clock. Our occasional series of interviews with repairers continues with Peter's insights into bringing clocks and watches back to life, which he's being doing since the mid 1960s. One of his favourite assignments was repairing a battered watch owned by rugby legend Sir Colin Meads. Lynn Freeman asked Peter Cranson about his family business - four generations repairing clocks and watches:
Playing a steely female spy in a man's world in a remake of the movie The Ipcress File was an opportunity British actress Lucy Boynton embraced. The thriller's set in 1963 when former army sergeant Harry Palmer becomes a spy for British intelligence tasked with tracking down a kidnapped British nuclear scientist. The 1965 film starring Michael Cain as Palmer based based on Len Deighton's novel written in 1962. In the both those versions, the role of female spy Jean Courtney was more of a bit part, but in the ITV series about to air on Acorn TV, that's all changed. Lucy talks about her latest role with Lynn Freeman.
As one door closes, in the form of yet another New Zealand International comedy festival this winter, a few small trapdoors seem to be opening up for our comedians. Over the past couple of years most of our established comedians haven't been able to attend any of the international comedy festivals that have been able to go ahead, But there's a prediction that New Zealand will see an influx of new pro's launching their careers here next year, due to a backlog of talent desperate to perform live shows. After a drop in turnover of more than 60% in the first 3 months of this year, Auckland's Classic comedy venue is bringing back its Thursday Pro Nights from later this month . Plus, the 2021 Raw Comedy Quest will finally have a Grand Final on June 4th at The Classic. We brought together Scott Blanks who runs the Comedy, Lauren Whitney from the Comedy Trust that runs the festival, and Wellington comedian and comedy producer Jerome Chandrahasan. First Lauren explains to Lynn why the 2022 New Zealand International comedy festival had to be cancelled
There's to be a changing of the guard on concert hall podiums around the country, with a new Maestro preparing to take over as New Zealand's Assistant Conductor-in-Residence. The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra manages the role but it's a collaboration between the country's main orchestras and Creative New Zealand, in an effort to hone the skills of young conductors within Australasia. The current Assistant Conductor-in-Residence Vincent Hardaker has recovered from Covid in time to wield the baton at this Thursday's APO Great Classics concert, starring 14 year-old violin sensation Christian Li. At the concert will be Vincent's successor, Leonard Weiss, two months later than planned, coming over from Australia because of the pandemic. Lynn speaks with both conductors.
Seaweed is a talking point these days as a potential and as yet untapped source of biofuel and food - but less so as a subject for artists. The upcoming New Zealand Festival of Nature in Otepoti Dunedin includes a workshop in Marine Botanical illustration focusing on drawing and painting seaweed found in the Otago Harbour and environs. Artist and tutor Wayne Everson has taught numerous courses including Botanical Art and Illustration for The Garden School of Art in Dunedin since 2015. The seaweed images in the gallery are from students who attended one of the courses. Lynn caught up with Wayne who says the Marine Botanical workshop is something new for him.
There are more ways than ever to get published these days - including Twitter. Fantasy writer Nikky Lee won a Twitter competition that lead to the first in her Young Adult trilogy The Rarkyn's Familiar being published this month. It introduces us to Lyss who accidentally ends up in a blood pact with one of the feared Rarkyn from the otherworld. The encounter puts her sanity in jeopardy. Nicky Lee talks to Lynn about writing about other worlds.
Dutch-Kiwi photographer Ans Westra has captured on film some of the quintessential images of New Zealand life over her many decades behind the camera. She's remains deeply proud of her Dutch heritage and next weekend she's guest of honour at the opening of Dutch Week, at the multicultural centre Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, in Foxton as part of the town's annual Big Dutch Day Out. It is housing one of the largest exhibitions of her work seen in the last 20 years. You can also find Ans Westra's photographs of Naenae in the late 1980s at the Dowse in Lower
19th century Geologist and explorer Sir Julius von Haast's contribution to Aotearoa's scientific history has been quietly overlooked - but a symposium timed to coincide with his 200 birth year anniversary aims to put that right. Haast was brought to New Zealand in 1858 to investigate prospects for German emigrants, but stayed on. He joined many expeditions around Auckland and Nelson as well as remote parts of Canterbury and the West Coast. His roles included being Canterbury's Provincial Geologist, a university professor, and as a botanist he sent many plants to London's Kew Gardens. Haast became the world's foremost expert in moa bones, and was instrumental in establishing Canterbury Museum in 1870. The museum's arranged an online symposium at the end of this month. Lynn catches up with science historian Simon Nathan, and Research Librarian at the Alexander Turnbull Library Sascha Nolden who will both be speaking at the symposium.
Right now the movie industry is increasingly nervous, with all the big Hollywood studios saying the only way to make a profit is huge and very expensive blockbusters. But one company is going in the opposite direction - and doing very well at it. A24 specialises in smaller movies aimed mostly at cinema releases - movies like The Green Knight, Lady Bird, Lighthouse - and an upcoming tongue in cheek horror film called X. So why was it filmed mostly around Whanganui? It's an unlikely combination, an unabashed genre picture called X set in Texas - it describes itself as Boogie Nights meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre! - suddenly transferred to New Zealand. And not even mainstream backlot New Zealand - Auckland, say, or Central Otago . X was mostly shot around Whanganui, Bulls and Rangitikei. And the good news it's getting great notices already overseas. Simon Morris talks to producer Jacob Jaffke in Los Angeles about the enduring appeal of horror movies, why they work so much better in a cinema, and why he was drawn to New Zealand. X has been showing in selected cinemas this week, and then will later stream on Google Play and iTunes before heading for BluRay/DVD.
Family genealogy is irresistable for many of us, researching our whakapapa. There's another history though that's overlooked but often just as fascinating - the story of our homes. Christchurch-based Dr Christine Whybrew from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is captivated by home histories and gives talks about them to homeowners interested in delving into the past. Lynn Freeman wondered what got Christine so interested in the history of houses.. Dr Christine Whybrew from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Here are some house flow charts, and also some useful sources.
With characters who include a pirate of low morals but high cheekbones and a witch who's also an excellent pick pocket and a keen bibliophile, you can tell you're in for a wild ride. India Holton's books The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels and The League of Gentlewomen Witches have both been picked up by a US publisher. The latter is about to be released here in Aotearoa. It tells the story of Miss Charlotte Pettifer and her nemesis, the pirate Alex O'Reiley who together must find a magic and powerful amulet. Like Charlotte, India is a massive Jane Austen fan and the books are written very much in her style, with a twist: "It is a truth seldom acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a good fortune is not especially in want of a husband", she writes. The New York Times review was glowing: "As much fun as the English language will permit". Lynn Freeman talks to India about the world of witches and pirates. The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton is published by Penguin Random House.
Author David Groves invites us to travel the Silk Road from fabled Asian capital Xanadu to Venice, with adventurer Marco Polo and the Emperor Kublai Khan as our guides, in his novel 7 Intelligible Cities. In it, the two old men talk reflect on the strengths, and weaknesses, of language and different ways it can be translated. David is deeply versed in Italian language and culture, and his novel is impossible to pigeonhole - part travelogue, part allegory, part treatise on translation all encapsulated in a comic novel. David tells Lynn Freeman that it's also a tribute to an Italo Calvino novel that was published 50 years ago: 7 Intelligible Cities by David Groves is published by goWare.
In what she believes to be a first for Aotearoa, violinist Anne Loeser is about to play the entire cycle of Heinrich Biber's 17th century Rosary Sonatas for violin and continuo.. It's such a marathon, she'll be playing it over three evenings. Anne is a first violinist in the NZSO, but she also plays baroque violin, which is what she'll be using for the marathon event. Two other musicians will be performing with Anne and she'll also need a dedicated violin-tech backstage, because every sonata demands that the violin be re-tuned and even mistuned. Lynn Freeman asked Anne why playing the full cycle is such a daunting prospect for a violinist: The performance of Heinrich Biber's Rosary Sonatas for violin and continuo at St Mary's of the Angels in Wellington, starts on Wednesday, continuing on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
In the latest in our occasional series of interviews with repairers, we turn our attention to pottery. People are often encouraged to repair broken musical instruments, furniture or paintings. But crockery - even a much loved plate or mug - is more likely to end up in the tip after an accident. However, if the item is rare or there's sentimental value attached to it, there is still hope, according to Wellington ceramicist Dave Clingman. Dave not only makes pottery, he fixes it too. He uses several techniques, but his favourite, he says, is the Japanese art of Kintsugi. Lynn Freeman asked Dave about the particular challenges of fixing broken ceramics.
Napier is about to host the largest collection of artwork by pioneering fine art printmaker Françoise Gilot ever exhibited in the Southern Hemisphere. Françoise is a spritely 100 years old - and for 80 of them, this artist tour de force has experimented wth colour lithography.... She lived with Picasso in the late 1940s, and while already an established artist in her own right, she acknowledges that she learnt much by watching his printmaking techniques over that time. Lynn Freeman talks with Dr Adrian Ormsby, the Curator of the exhibition Francoise Gilot The Pioneer, which opens at Creative Arts Napier on the 22nd of April.
Young aspiring actors, directors, designers, writers, and theatre artists are being invited to apply for a new Youth Theatre company in Tamakai Makarau. It's for 16-25 year olds, and it's the initiative of the Auckland Theatre Company. The aim is to give our next generation of theatre makers a head start in their careers, and the year-long programme is free. Ahead of auditions that will be held once Auckland moves to orange, Lynn Freeman spoke to two of the four artists leading The Youth Company programme - Keagan Carr Fransch, and from ATC, Sam Phillips. She asked Sam what will differentiate this initiative from other youth theatre groups, notably long-time Auckland company, Massive?
Stuffed animals used to be a fixture of Victorian houses and museums, though for modern eyes they elicit complicated responses. They're certainly striking - often magnificent - examples of the taxidermist's skill. But they're also tragic, particularly when the animals are endangered, or even extinct. Now a modern exhibition offers life-sized skeletons of endangered animals, made not from bone but from knitting. Sculptor Michele Beevors believes the sense of loss to those looking at them, will be just as profound. From tiny frogs to a towering giraffe, she's knitted their skeletons as part of a two-decade-long project, and many have been included in exhibitions about the country. This selection from the Anatomy Lessons menagerie is about to open in Otago Museum's animal attic Michele's twelve chosen creatures will sit alongside some of the museum's historic skin and fur taxidermied exhibits. Michele is principal lecturer in sculpture at the Dunedin School of Art at Otago Polytechnic. She tells Lynn Freeman that, for her, these frozen-in-time creatures have held a sad fascination for her since she moved to Otepoti Dunedin 20 years ago. Michele Beevors: Anatomy Lessons opens at Otago Museum on the 9th of April.
Violinist Rakuto Kurano has big ambitions for his time as the first Artist in Residence at a Wanaka retirement complex. He's just completing the first of three week-long stints at The Aspiring Lifestyle Village, where he's taken lessons, given several performances and also visited local schools to talk about a musician's life.
An exhibition to celebrate those who put pictures to words for one of our leading children's book publishers, is about to open in Whanganui. It's two years since the Lockett Gallery, an arm of Paige's Book Gallery, opened as the country's only gallery for illustrators. For its next show Lockett is teaming up with Gecko Press, a Wellington based publisher of international children's books, to highlight the work of the illustrators. Lynn Freeman talks to the joint curators of Gecko Press the Exhibition, Lesley Stead from Paige's Book Gallery and Rachel Lawson from Gecko Press. Gecko Press the exhibition is on this month at Whanganui's Lockett Gallery.
Every year it seems there are new regional film festivals, often hugely popular with Kiwi audiences. The big surprise about the latest one - the first Scandinavian Film Festival - is surely why has it taken so long? Scandinavia is regularly the New Big Thing, going right back to the dark dramas of Sweden's Ingmar Bergman, the warm-hearted Dogme comedy-dramas of Denmark, and trendy Scandi-noir like The Killing, The Bridge and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Not forgetting this year's Oscar-nominated The worst person in the world from Norway. Simon Morris talks with Scandinavian Film Festival Director Fergus Grady about a surprisingly light-hearted selection.
Going West, Aotearoa's oldest indy LitFest, used to be all about the bringing together of writers and readers in a room, even on a train, to chat about books. But that was then. After two disrupted years, Going West 2022 is embracing the new opportunities offered by going online. These include commissioning new work showcasing storytellers. The Festival is also about to launch two new art-house documentary shorts - one on the poet Nathan Joe and Kathleen Winter's film about the poet Freya Daly Sadgrove. Lynn Freeman chats with Kathleen and Nathan. First though, Going West's Director James Littlewood explains why - rather than relying on Zoom like some literary festivals - they've gone in a different direction:
A treasured violin run over by a car is one of the most extreme repairs carried out by The Stringed Instrument Company in Auckland. Our occasional series of interviews with repairers continues with a chat to Cath Newhook, who took over the company from her mentor, luthier Peter Madill. For many years Cath has trained new generations of specialist repairers, and she and her team have saved many valuable violins, violas and double bases across five decades. Cath explains to Lynn Freeman how she came to repair stringed instruments.
Whanau Marama: the New Zealand International Film Festival has just announced it will return this year, though it's going to have to reduce the number of films and venues. It's coming off the back of a challenging two years. The Film Festival was hit by a series of perfect storms - the closedown of half the country, two years in a row, and similar damage caused to the overseas festivals from where we draw many of our big films. There was also a new experimental, hybrid viewing system that struggled to replace the popular live party atmosphere we're used to at the Festival. This year the Film is under new - but hugely experienced - management. Head of Programming Michael McDonnell has been there for 21 years. Senior programmer Sandra Reid has been doing it for 28 years. So can the Festival rise again? General Manager Sally Woodfield joins Lynn and Simon to discuss her plans.
The depth and diversity of humankind's relationship with the natural world are explored in a new exhibition Nature Culture at MTG in Hawke's Bay. Local artist Chris Bryant-Toi's work forms a cornerstone of the show. His approach to sculpture is as if to something living, a part of the environment it comes from. Chris also contributes to the preservation and growth of Maori art as an educator, curator and writer, and as a founding member of Te Taumata Art Gallery in Tamaki Makaurau. He credits his whanau - he's a descendant of master carver Hoani Ngatai, amongst many other artist, carvers and creators. His work for Nature Culture has its roots in Te Ara Kahikatea, a public art installation of three eight-metre high sculptures, depicting the ancestral stories of the surrounding landscape and its people.
A boy's father goes missing while at Te Papa - but he's not missing in the building, he's lost in one of the museum's taonga. That's the premise for a new book called Lost in the Museum, a collaboration between the writer Victoria Cleal and illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White. They join Lynn to discuss their approach to combining words and pictures.
Poems based on public holidays and significant days in our history are included in Pistils, the 9th collection by Janet Charman. There are deeply personal works touching on the death of her partner of 40 years, and many thinking back to her childhood and her parents. But the winner of the 2008 Montana Book Award for Poetry also looks unflinchingly into the uncertain future. Pistils is published by Otago University Press.
Creatures from the distant past or visitors from another dimension? An arresting new exhibition from internationally renowned Kiwi artist Francis Upritchard features a range of human and animal forms made from balata rubber, a curious substance extracted from trees in Brazil. The new exhibition Paper, Creature, Stone also includes ceramic works, figurative sculptures and watercolours - all new pieces from Upritchard that will be on display from Saturday 2 April 2022 at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu.
A three month trip home to Christchurch from London to donate a kidney to her mother, has turned into a two year stay for expat jeweller Hannah Upritchard. But she's making the most of her time, creating new work from borrowed and found materials, exhibiting, and selling her jewellery on line including recently to one of her heroes, actor Tilda Swinton. She's also gained international attention after collaborating with Warren Ellis, the owner of a famous piece of gum chewed by singer Nina Simone in 1999. Hannah cast the precious gum and made it into a pendant. The self taught jeweller uses fair-trade or recycled materials where possible to create work she hopes will spark joy. Hannah Upritchard's work will be seen as part of the upcoming AVID 30th anniversary show in Wellington.
Photographer Murray Cammick's new exhibition The show must go on comes bristling with levels. It's the old showbiz dictum, of course - no matter what, go on and give them a show. And these days that's harder - live venues have been hard hit by Covid, but many of the art galleries are hanging on. What better time to revive inner-city life with photos of rock and roll's glory days? Simon Morris catches up with an old rocker. The show must go on, opens at the Photospace Gallery in Courtenay Place Wellington on April the 9th.
First today it is a privilege on Standing Room Only to be announcing the winners of the Adam NZ Play Awards. Lynn is joined by Murray Lynch, the head of Playmarket that runs the awards. We will also be joined by a yet to be announced winner!
The wealth of feminist art by Pacific women Aoteaora and across Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the Pacific Ocean, is being celebrated in a new exhibition at Toi o Tamaki Auckland Art Gallery. Ane Tonga, the gallery's inaugural Curator of Pacific Art has spent a couple of years selecting work that encompasses sculpture and moving image through to performance art. Gender and the politics of representation are ideas she's explored in her own art practice over the years. She's calling the exhibition Declaration: A Pacific Feminist Agenda. Lynn Freeman spoke to her and to one of the artists included in the show, Suzanne Tamaki, who uses fashion and photography to create images with strong political and cultural messages.
Thriller writer Stephen Johnson sends an ambitious TV news team into dangerous territory in his new book Boxed. The expat Australian tv producer and tour guide, was a finalist in the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Best First Novel category with Tugga's Mob, the first outing for Kim and Jo and the rest of the Melbourne Spotlight TV crew. This time the nightmare of an imprisoned woman unfolds alongside a murder mystery involving greyhound racing trainers.
Moments of joy to fortify the soul are promised in the latest poetry collection by Chris Tse, Super Model Minority. They're not all soft and tender poems though, as Chris once again mines tough times he experienced growing up as a young gay Asian man in New Zealand. The first two books in what he calls a loose trilogy were called How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes, and HE'S SO MASC.
In the 1990s Artist and political activist Diana Halstead spent a miserable few years living in Devonport - she found it claustrophobic after living in the wilderness of the Waitakere Ranges. Each day she expressed her frustrations in her art, creating a remarkable series of spontaneous works of hybrid human-animal figures from crayon, oil paints and watercolours. For decades the pictures have been stored under her bed at her current home in the Coromandel, but she's hauled them out and now published many of them in a book called Archetypes.
Tomorrow is World Poetry Day and poets around Aotearoa have been busy beavering away to celebrate it. One of them is Associate Professor Sarah Ross, from Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington who has been compiling an online index of poems penned by Renaissance women. The Early Modern Women's Complaint Poetry Index brings together poetry about love, loss and protest, written by women living from 1530 to 1680. Sarah co-led the project with Professor Rosalind Smith from Australian National University and they've just picked up an award from the Renaissance Society of America.
Well before the pandemic, many of the country's libraries were facing uncertain times. Many school and community libraries have been struggling to compete with other calls on stretched school and council budgets. So are young people being attracted to a career as a librarian and replenishing the current experienced but aging workforce? In an effort to make it a more appealing option, library organisations have joined forces to offer new tertiary study grants. Philip Miles is on the Tertiary Grants project advisory group, a Library and Information Association of New Zealand council member and part of the Auckland Libraries team.
The three composers up for the 2021 APRA Best Original Music In A Film Award each faced entirely different challenges with their scores. They've also had to wait a long time to find out which of them has taken out the top prize. The original in-person event was first scheduled for October last year, then November, then early this month. It's finally happening this week, sadly on-line. Vying for top honour for Film Music are Arli Liberman for Savage, Ewan Clark for the adaptation of The Turn of the Screw and Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper for Shadow in the Cloud. Lynn speaks to Arli, Ewan and Mahuia about the different challenges they faced on these huge projects.
There's been a major shift in New Zealand independent publishing this week. Auckland publisher Upstart Press has purchased the entirety of New Holland Publishing, including their extensive backlist of Aotearoa non fiction titles. Upstart Press was formed in 2013 by former Hachette NZ Managing Director Kevin Chapman. Upstart has been publishing New Zealand non-fiction, fiction and children's books for a decade now. They're also a distributor and Kevin isn't shy about his ambitions for NZ independent publishing.
Gisborne's Kaiti beach beach has been the giant canvas of local artist Adel Salmanzadeh and his whanau this week, in a work created for the Auckland Art Festival. The Iranian-born refugee came to Aotearoa in 1989, and he calls his new and temporary public artwork "United for Truth."
Many of us may remember sitting around the good old Formica kitchen table back in the 1960s and 70s. Eastbourne-based poet Maggie Rainey-Smith takes us back to those times in her new collection, Formica. Maggie Rainey-Smith explains to Lynn Freeman that the Formica table has a special place in the collection: Please note that in this interview there are references to suicide.
A picture might be worth a thousand words, but Gregory O'Brien has made a name for himself by offering paintings as well as poems in his collections. The Wellington writer, painter and art curator has called his latest illustrated poetry collection House & Contents. He talks with Lynn Freeman.
NZSO flautist Bridget Douglas has stepped up to the challenge for a videoed online concert that's part of the revamped Aotearoa New Zealand Arts Festival programme. As she tells Lynn Freeman, it's actually a work she knows well.
Breakages, borer and botched DIY repairs, he's seen it all at his studio in the Manawatu where he trades as "Good As New". In another in our occasional series of interviews with repairers and restorers - today Lynn Freeman is in conversation with antique furniture restorer, George Keenan.
The new Chief Executive Officer of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra has big plans for the CSO, especially when it comes to hitting the right note with the community. Dr Graham Sattler was appointed last year but has only recently been able to relocate from Australia. He'd been the executive director at the music education organisation the Mitchell Conservatorium in New South Wales.
A new exhibition invites you to think more deeply about those large, woven, plastic, carry-all bags used around the world for years. The mass-produced bags come in fetching combinations of red white and blue, and red black and white plaid patterns.
More than two hundred TV series and and one-offs - Greenstone TV has been producing local shows for more than 20 years. And despite the many challenges facing the screen sector at the moment, it has a bunch of new shows in production this year.
It began in 1858 as a humble ferry crossing. Now the Canterbury town of Ashburton, made rich through agriculture, is in the midst of a large scale revitalisation project, with new buildings springing up around the town. An exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery brings together art, photography and objects that tell the story of this evolving townscape. Curator James Hope has ferreted through collections of the Gallery, the Museum and the Ashburton District Council in search of treasures for the show, many of them rarely seen. The town may have lost some of its grandest early buildings, but it's held onto other landmarks, like the Domain and iconic clock tower. Lynn Freeman asks James for more details of Ashburton's early settler years. Urban Ashburton opens at Ashburton Art Gallery today.
Auckland's famous madam Flora MacKenzie has now inspired a trilogy of crime novels by writer Jen Shieff. The first two in the series The Gentleman's Club and The Vanishing Act were both finalists in the Ngaio Marsh Awards. The Final Call is set in 1979 Auckland. It's a time and place where boundaries are being pushed in fashion, music and social attitudes. And yet male homosexuality and prostitution are still illegal. Lynn Freeman talks to Jen Shieff about Flora McKenzie's Auckland and why she inspired her to write three books.
Whether or not you believe in an afterlife, chances are you've imagined what it might be like. In Auckland writer Patricia Bell's novel The Library of Unfinished Business, we join recently deceased librarian Maurice in a Heaven where everyone has to wear bright yellow. He also gets to rub shoulders with perky Heavenly Hosts as well as Biblical characters like Adam and Eve. Aside from her work writing short stories, poetry and non-fiction, Patricia is a freelance editor, proofreader and musical theatre performer. Lynn Freeman asks her about her unique view of a very specific Heaven. Is it a Good Place? The Library of Unfinished Business by Patricia Bell is published by Cloud Ink Press.
Family members descended from Aotearoa's first professional portrait artist, William Beetham, are bringing together paintings he made of himself, his wife and his ten children for an exhibition called William's Legacy. Some of the works have never been on public show until now. The Beetham family had been planning a reunion, but when that became impossible they decided having the paintings all together in the Aratoi Gallery in Masterton would be the next best thing. William Beetham emigrated to New Zealand with his family in 1855 and made a home for them in the Wairarapa. Lynn Freeman talks to Jo Beetham who's married to one of William's descendants, and to the exhibition's curator Jo Torr, who explains William's place in our art history. William's Legacy: Beetham Portraits opens at Aratoi on the 12th of March.
One of the few public artforms that can happen at the moment is street art. Christchurch in particular is making the most of it, launching an entire festival devoted to it. FLARE, the organisers tell us, has a vision to reclaim Christchurch's global status as a street art capital, with artists from across Aotearoa creating seven large scale murals in Otautahi. One of the artists is local freelance designer, illustrator, artist and muralist Kophie Su'a-Hulsbosch, also known as Meep. She also runs a sustainable clothing company called Future Apparel. Kophie took time out from her mural to talk to Lynn Freeman about how the Festival's going.
For a decade Timothy Wayne-Wright travelled the world performing hundreds of concerts with Britain's Grammy award winning The King's Singers. Now he and his family have settled in Aotearoa, where Tim is setting up a touring A Cappella Academy, a training course for singers and vocal ensembles. The first one's scheduled for April in Nelson, but he's being flexible with the timing for obvious reasons at the moment. Timothy's an experienced singing teacher and will be covering off vocal techniques like chord balancing, blending and vowel matching, as well as performance ones like how to really connect with an audience. He told Lynn Freeman why he loves this specific musical genre.
You may recall the Herald story last year: Reserve Bank pays nearly $400k for an art work, described by that well-known art critic, Act leader David Seymour, as an "over-priced monstrosity". The team at Scale Studios beg to differ. They helped the artist Jimi Hills create the work, and it remains one of their favourite commissions. The Studios - based at the Avalon Film Studios building in Lower Hutt - also worked with Yuki Kihara who'll be representing Aotearoa at this year Venice Biennale with some of her large scale works. Scale was formed in 2018 from the crew of designers and effects artists that built and shot the miniatures for movies like Blade Runner 2049 and the Thunderbirds Are Go TV series shot at Avalon. Joaquin Loyzaga is one of the team that's managed to keep the young studio afloat during a tough couple of pandemic interrupted years. Joaquin originally joined Weta Workshop as a Lord of the Rings fanboy. He tells Lynn Freeman the art of movie miniature-making is all about the detail.
The classic requiem form is the springboard for a new work that reflects on how Kiwis have been experiencing loneliness, distance, and uncertainty under lockdown and border restrictions. Where Will They Bury My Bones? composed by Gareth Farr, is a highlight of the revamped Auckland Arts Festival programme. This 20-minute work has been created by New Zealanders living in three different countries.. And in a sign of the times, the premiere will take place online, and people are being asked to pay what they can. Lynn Freeman asks composer Gareth Farr how he's responded to a time of great dislocation, here and worldwide.
All children deserve to see themselves in a book, but in Aotearoa this isn't always happening. That's the key point made in the acceptance speech by the country's most recent winner of the Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award for outstanding service to children's and young adult literature and reading, Sarah Forster. Sarah gave her speech yesterday online, using it to call on publishers to work more closely with authors and to bring out a much more diverse range of books for young readers. She's currently the senior communications advisor for Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. But her CV also includes writing about and reviewing children's literature. She's the founding editor of The Sapling website, she's been a judge for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults and she's also worked for Booksellers New Zealand and Read New Zealand Te Pou Muramura.
A new novel invites us to fast forward four years. State surveillance is everywhere in Aotearoa, and if you dare to search for evidence of government corruption you could end up on the Kill List. That's the premise for Tina Clough's new thriller, The Shadow Broker. When Minnie finds a burner phone and starts to read suspicious coded messages, she turns to her friend Rumble to help her to make sense of them. Lynn Freeman asks Tina why she set the story just four years in the future, and how scarily prescient the plot seems to be.
Why is the BBC TV series The Repair Shop - where heirlooms are repaired by experts - so popular? The skill of the craftspeople is certainly breathtaking. But often it's the story behind the objects that's really at the heart of the show. So this year, Standing Room Only will feature repairers around the country whose skills are salvaging precious objects. They may be musical instruments, books and furniture, or in this case, teddy bears and dolls. We go to Palmerston North with Keith and Faith Martin who run The Dolls Hospital. Their patients including die-cast scale models and dolls prams as well as a wide range of toys.
Here's a new Instagram comedy series called I got you, designed to be watched on your mobile phone. The story is simple: a young Pasifika woman starts a side hustle giving relationship advice - despite never having been in love herself! I got you is what's called a "vertical show", the creation of brother and sister Stallone and Abba-Rose Vaiaoga-Ioasa, in partnership with star and co-writer Sieni Leo'o Olo . Until now their company Cadness Street has been best known for popular, self-funded movies like Three Wise Cousins and Take Home Pay. Lynn Freeman talks with Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasato find out what drew the siblings to the ultra-small screen - and what exactly is a vertical show?
Sculptor and social historian Denis O'Connor has created a love letter to his home of five decades, Waiheke Island, in the form of a bright red post office. The Last Post Office houses PO boxes for dozens of local of people and places of interest. including Marxist HQ, The Marmite Tree and Menthol Jim. Inside the building are a treasure trove of pictures, also relating to the island's rich social history. It's part of Waiheke Island's upcoming Sculpture on the Gulf event. . Denis O'Connor tells Lynn Freeman that it's also an acknowledgement of the many stand-alone post offices that once operated on the island.
Two weeks ago we talked with New Zealand Film Commission CEO David Strong about the challenges - and some rewards - facing the whole industry. But what's it like at the sharp end? One of our most successful production companies is Libertine Pictures, set up by writer Neil Cross and producer Richard Fletcher. Right now they specialise in TV co-productions. So how hard is it making a big-budget TV series under Covid restrictions? Libertine is riding on two big successes. The Rebecca Gibney romcom Under the Vines, co-produced with Acorn TV, is about to start shooting Series Two in Otago. And family action-adventure Mystic made with the BBC and based on Stacy Gregg's popular books Pony Club Secrets is currently shooting Series 3 in Auckland. Simon Morris talks with Libertine Pictures producer Richard Fletcher.
Artist Yona Lee uses hundreds of metres of stainless-steel pipe - the sort more commonly turned into handrails - for her room-sized gallery installations. Then she adds everyday objects like umbrellas, lamps, chairs and even beds, to give the work a surrealist twist. An Arrangement for 5 Rooms is the South Korean-born artist's most ambitious solo exhibition to date, taking over a large chunk of the Auckland Art Gallery. The maze-like sculpture is immense. It extends from the glassed area of the gallery into Tamaki Makaurau's Albert Park, where it becomes a very public art work. Visitors can look at the pipe structures, they can interact with them - even take a nap on one of the beds! Yona, (yo-nah) moved to Aotearoa from South Korea to study art. Since then, her creations have been exhibited in galleries around the country and overseas. Lynn Freeman asks her why she chose stainless steel as her art medium of choice. An Arrangement for 5 Rooms opens at Auckland Art Gallery on the 26th of February
The past, present and even speculation about the future all find a place in the latest poetry collection Next by Otepoti Dunedin based writer Alan Roddick. It's the octogenarian's third collection, covering 2016 through to last year, and it includes several poems relating to the Covid-19 lockdowns. Alan also reflects on his childhood, meeting up with an old mate by chance after many years, and the invisibility and health concerns that come with age. Alan Roddick was born in Belfast in Northern Ireland and emigrated to New Zealand in 1952. Lynn Freeman opens the conversation with one of Alan's poems from Next:
Aotearoa's latest literary sleuth, D.I. Nyree Bradshaw is faced by a mystifying and culturally challenging case in Catherine Lea's thriller The Water's Dead. The DI and her team are in a race against time to solve the murder of a young Maori woman whose body is found dumped in volcanic rock pool by passing tourists tourists, as well as find a missing diabetic child. The story's set in the Far North where Catherine now lives. As she tells Lynn Freeman, she's previously written thrillers set in the USA. The Water's Dead by Catherine Lea's is published by Breaklight Press.
One of the best things about the last couple of weeks on the Laugh Track is that the guests - mostly about to star in the upcoming Fringe Festival - have generally picked other Fringe performers. It means we can actually put the Laugh Track up on the web for a change. And it also reminds us that the comedy pool in New Zealand isn't just the usual TV suspects. Today's guest is a new but wildly enthusiastic Kiwi, despite his undeniable Scottish brogue. Will Ryan McGhee need subtitles? Ryan's picks include Jerome Chandrahasan, Ray O'Leary, Eli Matthewson and Nick Rado Ryan's show The Scottish Kiwi opens at Wellington's Cavern Club on February 28.
From dawn 'til dusk, pedestrians walking along Otepoti Dunedin's central George Street, are about to be serenaded by Recordings of Town Belt native manu or birds. Artist Vicki Lenihan made the recordings for a work commissioned by the Dunedin Dream Brokerage as a Platform Project, where artists are invited to brighten up the city's CBD. The $6,000 grant has made the sound installation possible. It opens on February 21. Vicki tells Lynn Freeman that the title - Tu atu, tu mai,- he karaka manu ki ka manuhiri. - is both a metaphor, and a call to action.
Cigarette filters, rusty chains, old pipes and other urban detritus have found a new life in the hands of Wellington jewellers and collaborators, Caroline Thomas and Fran Carter. It's a project that started in 2017 when they scoured the streets of Melbourne for stuff that could be given a new life as unconventional jewellery. Fran and Caroline first met while studying jewellery design at Whitireia, and now share a studio. Lynn Freeman talks with Caroline and Fran about Moments of Jewelleryness, which is what they're calling their just opened exhibition. Moments of Jewelleryness by Fran Carter and Caroline Thomas has just opened at Toi Poneke Arts Centre in Te Whanganui a tara Wellington.
A suspense/thriller set in the States but filmed in Tamaki Makaurau last year is about to get an international audience. Australian director Damien Power hadn't originally intended to film No Exit on this side of the Tasman, but was so impressed with his Kiwi production crew that he says he'd film here again in a heartbeat. No Exit sees a young woman trapped with a group of strangers in heavy snow, at the same time trying to figure out which of them abducted a young girl locked in a van in the carpark. No Exit is about to screen this week on Disney Plus. Lynn Freeman asks director Damien Power how such an American story came to be filmed in Aotearoa?
When photographer David Cook started taking pictures of his neighbours in a characterful Hamilton East state housing suburb back in the 1990s, nobody realised that gentrification was about to strike. The 90s weren't so long ago, but in some ways it's like another world. What was once affordable housing is no longer so, and the neighbourhood is very different to the characters and chaos David documented. The original photographs are about to go on show at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery and in a book. Both are called Jellicoe and Bledisloe after two of the suburb's street names. David tells Lynn Freeman that he hopes they'll help him to track down some of the people he photographed at the time. Jellicoe and Bledisloe: Hamilton in the 90s opens on Wednesday at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington and will be heading out on tour starting at Waikato Museum.
New Zealand film-maker Michelle Savill has been hovering in the "Girl most likely" category for a while now, and it looks like that promise is coming true. Her debut feature is called Millie lies low, starring Ana Scotney and Rachel House. Millie has a meltdown just as she's about to head off to New York. Rather than tell her friends and family, she decides to hide out - to "lie low". And the big news was that Millie Lies Low was picked up to show at the Berlin Film Festival. Simon Morris was impressed and spoke to director Michelle Savill immediately after the big awards there. He first asked her how it felt to be invited to one of the top film festivals in the world.
Aotearoa New Zealand's only disability-led professional performing arts organisation, Touch Compass, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a live streamed show. Technically the dance company, which brings together disabled and non-disabled artists, reached this milestone last year. But we all know what got in the way of the birthday show being presented then! The show /ritaha/ will go on - a mix of premieres and revisited, even reinvented, past works that include some of the company's trademark flying wheelchair dances. Last year also saw a change in the leadership of Touch Compass, with disabled performers Rodney Bell, Suzanne Cowan and Lusi Faiva appointed to a new Artistic Development Panel. Lynn Freeman spoke to them about Touch Compass's past, its legacy and its future. /ritaha/ goes live on February 15.
Transgender 19th-century surgeon Doctor James Barry is one of those fascinating characters from the past who you can't believe isn't better known. He was by all accounts an excellent physician, though obsessive and argumentative. He took part in several duels, and liked to travel with a goat. No wonder widely-published poet Oscar Upperton saw enough here to write an entire collection about the singular Doctor Barry. It's called The Surgeon's Brain. Lynn Freeman asks Oscar how he came across the story of James Barry. The Surgeon's Brain by Oscar Upperton is published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.
With festivals and arts events dropping like flies at the moment, it's a minor miracle when any New Zealand event makes it to the finish line. But the New Zealand Fringe Festival does minor miracles all the time. For 32 years, the Wellington-based Fringe has turned into a powerhouse, open-access arts festival. And the new Artists and Venue Manager is Tom Noble, who's our guest on the Laugh Track. Kia ora Tom and welcome to the show. Tom's picks include Spitz and Crumple, Audio Tarot, Trent H Baumann and Ryan McGhee. The New Zealand Fringe Festival will feature a record-breaking 200-plus events across 37 different venues around the greater Wellington region from 18 February to 12 March 2022.
In recent years many musicians have experimented with the sounds of taonga puoro - traditional Maori instruments. Art music ensemble Tamira Puoro - Ruby Solly and Michelle Velvin - are the latest to reveal what they've learnt, in their debut album Feather Spines. 'Genre-weaving' is how they describe it - bringing together the sounds of instruments from both te ao Maori and te ao Pakeha. The Wellington-based musicians have been working on Feather Spines since 2019. Michelle is the principal harp in Orchestra Wellington, as well as a composer, educator and session musician. Ruby is a writer, a music therapist and taonga puoro practitioner who's played with artists including Trinity Roots, Yo-Yo Ma, Whirimako Black. Lynn Freeman talks with Michelle and Ruby about the album, which is out now on Oro Records.
Getting your name on a plaque on the Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature Writers' Walk is a huge deal, and also very competitive given how many writers Otepoti has produced. The latest two writers to be honoured are poet Peter Olds and the late O.E - or Ted - Middleton, who was an award- winning short story writer. Their brass plaques will be found at the foot of the city's landmark Robert Burns statue in the Octagon, after being unveiled this Friday. Both writers were Robert Burns Fellows at the University of Otago in the 1970s, and but while the city was already home to Peter, Ted came from out of town and stayed on. He died in 2010. Lynn Freeman speaks to Roger Hickin who is Peter Olds' long-time friend and publisher, and to Ted Middleton's widow, poet Cynthia Greensill. Here is Peter Olds reading one of his poems.
Just imagine being able to walk through the interior of an historic cello, a grand piano, or even a didgeridoo Using special probe lenses and high resolution cameras, Kiwi cellist and photographer Charles Brooks takes us right into the heart of all kinds of musical instruments. The extraordinary, blown-up images he's created make the spaces feel vast - as if you're walking into a room or even a cathedral. They are quite jaw dropping, and they've attracted international attention. Charles Brooks tells Lynn Freeman he made a name for himself taking unconventional portraits of musicians from around the world, and he was also hugely successful orchestral cellist.
New Zealand Film Commission CEO David Strong has been in the job for nearly six months now, and has presided over both triumphs and setbacks in that time. There's dealing with Covid, of course, trying to keep the industry afloat as productions go into hiatus - or in the case of big-budget TV series Rings of Power and Cowboy Bebop, go off-shore. But there's good news too. It's been one our most fruitful periods ever, with local films like Cousins, Juniper, Baby Done and many more. And this week there was the historic news that Jane Campion's Power of the Dog has been nominated for a record number of Academy Awards. Simon Morris talks to David Strong at the end of a very busy week.
Dunedin citizens were embroiled in a tempestuous public debate over Darwin's Theory of Evolution in the 1880s says Dr Rosi Crane. She speaks with Lynn Freeman about these fractious times.
Sisters Nikki Perry and Kirsty Roby speak with Lynn Freeman about their joint-novel How to Marry Harry.
This week's Laugh Track guest is cabaret and burlesque performer Jojo Bellini speaking with Lynn Freeman.
For almost 40 years, Professor Jay Duckworth has fashioned realistic props - or "properties" for productions such as hit musical Hamilton. He speaks with Lynn Freeman about the creativity and challenge of the job.
Frustrated by the lack of information about the many women who made a living on the New Zealand goldfields in the 1800s, Canterbury Museum researcher Julia Bradshaw went in search of them and speaks with Lynn Freeman about what she found.
Transforming a biscuit tin into an artwork is the latest challenge issued to Southland artists by Invercargill artist and cafe owner, Sylvie Boutelje-Chasteau. Lynn Freeman speaks with the cafe owner and artist Tracy Williams.
Screenrights' Rachel Antony speaks with Simon Morris about a new Cultural Fund encouraging would-be film-makers and story-tellers who maybe wouldn't normally be the first ones in the queue.
Since the 1970s ceramicist Peter Lange has pushed the boat out with his art form, these days he's working using individual bricks as canvasses. The images reflect his trademark sense of fun and irony. He's experimenting with selfies - in fact painting itself is a new adventure for the pioneering ceramicist. Peter has titled his new show Brick (the what I did in lockdown). It's just the second show at Auckland's new Oddly Project Gallery on Dominion Road and opens Monday.
There are books that simply don't fit neatly into any literary genre, and the new one by Trisha Hanifin is definitely in that camp. The Time Lizard's Archaeologist is part Speculative Fiction, part Cli-Fi, with lashings of psychology and mythology. The novel's set in 2016, 2026 and 2036, and the central character is psychologist and dream therapist Jason Winston. While trying to help other people to make sense of their dreams, he struggles to analyse his own.
Two-time world champion axeman Ned Shewry hailed from Taranaki. A hard man, by all accounts, and more than half a decade on, elements of his life have now been fictionalised for a new play. Timberrrr....! is set in Taranaki in 1940 when Ned Murphy is about to hang up his axe, at least until a city kid called Billy turns up, claiming to be his son. Matt Chamberlain and Damon Andrews have co-written Timberrrr....!, while Stephen Papps is one of three actors playing 18 characters. Matt Chamberlain joins us to explain how he came across the original Ned's story. Timberrrr....! premieres on the 12th of February at Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerson North.
Teaching Benedict Cumberbatch how to play the banjo for the Netflix film The Power of the Dog has been one of the most intriguing recent gigs for banjo player David Ward. David's also one of the three multi-instrumentalists who've been performing their show Wheel of Experience for a decade now around the country. He, Peter Daubé and Dave Khan present a series of ballads about characters from Aotearoa's early settler history. Like so many live shows, Covid's scuppered some of their planned concerts including this year's Auckland Folk Festival. But they have just confirmed that they can go ahead with five planned shows in Hawkes Bay as part of the Small Hall Concert Series. Lynn Freeman speaks to David and to lead singer Peter Daubé about their unflagging fascination with the legends they sing about - from the notorious Burgess Gang to confidence trickster Amy Bock and the flamboyant Portuguese 'westie'' Don Buck.
Scheduling any festival in the time of a pandemic is going to be a nightmare. Rijula Das is the new Verb Readers and Writers Festival Programmer for 2022, and it's one of the big literary events in the capital. Rijula has a long involvement in the literary scene, as a writer, translator, ex-bookseller and buyer. She's also taken part as both a speaker and audience member at Verb, a festival that's been running since 2014. Rijula's debut novel A Death in Shonagachhi was published in July 2021 by Picador India and will be published as Small Deaths in the USA and elsewhere in 2022. A Death in Shonagachhi was longlisted for the JCB prize 2021 and won the Tata Lit Live First Book Award 2021. Rijula's English translation of Nabarun Bhattacharya's novel Kangal Malshat is forthcoming. She received her PhD in Creative Writing and prose-fiction in 2017 from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, where she taught writing for two years. Verb is scheduled to start on the 3rd of November in Te Whanganui a Tara.
An ambitious project to gather information from 1000s of military personnel files - of those who served in the New Zealand military in World War I and the South African War - needs your help. The files have been digitised by Archives New Zealand, but international researchers and citizen scientists are needed for the time-consuming work of transcribing the information. Measuring the Anzacs started back in 2015 but due to the volume of files needed to be transcribed and more recently the pandemic only around 12 percent are done and dusted. The Zooniverse online citizen science webpage is the main outlet for the team spearheading the project. To get involved go here. One of the project leaders Evan Roberts - who's based at the University of Minnesota - joins Lynn Freeman.
Hundreds of New Zealand film crew were gutted by the sudden end to what were expected to be two big budget long term screen series. Amazon's Lord of the Rings wrapped after filming just the first season here, while Netflix's Cowboy Beebop was canned not long after the first series went to air. Many artists and artisans work in the film industry so we decided to talk to four of them, all very experienced crew with impressive CVs and all wildly creative people using their different skills in different ways.
Time spent at the Centre of Time at the University of Sydney helped writer Bryan Walpert get his head around the logistics of time travel for his new novel Entanglement. Bryan is a Professor in Creative Writing at Massey University, Auckland, with a novella, a short story collection, four books of poetry and two of literary criticism to his name. Entanglement though is rather different. For a start it has three different time strands. There's a time traveller who's landed in the 1970s from the future, in a desperate bid to save his twin brother's life. But his memory is impaired, and he has few clues to work with. There's a novelist who's firmly in 2011 in Sydney, who finds love while researching at the Centre of Time. And in 2019, an obsessive writer is trying, and failing, to come to terms with his marriage ending. Lynn Freeman talks with Bryan Walpert about the joys and pitfalls in writing about time travel.
18-year-old Amy is mourning her mother's death when we meet her in The Lighthouse, the debut novel by Takapuna-based Christopher Parker. Her father Kevin is desperate to help her, but fears that their relationship is broken beyond repair because he was away from home so much when Amy was growing up. He takes her to the seaside town of Seabook on America's West Coast, where the big tourist attraction is an historic lighthouse. There Amy meets a troubled young man called Ryan who's unintentionally about to cause his father a whole lot of grief. Christopher Parker tells Lynn Freeman that it was seeing a lighthouse in the distance while walking along Takapuna Beach that was the starting point for the novel.
Since arriving in Palmerston North in the 1970s, Susan McConachy has taught hundreds of locals to play the piano, encouraged people facing all kinds of obstacles to get involved in the arts, and helped to save the city's much-loved, historic Regent Theatre. Susan's a formidable fundraiser, spearheading a campaign that raised well over $1.7 million for the Regent on Broadway's extensive renovations as well as its prized Steinway grand piano. This dedicated arts advocate and educator is one of the region's 2021 Civic Award winners. Susan tells Lynn Freeman she still loves teaching the piano.
Sister and brother Rebecca and Daniel Nash have collaborated on a new book that celebrates the power of imagination and the beauty of our native birds. Their grandfather is respected painter and printmaker Stanley Palmer, so creativity is very much in the family DNA. Rebecca is a poet who teaches creative writing. She wrote Wilbur's Walk after her partner's sudden death and when her daughter was a toddler. She often walked around the Lyttleton bays with her little girl, whose reaction to the world around her was often surprising. Her brother Dan would join them on those walks, and he was the natural choice to illustrate Wilbur's Walk with his dreamlike and surreal pictures. Lynn Freeman talks with Rebecca and Dan, who remember growing up in a family that celebrated creativity.
Hannah Tasker-Poland may well be the most multi-skilled artist we've had on Standing Room Only over the past 20 years. Based in Tamaki Makaurau, Hannah's a dancer - though she prefers "movement alchemist"! She's a choreographer, a performance, movement and burlesque artist, an actor, and a body paint and prosthetics artist. She's also the Director of arts company projectMUSE, where she acts as a stunt performer, artist, life model, producer and tutor. Right now though, thanks to the lockdowns wrecking her scheduled arts projects, Hannah's working on a building site. Lynn Freeman was curious about Hannah's building site job.
British actress Julie Graham - star of many TV shows including The Bletchley Circle, William & Mary and Shetland - was quick to produce a drama filmed on smartphones during the UK's extended lockdown last year. It's called Dun Breedin and it deals with something Julie cares deeply about - mid-life women and the extra challenges they face, including dealing with ungrateful children! Julie's also about to star in a second series of the Queens of Mystery whodunnits, where three crime-writing aunts help their police officer niece Matilda to solve tricky cases. Lynn Freeman first talked to Julie Graham about Queens of Mystery, a show that offered actresses like her in their 50s some rare good roles.
Ex-pat Kiwi Ray Ching is regarded as one of the world's greatest living painters of birds. His latest book is filled with paintings and drawing he's made of the manu of his homeland over the past six decades. But New Zealand Bird Paintings is more than a series of stunning pictures. Ray also pays his tribute to the many species of birds long extinct here, as well as the chances of current birds surviving. Working with Ray on this big book has been his long time friend and agent, Jonathan Gooderham , and author Geoff Norman. Lynn Freeman speaks with Jonathan and Geoff, and first asks Jonathan about a photo in the book of Ray's workspace.
Taika Waititi's films take three of the New Zealand Box Office Top 10 Films, including the top two Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Boy. Taika's unique style of film-making has also made him one of the most in-demand film directors internationally. His second Marvel Comics movie Thor: Love and Thunder is out next year, and there's a huge sense of anticipation over a new Star Wars film that Taiki is both writing and directing. Dr Matthew Bannister from Wintec reckons the time is right for an academic book about the filmmaker and his contribution to movies, particularly the Kiwi film industry. Eye of the Taika - New Zealand Comedy and the Films of Taika Waititi is the result.
Were the Brothers Grimm saving traditional stories from oblivion when they published them, or stealing the livelihoods of travelling storytellers? This is one of the questions posed in Coromandel-based writer Stephanie Parkyn's new historical novel. Freedom of the Birds is set in 19th century Europe just as Napoleon's Empire was collapsing. Remi is a teenage storyteller with an aptitude for getting into trouble, and he and his loyal best friend Pascal are members of a travelling acting company. After fleeing Paris, they meet Saskia who's a runaway circus performer. Stephanie Parkyn tells Lynn Freeman that, having written about Napoleon's wife Josephine, this time she wanted to explore the impact of the crumbling Empire on France's underclass. Stephanie Parkyn's novel Freedom of the Birds is an Allen & Unwin publication.
The rarest postage stamps, the fabled Plate 77 Penny Reds, are at the heart of the latest Detective Dan Calder crime novel by Ian Austin. You can throw in a terrorist bombing plot at Auckland Airport, a photograph that's been torn in two and Dan's chaotic family life into the mix. Ian Austen is a former detective himself so he clearly knows what he's writing about. Bonded is the fourth novel featuring Calder, and he tells Lynn Freeman that it was inspired by a real story "almost too amazing to be true." Bonded is published by I.A. Books.
"Do Not Regret Growing Older, It Is A Privilege Denied to Many" is the defiant wording on one of the works by Taranaki textile artist Jeanette Verster in an exhibition called I Haven't Lost My Marbles (Yet). The title's taken from her embroidery of a head with a brain filled with shiny green marbles. It's part of what Jeanette calls "an ABC for the unyoung", the opposite of all those first ABC books for children. She tells Lynn Freeman she came up with the idea before the pandemic but believes it's super timely to ask why our senior society is important to us. Jeanette's exhibition is on at the From Out of The Blue studio gallery in Opunake, South Taranaki. Its aim is to teach and nurture traditional textile practices - from embroidery and painting to paper making and knitting - while at the same time encouraging them to be used in new ways.
The strange made familiar and the familiar made strange find a home in the stories gathered together in Year's Best: Aotearoa New Zealand Science Fiction & Fantasy Volume 3. Marie Hodgkinson has selected 22 stories for this third celebration of short stories in both genres. But are science fiction readers in the mood for stories that relate in any way to the coronovirus nightmare the world's currently going through? Lynn talks with Marie Hodgkinson and with one of the writers in the collection, Terri Te Tau. Her story has nothing to do with pandemics but instead has a connection to the extinction of our native species. Year's Best: Aotearoa New Zealand Science Fiction & Fantasy Volume 3 is published by Paper Road Press.
Many residencies offer artists and writers a comfortable house for a few months to relax in and concentrate on completing a project. You need to be a bit more intrepid to apply for the Auckland Regional Parks Artist in Residence where you're going to be spending a lot of time in the wilderness, night and day, Titirangi poet Elizabeth Welsh has recently wrapped up her residency at Awhitu Regional Park. Lynn Freeman talks with Elizabeth, and with last year's artist in residence Chris McDowall. Chris is an award-winning cartographer who roamed and mapped the Glenfern Sanctuary at Aotea Great Barrier Island.
In his just-released memoir Performer, theatre-maker, film director, writer and community activist Paul Maunder reflects on a life lived in both the mainstream and on the fringes.
It's 2034 and you're part of the team in the control room on an international space station on the planet Mars. Suddenly there's a code red - and it's going to take a team effort to avert a catastrophe. Part video game, part live theatre, Destination Mars is the latest production from the award winning company that created APOLLO 13: Mission Control. That was an interactive show about the ill-fated moon mission that went on to tour the USA and Australia. It was also relatively low tech - some computer consoles and great sound effects. Now, more than a decade on, the team's roped in the makers of the viral Fortnite online game to integrate video-game technology into this new production. Brad Knewstubb and Kip Chapman have created Destination Mars which will premiere as part of the Aoteara NZ Festival of the Arts in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Then they have plans to tour it around the country. Lynn Freeman asked Kip what adding video game technology adds to a live performance?
Teresa Peters is an actress, production and graphic designer and make-up artist who's collaborated for many years with her partner, filmmaker Florian Habicht. Today she can add Aotearoa's top ceramacist to her CV, having taken out the top 2021 Portage Ceramic Award for a work that the judges suspect may raise eyebrows - given that it's a photograph. To be more precise, ECHOES is a large scale framed photograph of ceramic pieces arranged to look like a natural history collection.It's the first time a winning work hasn't been a physical piece of art.
12 short stories accompanied by 12 original paintings... Katy Soljak combines two of her passions - she's also a musician by the way - in her new book My First Real Pash and Other Stories. Katy's planning a book and painting tour next year, off the back of the launch at her local art gallery on Waiheke Island this month. The title story has had a tweak since it was broadcast on RNZ. Katy reveals to Lynn Freeman what and why... My First Real Pash and Other Stories is published by Press.
Not many children dream of working in museums when they grow up, but Liz Cotton did and that dream's come true. She's just wrapped up her first week as the Director of Museum and Arts at Waikato Museum in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton. Liz has come to the role after working at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Auckland War Memorial Museum and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. She's set herself the goal of coming up with new ways for the museum to connect with its community. Lynn Freeman talks with Liz about her new job, and her life-long fascination with history.
We've done lots of stories in recent years in praise of flash fiction - the always popular short-short story. But Wellington-based writer Craig Gamble prefers his short stories on the long side and has gathered together 16 stories that are a bit shorter than novellas and a bit longer than the average short story. Middle Distance, Long Stories of Aotearoa New Zealand is the name of the collection. Lynn Freeman talks with Craig about the appeal of the long short story, as well as one of the writers he's selected for the collection. J. Wiremu Kane's short story is called Ringawera, and next year In 2022 he'll be based at the International Institute of Modern Letters in Whanganui-a-tara as its Emerging Maori Writer in Residence.
It's a gutsy call but Auckland Theatre Company has just released a full season of plays for 2022, off the back of a frustrating two years of disrupted and cancelled productions. Artistic Director and CEO Jonathan Bielski tells Lynn Freeman he's confident the shows will go on, and has scheduled two comedies first up in recognition that Tamaki Makaurau audiences could do with some cheering up. Homegrown plays include work by Emily Perkins, Nancy Brunning, Oscar Kightley and Nathan Joe.. Lynn first asked Jonathan about the many ways the pandemic impacted on ATC this year,
It's easy to miss Lilburn House in Wellington's well-heeled suburb of Thorndon, but the former home of foremost New Zealand composer Douglas Lilburn has a rich if, until now, not particularly well known history. The story actually intersects with one we ran on Standing Room Only last week - that of hugely influential thespian Maria Dronke who came to Aotearoa with her famlly after being forced to leave Nazi Germany. Lilburn House became a meeting place for many migrants like Maria, migrants who had a huge influence - culturally and artistically - on their new home country. These days it's a residence for composers, run by the Lilburn Residence Trust. Kirsten Johnstone has investigated the history of the house - and those who gathered there - for a podcast called The Magpie House. Lynn Freeman talks to Kirsten about it, and also to Maria Dronke's proud grandson - musician and writer Nick Bollinger.
It's been a tough secret to keep but we are delighted to announce the winner of this year's Bruce Mason Playwriting Award. The $10,000 prize goes to Chinese-Kiwi, Christchurch-based playwright Nathan Joe. The award hopes to encourage the winner to keep writing for the theatre and that's exactly what Nathan intends to do. It's a busy year for Nathan. He's also won a 2022 Grimshaw Sargeson Literary Fellowship, based at the Sargeson Centre in Auckland where he'll work on his new play called Personal Essays. Before then, Auckland Theatre Company is staging his provocative work Scenes From A Yellow Peril about racism and privilege in Aotearoa, as part of next year's programme. In addition, Nathan Joe's the 2020 National Poetry Slam Champion, but he won't be able to defend that title because it clashes with next year's Auckland Pride Festival that he's also involved with! Where does he find the time? Nathan talks to Lynn Freeman about how much of a morale boost winning the Playwriting Award has been for him.
The largest number of visitors recorded at New York's Guggenheim Museum was for an exhibition of work by trailblazing Swedish artist and mystic, Hilma af Klint, that had been hidden away for decades. Now the work of this pioneer in abstract art is about to go on show here in Aotearoa. City Gallery Wellington is hosting Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings - "secret" because she left instructions that her work be locked away until at least twenty years after her death. The artist started producing large-scale, brightly-coloured, abstract works in the early 1900s, before her better-known contemporaries like Kandinsky and Mondrian. At the heart of the exhibition is a series called "The Ten Largest" - three-metre high paintings, created for a proposed Temple, that she painted in secret over 10 years. The gallery's Senior Curator Aaron Lister talks to Lynn Freeman about why Hilma asked her family to hide her paintings for so long after her death. Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings opens at City Gallery Wellington on December 2.
Glamorous gowns from the astonishing high fashion collection that was the pride and joy of high country farmer Eden Hore, are temporarily leaving their Central Otago home. Eden farmed in Naseby while also managing to collect more than 200 couture gowns in the 1970s - flamboyant, colourful fashion was what he was particularly attracted to. The Dowse in Lower Hutt will temporarily house some of them in an exhibition called Eden Hore: High Fashion/High Country as part of the Aotearoa NZ Festival of Art. Lynn Freeman talks with the co-curators, fashion historian Claire Regnault and Dr Chelsea Nichols from the Dowse. Eden Hore: High Fashion/High Country opens at the Dowse in Lower Hutt on December 4.