Art Smitten: Interviews - 2016

Melbourne/UK artist, illustrator and zine maker Gemma Flack joins hosts Christian and Michaela to discuss her solo exhbition Angry Girls Club, which is currently exhibiting at Off the Kerb Gallery in Collingwood. (5-19th February) Gemma unpacks her ideas of the importance of santuary, freedom of expresion, and how she tries to approach life with "the zine spirit". 

Hosts Beth and Will were joined in the studio with SIMON ABRAHAMS, CEO of Melbourne Fringe. Simon spoke about a new initiative to reach out to culturally diverse artists ahead of the opening for registrations for this year’s Fringe.  Melbourne Fringe applications are open from Monday 4 April – Monday 23 May. The Fringe will take place in Melbourne from 15 September – 2 October. Photo sourced from Melbourne Fringe website.

Hosts Christian and Andrew were joined in the studio with cast members Paul Knox, Hannah Vanderheide and producer Jorge Tsipos from Unnatural Selection Entertainment’s latest production –PURGATORIO.  PURGATORIO is playing at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute, 13th-16th & 20th – 23rd April at 7.30pm. 

Curator of the Next Gen program, THOMAS CALDWELL joined hosts Beth and Talisse on the line to talk about the Next Gen program and where it fits within the Melbourne International Film Festival.  Next Gen and the Melbourne International Film Festival runs 28th July – 14th August. Photo: Still from Next Gen feature film - The Magic Brush

Hosts Beth and Talisse were joined in the studio with SCOTT HOLLINGSWORTH & JOSHUA FIELDING from Performance Management - In Cabaret. Scott shares how Performance Management - In Cabaret captures the truth that the everyday office is madder than the circus!  Performance Management - In Cabaret is being performed at the Wonderland Spiegeltent, 101 Waterfront Way, Docklands, Melbourne for 1 NIGHT ONLY – 9th July, 8-9.30pm.

Hosts Beth and Talisse were joined on the phone with GABI BARTON from Retro Futurismus - a colossal future-focussed vaudeville featuring zero gravity circus acts, siren songs, boutique burlesque, and breathtaking performance art.  Retro Futurismus is being performed at fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane Melbourne from the 6th to 31st July.

Dancenorth Artistic Director, KYLE PAGE, joined hosts Michaela and Erin on the line to talk about the Melbourne premiere of IF_WAS – a double bill choreographed by Stephanie Lake & Ross McCormack.  IF_WAS will be performed at The Substation, 1 Market Street Newport, Melbourne, from the 29th June to 2nd July.

Hosts Erin and Michaela had the chance to chat to designer and visual artist, CALLUM MORTON from Ranters Theatre Company to discuss Come Away with Me to the End of the World. Come Away with Me to the End of the World is being performed at Malthouse Theatre – the Beckett Theatre from the 5th – 24th July.

Hosts Christian and Emma were joined on the line with RUSS PIRIE from St Martins Youth Arts Centre to discuss the Autism in the Arts forum as part of the Roadmap to Diversity series. The series for 2016 will focus on: Autism in the Arts: Friday 17 June, 6–7.30pmEngaging Deaf and HOH in Arts: Friday 2 September, 6–7.30pmYouth, Gender Diversity and sexuality in the Arts: Friday 23 September, 6–7.30pm

*Note to listeners: content and trigger warning - the following interview discusses themes that may be distressing for listerners. These themes include, but are not limited to, suicide, self-harm and mental illness.* Hosts Christian and Emma were joined in the studio wtih director KENDALL JANE RUNDLE from Bare Naked Theatre to discuss Sarah Kane's 4:48 Psychosis. 4:48 Psychosis will be performed at the Metanoia Theatre 29 June - 2 July.

Hosts Christian and Emma chatted to SHANE GRANT (Milk Bars), MATT ADEY (Spectre of Death) & LAUREN SIMMONDS (Unseen) about the upcoming season of live art at Metanoia Live Works.  Metanoia Live Works Season: 25 June – 6 August, Mechanics Institute Brunswick, 270 Sydney Road, Melbourne Image: Unseen by Lauren Simmonds

*Note to listeners: phone interview audio quality is a bit scratchy, but the interview itself is very interesting. Listen and find out! Christian had the opportunity to chat to actress CASSANDRA MAGRATH about her involvement with Winterfall Theatre's production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Is being performed at Blackbox Theatre, Preshil Senior Campus 21 June– 10 July: Tue-Sat, 7.30pm, Sun 2pm

Hosts Christian and Jonathan were joined on the line with actor CHRISTOPHER BROWN (playing the role of DARYL) from Red Stitch's world premiere production of The Honey Bees.  The Honey Bees is being performed on 14 June – 16 July, Red Stitch Actors Theatre Rear 2 Chapel Street St Kilda East. Photo credit: Jodie Hutchinson - featuring Marta Kaczmarek and Christopher Brown

*Note to listeners: the phone audio quality is a bit scratchy Hosts Christian and Jonathan were joined on the line with GEORGIA MOORE from Federation University. Georgia will be playing the role of WEDNESDAY in the University's production of The Addams Family.  The Addams Family is on 17 - 25 Jun, at Theatre Works 14 Acland St, St Kilda. Photographer credit: Jodie Hutchinson

Hosts Will and Lauren were joined in the studio with MAXINE GIGLIOTTI and BEDE NASH from the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA). Maxine and Bede talked about the 2016 graduating class showcase performance Things NOT of this EARTH, how they both become interested in circus arts, and how they chose their circus specialities.  Things NOT of this EARTH  will be being performed 8 - 18 June, Wed – Sat 7.30pm at the NICA National Circus Centre, 39 - 59 Green Street, Prahran

Hosts Ben & Michaela were joined in the studio with ANDI SNELLING – writer, producer and performer of the critically-acclaimed solo confessional show #DearDiary.  #DearDiary is being perforfmed at The Butterfly Club, Wed 1st – Sun 5th June at 7pm

Hosts Ben & Michaela were joined by tigers of the stage - GABRIELLE SAVRONE (director and actor at Owl & Cat Theatre) & MARCUS MOLYNEUX (actor) from Owl and Cat Theatre’s production Flesh Eating Tiger.  Flesh Eating Tiger is being performed at Owl and Cat Theatre, 34 Swan Street from 31st May – 2nd June

Hosts Lauren and Andrew are joined on the line with actress ROSE RILEY.  She is playing the role of Laura Wingfield in the Malthouse Theatre’s production of The Glass Menagerie.  The Glass Menagerie is being performed on 18th May to 5th June at the Merlyn Theatre in Melbourne.

Hosts Lauren and Andrew were joined in the studio with LENKA VANDERBOOM - Melbourne Playback Theatre Company ensemble member and Creative Director of SticksnStones on the Birrarung Marr.  The event includes a panel event with esteemed First Nations’ Victorians followed by a professional playback theatre performance.  SticksnStones is on Friday 27th May, 6pm at Deakin Edge Theatre, Federation Square, Melbourne. Photographer credit: Steven Rhall (image: Diana Nguyen, Sermsah Bin Saad)

Laurent spoke to award winning dancer CHARMENE YAP, a member of Sydney Dance Company and performer in the touring production CounterMove. CounterMove will be performed at the Melbourne Theatre Company Southbank Theatre 25th May to 4th June Photography by Peter Greig (still from CACTI)