SmartArts

With MQFF closing on Sunday November 24th, filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay and actor Connor Pullinger join Richard to talk about the last few days of the festival. Alice’s film Carnage for Christmas screens on Sunday 24th (last day of MQFF) at 3.15pm at Cinema Nova. Connor’s film Bulldog is a contender for Australian Shorts & Awards (screening and awards are 6pm on Saturday 23rd at ACMI Fed Square). Then, from the La Trobe Art Institute, Dr. Karen Annett (director) and Amelia Wallin (curatorial lead) talk about the new exhibition Parched. The exhibition features over 8 artists interpreting cultures of drought around regional Victoria. The exhibition runs from November 20th - February 9th at La Trobe Art Institute (121 View Street Bendigo), with an opening event on November 29th from 5pm, plus artist and curator talks from 2pm on November 30th. Have you ever wondered what an artists interpretation of waves and bubbles might sound like? Wonder no more… local composer, sound-artist and musician Elissa Goodrich has conducted a unique cross-disciplinary collaboration with fluid dynamics researcher Professor Richard Manasseh and his team at Swinburne, who are working on an Australian Research Council project on the sounds naturally emitted by ocean bubbles. Catch their project Waves and Bubbles at Tempo Rubarto (34 Breese St, Brunswick) at 8pm on November 28th. Author Gillian Wills on her debut novel Big Music - set in a music college, exploring sexism in arts leadership and drawing upon Wills’ lived experience as the Dean of Music at the Victorian College of the Arts, it is a tale of triumph over adversity. Choreographer Sandra Parker and sound designer Lawrence Harvey on their production, Safehold. Safehold is a “new choreographic work drawing on themes of collaboration and unity”, performed by dancers Anika de Ruyter, Rachel Mackie and Oliver Savariego. At 7pm, on Thursday 21 until Saturday 23 November 2024 at the ETU Ballroom, Trades Hall! Sue Healey, award-winning choreographer and filmmaker, presents ON VIEW: ICONS - six screendance portraits, where attendees will experience a moving celebration of some of Australia’s pioneering women in dance including: the late Eileen Kramer, plus Lucette Aldous AC, Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM, Nanette Hassall AM, Elma Kris, Shirley McKechnie AO. Showing at Dancehouse from 4-7pm, Thu 28 — Sat 30 November 2024. Plus, Anne Marie Peard has plenty of fabulous theatre reviews!

Jeff Khan previews the 2025 Asia Topa program, Katarina Paseta discusses two Geelong Gallery exhibitions (the Noel Counihan retrospective A People’s Press which is on display until March 10th 2025 and Social Studies which is on display until February 9th), actor/psychotherapist/applied theatre practitioner Benjamin Rivers chats about The Invaders’ Fear of Memories, Glen Downey discusses the Off The Kerb exhibition You Can Be… Anything!, and actors Declan Harrison and Sophie Graham and director Steffi Gil explore Close Company’s debut production Gruesome Playground Injuries.

Richard speaks to actor Tamblyn Lord on the Australian premiere of Philip Ridley's play The Poltergeist, at La Mama Theatre. Gertrude Studios curator, Dr Amelia Winata, introduces the 2024 exhibition. Giovanni Adams joins Richard in studio to discuss his role as Ike Turner in Tina, The Tina Turner Musical. Director Anna Reece gives an overview of the Perth Festival 2025 program. Finally, the cast of Your Name Means Dream, Caroline Lee and Lucy Ansell talk about performing the show at Red Stitch.

Buckle in for another ride of the SmartArts-coaster! Richard Watts OAM, is here to guide you through all the twists, turns and thrills of this weeks episode… Kicking off with a Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) program overview with program director Cerise Howard and CEO David Martin Harris. MQFF is screening across Melbourne from November 14-24, tickets available now. Visual artist, Dominic Kavanagh, is in the studio to talk about his work ‘The Blooming’. It’s a Lennox award-winning artwork, on display now at The Lennox, 208 Lennox Street Richmond, until November 3rd. Spinning Plates Co-founders, Jess Stanley and James Cerche discuss working once more with the team behind The Crocodile to create Rhinoceros at Fortyfivedownstairs. Plus, we get a Sydney Festival 2025 program overview with Festival Director Olivia Ansell https://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/

This week on SmartArts with Richard Watts, As we all know, Melbourne is the most Irish city in Australia, and Dr Enda Murray, the Festival Director of the 2024 Irish Film Festival is here to tell us how we can embrace our Irish-ness through cinema. Showing from 24-27 October, find something on the program for yourself here: https://irishfilmfestival.com.au/ Academy Award winning filmmaker and artist, Adam Elliot has a new exhibition showing at Beinart Gallery. Opening on October 26th, All The Lonely People is a personal collection, resonating with the same melancholy and emotional depth characterising Elliot’s film work. As we’ve been launching the various calendars for Melbourne’s performing art scene, it is now time to launch next years Victorian Opera 2025 season with Artistic Director Stuart Maunder! Have a look at the full 2025 program here: https://www.victorianopera.com.au/victorian-opera-announces-season-2025/ Richard is joined by the world renowned, host, actor, writer, comedian, philosopher Stephen Fry to answer the big questions. What is art? How do you choose an acting role? And of course, what do we need to know about his upcoming Australian tour, An Evening with Stephen Fry? Hopefully all questions are answered but here’s the link for tickets and more info if you need it: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=STEPHENF24&v=PLN Co-Artistic Directors Emma Valente and Kate Davis come on to discuss their project, THE RABBLE’s Wake. It is showing 25/10 and 26/10 at Burrinja Cultural Centre in Upwey, tickets available here: https://thesubstation.org.au/program/wake Merlynn Tong, writer and co-star of Golden Blood, the story of a brother and sister left to fend for themselves in Singapore. Showing at Melbourne Theatre Company with a preview performance on the 25th and Opening Night on October 31st. Plus, Anne Marie Peard, wraps up Melbourne Fringe for another year!

Richard starts off this week's show with a Malthouse Theatre 2025 season overview with Artistic Director Matt Lutton. Gunai/Kurnai woman and curator Amanda Haskard talks ACMI's major exhibition The Future and Other Fictions. And three interviews about Melbourne Fringe: performer and choreographer Alix Kuijpers tells Richard about Grim Grinning Ghosts, Mitch Jones (Oozing Future) discusses new alt-circus/theatre performance Apocrypha, and Oli Mathiesen talks about about the Aotearoa production The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave.

Richard Watts is joined by Director Anthea Williams and Actor Rachael Edmonds to talk about upcoming Melbourne Theatre production "The cost of Living" which won the 2018 Pulitzer prize for drama, written by Polish-Amercian Playwright Martyna Majok. Plus, we dive into the political power of posters and street posters and poster print making. with Troppo Prints. Simon Abrahams from Melbourne fringe pops in to talk about some of the highlights of the 2024 Melbourne Fringe Festival program, playwright Daniel Keene talks about his one-woman play "Mother" Starring Nonie Hazelhurst and Artist Rob McHaffie and curator Emma Busowsky chat about exhibition "We Are Family" on at the Bendigo Art Gallery.

Richard is joined in today's show of Smartarts by a whirlpool of talent including: artist Cindy Campbell, Sharmini Kumar & Arthur Pontonio of Around the World in 80 Days and Paul Mitchell & Theresa Borg who discuss their latest theatrical, You're the Man. From the behind the scenes we peak into an array of art organisations hosted by guests from the likes of MAGMA gallery director Jake Taylor, executive director of Arts Project Australia Liz Nowell & CEO of Arts Access Victoria Joshua Pether. Finally to conclude, Richard brings Anne Marie Peard to review the latest and greatest of theatre.

Richard Watts OAM has a plentiful basket of curators, directors, artists and critics for you to choose from this week. If you’re looking for an art exhibition, and perhaps you’ve been chewed up by bureaucratic systems… look no further than Gertrude Contemporary Exhibition, And This Time the Well Is Alive. Joining Richard is Curator at Gertrude Contemporary, Amelia Winata who guides us through the works making up this thought provoking exhibit. If you’re seeking MIFF recs, Secret Mall Apartment is a stranger-than-fiction documentary about a 2000s artist collective hiding away inside a shopping mall filming and documenting all their work at the same time. Director Jeremy Workman and artist Michael Townsend (one of the artists featured in the film), tell us about the process of creating, and living, the experience of this film. If you’re looking for a thrill, Co-Director Nick Skubij is here to tell you about the latest adaptation of Frankenstein. Showing at the Princess Theatre by Shake & Stir for a limited run, 23 Aug - 1 Sep 2024. For more MIFF, Simon Hunt (aka drag artist Pauline Pantsdown), producer and creative collaborator of Stephen Cummins, tells us about the Stephen Cummins Retrospective - showing on August 23rd. Cummins was an openly gay filmmaker whose works were produced during the cultural upheaval of the 1980s - and while the showing is currently sold out, get yourself on a waitlist! If you need more theatre, French author, artistic director and performer, Clyde Chabot and Producer Tom Gutteridge, talk all about the Clyde Chabot Trilogy - three of Chabot's works in collaboration with students from Monash University’s Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance. It's showing in English on August 16th and in French on August 17th at the David Li Sound Gallery. And if you need theatre reviews… well aren’t you glad Anne Marie Peard has stopped by to update Richard on all the recent happenings.

Richard is joined by a whole slew of guests including: Bernard Caleo to talk all things comics, Tai Snaith with the fortnightly Art Attack, Nela Trifkovic who is the vocalist behind new performance 'The Resonant Heart – The Heart Whispers and Whirls', Jeff Khan pops into the studio to chat about Asia TOPA, Rhys Graham presents a new documentary Rewards for the Tribe (2023), Andrew Gyopar, the Executive Producer and AG Theatre Founder on all things musicals!

Richard Kicks off this jam packed episode with Simona Jobbagy of NICA and Sam Jacob, CEO of Collarts as they talk about Australia's only Bachelor of Circus Arts finding a new home for 2025. We have Tilly Boleyn, Science Gallery Melbourne’s Curator & Gail Chin Curator from Art/Science Museum Singapore as they introduce new exhibition SCI-FI Mythologies Transformed, on-now at Science Gallery Melbourne. Curator Vipoo Srivilasa & Artist Zhu Ohmu join Richard in studio to discuss Generation Clay - Reimagining Asian Heritage Curated at Bunjil Place. Nicola Gunn Writer, director and performer also jumps into the studio to talk about her new play ‘Apologia’ premiering at the Beckett Theatre on 6-18 August 2024. Band members Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh & Naoise Ó Cairealláin of Irish rap outfit KneeCap chat about the new film, in which they star and play as themselves, which premieres at MIFF later this month. hJames Jackson, Castmember and Artistic Director for Bloomshed productions has a yarn about their new production, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, and lastly, in preparation for Poetry Month 2024 we are joined over the phone by Creative Producer Izzy Roberts-Orr for Red Room Poetry.

Host Richard Watts is joined by Christof Wehmeier, head of international & festival promotion at the Icelandic Film Centre, and they discuss the 2024 Scandinavian film Festival program and highlights. We also have A Madeleine Flynn and Arts Centre’s Director of Programming Marshall McGuire from the Arts Centre, discussing Installation, how do we remain at Melbourne Recital centre. We also have Christopher Gurusamy, Performer/Choreographer of Ānanda: Dance of Joy discussing the performance at Dancehouse and we are joined by Director Cynthia Wohlschlager on Two Remain - the first opera to portray the persecution of gay men during the Holocaust.

Richard Watts OAM reporting for SmartArts! As always, he's here to give you an inside look into the fabulous people behind all of the brilliant goings-on of Naarm's flourishing art scene. Let's go! Amid the housing crisis, Midsumma’s CEO Karen Bryant is on the hunt for office space. The festival is Australia's premier queer arts and cultural organisation, bringing together a diverse mix of LGBTQIA+ artists, performers, communities and audiences. So, got a spare 200m sq space for a few legendary creatives? Get in touch: admin@midsumma.org.au What do you know about Romeo & Julie? You read that right. Director Kamarra Bell-Wykes and actor Damon Baudin are in the studio to tell us about the Red Stitch production of Romeo & Julie which has previews 20 - 23 July, and is showing for Season 24 July - 18 August. Opera Australia’s staging of Breaking the Waves is coming to Hamer Hall, at the Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday July 26. To tell us all about the opera based on Lars von Trier’s 1996 film is Jennifer Black, Lead Soprano, who plays the role of Bess. Queer artist and performer Tristan Meecham has a new gig hosting the Arts Centre Melbourne audio series ‘Queering the Collection’ available to listen to now here (spotify) and here (itunes) Plus, art world figure Melissa Loughnan has been appointed by Melbourne Art Fair as Fair Director for 2025 and beyond. Hear her speak about her future vision for the Fair and what the opportunity means to her. And of course, Anne-Marie Peard, is in for her Theatre Review round-up.

SmartArts with Richard Watts OAM back to keep you company on these chilly winters days... Starting out with Artist Kate Wallace on her new exhibition ‘Details of a room and other places’ - on now at LON Gallery. In the coming years there will be a big redevelopment of the Melbourne Arts Precinct & the Queen Victoria Market - to tell all about it is Principal Architect at NH Architecture, Emily Von Moger. The new exhibition ‘Brand New’ at Fortyfivedownstairs gallery shows a behind the scenes look at the development process. To tell us about the return season of Three Magpies Perched in A Tree is the award winning Ngarrindjeri Wathaurong playwright, Glenn Shea. Glenn joins Richard to talk through what it’s like to revive art and give performances a second life. Showing at LaMama Courthouse from August 14-25. Writer and producer Future D Fidel and Director Budi Miller talk of the opening of their play La Belle Epoque at Theatreworks. Plus, artist Gabrielle Leah New tells us about her work Reclaim the Crone, showing at the Explosives Factory from the 17-27 of July.

Richard Watts OAM (!!!) is back in the studio after taking a mental health reset. He’s back, and he’s got the best of Melbourne’s performance, art and comedy for you to fill your diary with. First up, Bernard Caleo is in for Comic Books Chat, telling us about all the fabulous local creators we should know. Anne-Louise Sarks and Nikki Shiels, talk about MTC’s A Streetcar Named Desire - which they are dubbing “theatre at full throttle”! Don’t miss out, tickets available here. Curator, Beckett Rozentals, joins to chat about a new exhibition exploring the creative partnership between pioneering abstract artists Grace Crowley & Ralph Balson. Now showing at the Ian Potter Gallery until September 22. Melbourne comedy duo Jon & Jero (Jon Walpole & Jeremiah Detto) are in the studio to get us across their show in the La Mama Kids program ‘The Forgotten Tales’, a new improvised show for children - perfect for our little funny ones on school holidays. New Zealand comedian, playwright and performer, Abby Howells on her Australian tour ‘La SoupCo’ as part of Replay festival at Comedy Republic. If you missed it the first time around, go see this comedy Doctor on July 5! Plus, as always (every fortnight) Anne-Marie Peard is in with theatre reviews galore. Welcome back, Richard!

Steph Teitelbaum fills in for Richard Watts this week for chats with Lara Thoms, the Executive Director of experimental theatre collective APHIDS about their 30th birthday; Young Australian Broadway Chorus talent James Pringle and Charlie Abbot-Higgins stop by to talk about bringing Shrek JR to life on stage; Open House Melbourne's Chief Curator Tania Davidge highlights all the big moments of the 2024 festival program; and regular theatre reviewer Anne-Marie Peard stops by to talk through her recent highlights.

For one week more, Oliver Coleman keeps the seat nice and toasty for resident SmartArts host, Richard Watts. And what a cracking show to end the run! Writer Georgia Ketals & scent artist Erin Adams tell us about Recollection, a unique play that offers a sensory experience. Based on a story about a mother trying to recreate her late daughters smell, it’s an aromatic journey that guides the audience by the nostrils. The show is on at Fortyfivedownstairs from the 26th of June until the 7th of July - get tickets here. Moira Finucane & performer Piera Dennerstein, on the latest Finucane & Smith production The Exotic Lives of Lola Montez. In this chat we hear about the trials and tribulations of these effervescent artists while learning about the history of theatres original bad girl… The show will be on from 20th to 30th of June at Chapel Off Chapel - and Piera delights with a performance from the show! The CEO of Arts Access Victoria, Caroline Bowditch on 50 years of Arts Access Victoria, ‘The Collective!’ a month long exhibition celebrating AAV’s past, present and further throughout July for Disability Pride Month. We hear about the origins of the orginisation in prisons, hospitals, residential care and how it has evolved to bring art to hundreds of people every week. Plus, writer and director Francis Greenslade & actor John Leary are in the studio to talk their show The Platypus premiering at Theatre Works from 19 June - 6 July. John divulges what it’s like to become the leading man, and Francis brags about his perfect marriage.

Back to fill the enormous SmartArts shoes of Richard Watts OAM is resident funny guy, Oliver Coleman. Kicking off the show is Tai Smith with the latest visual arts reccs - think cutesy wholesome for the Under Five Windows exhibition at A Reading Room, collaging fun at the Ripped - a Punk Collage Workshop, and writing extravaganzas at Alta Forma. Multidisciplinary artist, Lisa Waup, tells us about her experience creating fashion for the Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion exhibition which is now showing at Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre. On until November 17, go and see the inspired and revolutionary wearable art made by First Nations artists right around the country. Lucy Guerin, dancer and choreographer, shares her experience creating her latest performance for RISING 2024, One Single Action. In this piece, “two dancers traverse a narrow path, in and out of sync, in conflict and in harmony”. The opening show is June 13 and there are 4 performances happening over that weekend - get in quick, tickets are selling fast. Then, Carita Farrer Spencer, director at the National Circus Centre (NICA) joins Oliver to give all the goss on the NICA third year students ensemble show, Famous. This narrative circus performance is running from June 14-22 at the NICA Centre in Prahan! Find tickets here. Plus, theatre’s darling, Anne-Marie Peard, serves up a multitude of fun, funky, experimental, fascinating and interactive shows happening all around you right now.

Welcome back to another instalment of SmartArts! Oliver Coleman is steering the ship for you again and boy are we in for a cruisy ride... First up, CLIPPED music video festival director Samuel Bright and James Tran going Oliver to talk all things CLIPPEDKilda, music video festival championing the underrepresented creative community behind music videos! If, like Oliver, you dedicated Saturday mornings to hours and hours of RAGE… this cinema style screening of music videos will be right up your alley… Director Tom Healey comes in to talk through his latest production, Red Stitch’s Blackout Songs. It is a two hander performance which explores love, addiction and memory. Open from June 5, tickets are available here. Then, we get a MIFF 2024 First Glance programming announcement, by Artistic Director Al Cossar! He discusses highlights of first films confirmed for opening night, music on film gala and other premieres to pencil into your diary. Plus, much treasured theatre goer and reviewer, Anne-Marie Peard, tells us all the hottest stuff hitting our stages this week!

Oliver Coleman takes the SmartArts seat this week, and he’s keeping it toasty for the next few weeks while Richard is on break. Tai Snaith comes in for Art Attack to talk all things Melbourne Design Week and Melbourne’s thriving design scene. Oliver and Tai recommend finding an art opening and going along! Mark Poston, event creator and friend of Shannon Michael Cane, gives us a look into the life of times of his dear friend, and tells us about the upcoming RISING event in his honour. Shannon Michael Cane, Someone Great - A Celebration is an exhibition, a remembering, and a party. Limited tickets still available. Artist Michelle Hamer’s latest work, I’m A Believer, is an exploration into chronic health issues and gendered language in the health system, as well as a lack of access and erasure for people experiencing difficulty getting a diagnosis or even help. The exhibition is showing at the Linden New Art Gallery - with the opening night event happening on Saturday, June 1st and showing until August 25th. The Victorian Government Inquiry into Women's Pain submissions can be made here. Plus, artist Melanie Lane and composer Chris Lane (AKA Clark) discuss their collaboration RISING Festival 2024. Arkadia is a mythic dance opera that imagines life and afterlife in a garden of paradise - how divine! Find tickets here.